Sonnet Technologies FW400 User Manual

FireWire® PCI Adapter Card

ALLEGRO™ FW

400

Installation Steps

Installation Steps (continued)

Installation Steps (continued)

Quick Start Guide for Allegro FW400

Compatibility

At this printing, the Allegro FW400 may be used with any Mac® or
Windows OS computer with an available PCI slot that meets the
following requirements:

Macintosh Computer Requirements:

•
Power Macintosh® or Macintosh clone computer running Mac OS

9.0 through Mac OS X Version 10.5.x.

PC Requirements:

•
IBM PC/AT or compatible desktop computer with Pentium® II (or
equivalent) or better running Windows 98 SE (Second Edition),
Windows Me (Millennium Edition), Windows 2000, Windows XP,
or Windows Vista.

You Should Have

The following item should be included in your product package:

• One Allegro FW400 FireWire PCI Adapter Card

The following item may be required for installation:

• Medium Phillips screwdriver

You may need the following item to connect peripherals to the
Allegro FW400:

• One or more FireWire (IEEE 1394) cables (sold separately)

System Requirements

The Allegro FW400 requires the following in order to operate in your
system:

• One available PCI slot

• FireWire driver software*

Support Note: We recommend you make a backup of

important information on your system’s current hard drive(s)

prior to installing new hardware or software.

When handling computer products, you must take care to prevent
components from being damaged by static electricity. Before opening
your computer or removing parts from their packages, always ground
yourself first by touching a metal part of the computer, such as a
port access cover, and work in an area free of static electricity; avoid
carpeted areas. Handle all electronic components by their edges, and
avoid touching connector traces and component pins.

* Depending on your operating system, you may need to install drivers; instructions follow.

Support Note: Technical knowledge may be required to gain

access to the expansion card slots in certain computer models.
We recommend you first consult your computer’s user manual. If
you feel you are unable to install the computer hardware, contact a
qualified technician.

Allegro FW400 Installation Preparation

Sonnet strongly recommends that you read the section in your
computer’s user manual that addresses PCI card installation, prior to
installing the Allegro FW400 into your system.

Allegro FW400 Card Installation Steps

1. Shut down your computer.

2. Open your computer to access the expansion card area (PCI slots);
refer to your computer’s user manual for specific information.

3. Locate an available PCI slot inside your computer and remove its
port access cover, if present, from the rear of the computer.

4. Remove the Allegro FW400 card from its packaging.

5. Install the Allegro FW400 into the PCI slot; make sure the card
is firmly seated and secured.

6. Close your computer and carefully replace its cover.

FireWire Driver Installation Steps—Mac OS Computers

Support Note: Many peripherals require their own drivers

and application software to operate or have full functionality.
The Apple drivers already installed, or that you are about to install,
in your system provide only limited support for some items. You
should also install software included with the device, or available
to download from the device manufacturer’s web site. Check the
peripheral’s user manual for information about necessary software.

The following section covers the installation of FireWire driver
software in Mac OS computers; refer to the heading that describes
your setup in this column or after. If you have a Windows PC, go to
column 5 for Windows driver installation information.

Mac OS 9.2.x and OS X

If your system is already running Mac OS 9.2.x and/or Mac OS X, the
Apple drivers that enable the FireWire ports on the Allegro FW400
have already been installed, and your installation is complete. When
you upgrade to Mac OS 9.2.x or Mac OS X, the appropriate drivers
will be installed automatically.

Mac OS 9.1.x (Existing Installation)

Complete these steps only if you installed Mac OS 9.1 before
installing the Allegro FW400. Please note, if your system has built-in
FireWire ports, you may skip these steps; your installation is complete.

2. Double-click the Mac OS Install application icon. In the Select
Destination window, click the Select button. Proceed through
the next several screens until you reach the Install Software
window. Click the Customize button. In the Custom Installation
and Removal window, deselect all the Software component check
boxes (click on each check or dash until the box is empty), except
Mac OS 9.1. Click the pop-up menu to the right of Mac OS 9.1.
Change from “Recommended Installation” to “Customized
Installation.” The Select Mac OS 9.1 Features to Install window will
appear shortly.

