The maximum cable lengthe for regular SATA is 1 m, eSATA is 2m. I have an
eSATA case holding two disks. The connector never caused problems though it
looks to me quite flimsy.
If you're thinking long wires, use network attached storage (NAS); CAT 5
ethernet goes to 150m.
Another (old school) option would be Differential SCSI, which lets you put
your SCSI devices (disks, tapes, CD drives) up to 20m from the host
controller (computer).
With a bit of creativity, this allows for interesting solutions: my backup
server is in the attic, the disks are in enclosures next to it. I need
to have easy access to the tape drives (which are Single Ended SCSI to
complicate matters), so those are one floor down, on 10m from the server.
In order to connect those I put a Differential SCSI controller in the
computer, with a 20m cable coming down from the attic. Next to the tape
drives is sitting a SCSI extender that nicely translates the Differential
signals to Single Ended and vice versa.
Bart
> The eSATA socket appears to be the same as the standard internal ones,
> not too robust but adequate for occasional use. lack of power isn't much
> of an inconvenience for the way I'd use it. How about the maximum wire
> length? Could I stick a drive in another room for instance? 5m? 10m?
>
> Mike
>
>
>
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