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USB/Firewire HDD. Using both ports at the same time

Discussion in 'Storage and Networking' started by jpp1jpp1, Mar 15, 2006.

  1. jpp1jpp1 Newcomer, in training

    Is it possible? I mean two different computers accesing the HDD, one using the USB port and the other one the Firewire.

    If it's not, is there any portable HDD u can access with 2 PC at the same time (Networking HDD aside).

    Ty
  2. jobeard TS Ambassador Posts: 12,235   +123

    generally, no. There are some commercial units that allow multiple systems
    to co-access a single drive, but you can afford the power,cooling, and systems
    cost. The USB & FW ports on an external HD are for setup convenience and are
    use EITHER/OR, not concurrently.
  3. Nodsu Newcomer, in training Posts: 9,431

    There is a single IDE controller chip in your USB/FW enclosure and the chip changes its operating mode depending on what interface is connected. You can not have both at the same time.

    And even if you had simultaneous access to the hard drive, a myriad of sharing problems will occur. You'd need a special multiuser filesystem.. And Windows doesn't support such things of course :)