Target Disk Mode

One option at boot time is to put the computer into a mode of operation called Target Disk mode. This mode is similar to SCSI Disk mode on a PowerBook computer equipped with a SCSI port, except it uses a FireWire connection instead of a special SCSI cable.

When the PowerBook G4 computer is in Target Disk mode and connected to another Macintosh computer by a FireWire cable, the PowerBook G4 computer operates like a FireWire mass storage device with the SBP-2 (Serial Bus Protocol) standard. Target Disk mode has two primary uses:

The PowerBook G4 computer can operate in Target Disk Mode as long as the other computer has a FireWire port and FireWire software 2.3.3 or newer.

IMPORTANT

For Target Disk Mode, only the PowerBook and the host Macintosh computer can be connected to the FireWire bus. Any other FireWire devices must be disconnected.

To put the computer into Target Disk mode, the user holds down the T key while the computer is starting up. When Open Firmware detects the T key during the boot process, it transfers control to special Open Firmware code.

To take the computer out of Target Disk mode, the user presses the power button.

For more information about Target Disk mode, see the section "Target Mode" in Technote 1189, The Monster Disk Driver Technote. The technote is available on the Technote website at

http://developer.apple.com/technotes/




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