3. Change “Recommended Installation” to “Customized
Installation” from the pop-up menu. Deselect all the feature
check boxes except “Network and Connectivity.” Click the
arrow next to “Network and Connectivity” to view the features.
Deselect all the features except “FireWire”. Click OK, Start, then
Continue to complete the installation. After the software is
installed, quit the Mac OS Install application and restart your
computer from the hard drive where Mac OS 9.1 is installed; your
installation is complete.

Mac OS 9.1.x (Upgrade from Lower Mac OS Version)
Complete these steps only when upgrading your system to Mac OS 9.1
from a lower Mac OS version; FireWire driver software will be installed
automatically. Please note, if your system has built-in FireWire ports, you
may skip these steps; your installation is complete.

1. Insert the Mac OS 9.1 CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.
In the finder menu, select Special: Restart, then immediately press
and hold down the C key on your keyboard until your system
restarts and the Welcome to Mac OS screen appears.

2. Double-click the Mac OS Install application icon. In the Select
Destination window, click the Options button and click the
Perform Clean Installation check box that appears in the
subsequent screen. Click the Select button. Proceed through the
next several screens until you reach the Install Software window.
Click OK, Start, then Continue, and complete the installation.
After the software is installed, quit the Mac OS Install application
and restart your computer from the hard drive where Mac OS 9.1
is installed; your installation is complete.

Mac OS 9.0.x (Existing Installation)

If Mac OS 9.0.x is installed in your computer, you must download and
install the appropriate FireWire driver software. Please note, if your

system has built-in FireWire ports, you may skip these steps; your installation
is complete.

1. Turn on your computer.

2. Log on to the Internet and type in:
www.sonnettech.com/support/allegro400.

4. Read the information on the page, then click on the link to
download the software.

5. Install the drivers, then restart your computer from the hard
drive where Mac OS 9 is installed; your installation is complete.

Mac OS 9 (Upgrade from Lower Mac OS Version)
Complete these steps only when upgrading your system to Mac OS 9.0
from a lower Mac OS version.

1. Insert the Mac OS 9 CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. In
the finder menu, select Special: Restart, then immediately press
and hold down the C key on your keyboard until your system
restarts and the Welcome to Mac OS screen appears.

2. Double-click the Mac OS Install application icon. In the Select
Destination window, click the Options button and click the
Perform Clean Installation check box that appears in the
subsequent screen. Click the Select button. Proceed through the
next several screens until you reach the Install Software window.
Click OK, Start, then Continue, and complete the installation.
After the software is installed, quit the Mac OS Install application
and restart your computer from the hard drive where Mac OS 9 is
installed.

3. Log on to the Internet and type in:
www.sonnettech.com/support/allegro400.

4. Locate and click on the link for FireWire drivers.

5. Read the information on the page, then click on the link to
download the software.

6. Install the drivers, then restart your computer from the hard
drive where Mac OS 9 is installed; your installation is complete.

1 2 4

1. Insert the Mac OS 9.1 CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.
In the finder menu, select Special: Restart, then immediately
press and hold down the C key on your keyboard until your
system restarts and the Welcome to Mac OS screen appears.

3. Locate and click on the link for FireWire drivers.

3

Installation Steps (continued)

Support Note: Many peripherals require their own drivers

and application software to operate or have full functionality.
The FireWire drivers already installed, or that you are about to install,
in your system provide only limited support for some items. You
should also install software included with the device, or available
to download from the device manufacturer’s web site. Check the
peripheral’s user manual for information about necessary software.

FireWire Driver Installation Steps—Windows PCs

The following section covers the installation of FireWire (IEEE 1394)
driver software in Windows OS computers; refer to the heading
that describes your setup in this column or the next. If you have a
Macintosh computer, go back to column 2 to find Mac OS driver
installation information.

Windows Vista

If your system is running Windows Vista, the drivers that enable the
FireWire ports on the Allegro FW400 are installed in the background
automatically during the first start-up after you finish installing the
Allegro card. No further action from you is required; your installation
is complete.

