Thunderbolt devices on zBooks questions, e.g. how reliable is TB for data storage, drive size and interface versions ...

Thunderbolt (TB) is relatively new to windows based pc and I could not find many posts describing use of existing TB harware with non Apple pc. No technical specifications are given other then this TB device will provide x USB 3.0, y (e)SATA and z Fw800 ports for use with your drive. Besides the basic question how dangerous is it to trust TB for HDD and SSD storage, e.g. resulting in corrupted drives, it is the lack of data that worries me.

We have SATA 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0. Newer drives have also advanced power management features, are these supported as well? Which SATA version is supported by TB devices?

For USB 3.0 there is the legacy version, and a newer, that supports UASP which will boost performance if supported by drive, controller and OS, or if drivers aravailable. Which one is supported by TB devices?

More basic is there a size limit to the drives, like the 2 TB for USB (it's not a matter of age), where any driver larger then 2 TB will be RAW andnot accessable even in w7 and w8.x.

Finally which TB version is implemented in the hardware of our zBooks or is the difference just in the TB firmware?

Has anyone used TB yet and can provide some answers or information?

 

I could not find on the HP websites any mentioning if the zBooks 15 and 17 have TB 1 or TB2.

I found this strange since since https://thunderbolttechnology.net/product/hp-zbook-15-mobile-workstation, intendedto promote TB lists both as TB 2.

Unfortunately windows is not supported on most TB available e.g. AKiTiO Thunder2 PCIe Box | PCI Express Expansion Box with Thunderbolt 2 Interface | AKiTiO that I found.

I am beginning to get the impression, that while we even have TB 2 and a fully functional TB port, Thunderbolt is DoA and useless due to missing driver support for windows.

 

Found the first TB to USB 3.0 and eSATA bridge that has windows driver

so hopefully it may work with zBooks.
No TB passthrough because it uses

Thunderboltâ„¢ to eSATA + USB 3.0 Adapter ~99,95 €

I will contact them and ask which multiplier it supports and if it has UASP supprt

 

Found the first TB to USB 3.0 and eSATA bridge that has windows driver

so hopefully it may work with zBooks.
No TB passthrough because it uses

Thunderbolt™ to eSATA + USB 3.0 Adapter ~99,95 €

 

Ouch. That is quite expensive for an adapter. I guess as long as TB is mainly associated with Apple this will not change.

 

I agree about prices, but that was/is not differnt for Firewire Hardware, which is more reliable and performant the even USB 3.0 is today. Unlike USB Firewire was designed to provide isosynchronious data transfer, e.g. for video.

Unfortunately Thunderbolt hardware is not totally embedde into windows like firewire still is, except for the lack of driver for uses as pc 2 pc datalink starting with windows 7.

It looks like while there is a lot of TB hardware, there is(/will be?) no driver support for Thunderbolt in windows for our zBook, so the thunderbolt port seem to be for windows user a totally useless appendix.

Here is another negative reply that I received.

 

Not directly the all in one dock I was looking for, but it shows that it can be done with zBooks, because it is lack of driver support and desireof the manufacterers to waste money on a few owners of windows pc with TB, however windows driver don't provide hotswapping OS-Xdriver have.

Echo ExpressCard Pro Thunderbolt 1 Adapter & SxS Media Reader [ECHOPRO-E34] from Sonnet (169 US$) is has a TB to expresscard adapter that allows to use expresscard 34 cards on TB. The information is here Sonnet - Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter
compatible expresscards like eSATA (one is bootable), Firewire, LAN, USB, memorycard reader from sonnet as well as some thirdparty cards,e.g. for audio/video, can be found here Sonnet - Echo ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt Adapter. The boxhase to be attached during booting the pc.

Sonnet has a Tempo SATA 6Gb Pro ExpressCard/34 [TSATA6-PRO2-E34] (69 US$) which supports booting from it. I wonder if this allows to boot from this card if inserted into the the Echopro-E34 TB box.
The controller supports port multiplier in windows (not OS-X), so our zBooks could access 10 x 6 TB SATA HDD with just 2 eSATA cables.

 

I found this overview of TB products What is the state of Thunderbolt drives? (August 2014 edition) | CanadaRAM: Memory and Computer Q&A but often no information ift is for Apple and/or PC. It does not include AV TB devices.