Windows XP

If your system is running Windows XP, the drivers that enable the
FireWire ports on the Allegro FW400 are installed in the background
automatically during the first start-up after you finish installing the
Allegro card. No further action from you is required; your installation
is complete.

Windows 2000

If your system is running Windows 2000, the drivers that enable the
FireWire ports on the Allegro FW400 are installed in the background
automatically during the first start-up after you finish installing the
Allegro card. No further action from you is required; your installation
is complete.

Installation Steps (continued)

Windows 98SE

This section describes the installation of drivers to support the Allegro
FW400 in systems running Windows 98SE.

1. Turn on your computer; during Windows startup, New Hardware
Found windows will briefly appear.

2. When the Add New Hardware Wizard (PCI OHCI Compliant IEEE
1394 Host Controller) window appears, click Next.

3. When the next window appears, insert the Windows 98SE CD
into your computer’s CD-ROM drive, select “Search for best driver
for your device (Recommended),” and then click Next.

4. When the next window appears, click Next.

5. When the message stating “Windows is now ready to install the
best driver…” appears, click Next.

6. When the message stating “Windows has finished installing the
software that your new device requires,” appears, click Finish; the
window will close; your installation is complete.

Using FireWire Devices With the Allegro FW400

Known Issues and Advice

FireWire has many technological advantages over older interfaces
such as ADB, Serial and SCSI, not least of which is its hot-plugging
capability. However, there are limitations of which you should be
aware; we have also listed some additional advice here. Refer to your

peripheral manufacturers’ web sites and user guides for more specific
information.

Many peripherals require additional drivers and application

•
software to operate or have full functionality. Software should
be included with the device, or available to download from the
manufacturer’s web site. Check the peripheral’s user manual for
information about necessary software.

• Disconnecting FireWire peripherals (including external storage
devices, cameras, memory card readers, etc.) while they are
transferring or receiving data, may result in damage to the file(s)
being transferred, or cause your system to hang.

Mac Users: Always unmount a drive from the desktop (eject or drag

•
it to the trash) before disconnecting it from its cable or the Allegro
FW400 card.

Windows Users: Always “stop”, “unplug”, or “eject” any drive

•
connected to the FireWire ports before disconnecting it from its
cable or the Allegro FW400 card.

• Do not forget to connect external power supplies to the peripherals
that require them. Although many peripherals may draw power
directly from the Allegro FW400 card, other devices require an
external power source.

• When the Allegro FW400 is installed in a pre-G3 Macintosh
computer, connected FireWire drives cannot be used as the system
startup (boot) drive.

Windows Me
This section describes the installation of drivers to support the Allegro
FW400 in systems running Windows Me.

1. Turn on your computer; during Windows startup, a New
Hardware Found window will appear.

2. When the Add New Hardware Wizard (PCI OHCI Compliant IEEE
1394 Host Controller) window appears, click Next.

3. When the next window appears, select “Automatic Search for a
better driver (Recommended),” and then click Next.

4. When the message stating “Windows has finished installing the
software that your new device requires,” appears, click Finish; the
window will close.

5. At the next prompt, click Yes to restart your system; your
installation is complete.

5 6

• When transferring data from a digital video camera to your
computer through the Allegro FW400, we do not recommend using
another FireWire device at the same time.

• Do not connect FireWire devices in a loop, nor terminate a FireWire
chain; there are no terminators or ID settings required for any
FireWire device.

7

• Remember to register your product at http://registration.sonnettech.com
to be informed of future upgrades and product releases.

• Software updates and links are available from the Sonnet web site at
www.sonnettech.com.

Online support form: http://supportform.sonnettech.com.
Customer Service hours: Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Pacific Time
Customer Service Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Sonnet Technologies, Inc., Irvine, California USA

©2008 Sonnet Technologies, All rights reserved. Sonnet, the Sonnet logotype, Simply Fast, the Simply Fast logotype, and Allegro are
trademarks of Sonnet Technologies, Inc. Macintosh and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the United States and other
countries. Other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change without notice.
QS-FW400-E-B-072508