Sonnet Technologies Tango 800 PCIe User Manual

Quick Start Guide for Allegro FW400
PCIe, Allegro FW800 PCIe, Allegro USB
PCIe, Tango PCIe, and Tango 800 PCIe

You Should Have

The following items should be included in your product
package:

• One Allegro FW400 PCIe card, OR

• One Allegro FW800 PCIe card, OR

• One Allegro USB PCIe card, OR

• One Tango PCIe card, OR

• One Tango 800 PCIe card

System Requirements

Each of these Sonnet cards has different operating
system requirements depending on the computer used:

• One available PCI Express (PCIe) slot

• Check the product pages at
www.sonnettech.com/product/computercards/index.
html for specific operating system requirements

Support Notes: 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.

ALLEGRO™ FW

TANGO™ PCIe

ALLEGRO™ FW

800

PCIe

ALLEGRO™ USB PCIe

400

PCIe

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.

Remember to register your product online 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 available at http://supportform.sonnettech.com.
Sonnet Technologies Customer Service hours are Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Pacific Time • Customer Service Phone: [phone] • E-mail: [e-mail]
Sonnet Technologies, Inc., California 92618 USA • Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

©2010 Sonnet Technologies, All rights reserved. Sonnet, the Sonnet logotype, Simply Fast, the Simply Fast logotype, Allegro, and Tango are trademarks of Sonnet Technologies, Inc. FireWire, Mac, the Mac logo, Mac OS, and Xserve
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-ECARDS-E-J-060210

TANGO™

800

PCIe

Installation Steps

Installation Steps

Installation Preparation

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

Installation Steps—Mac Users

1. Shut down your computer, and then open it to access
the expansion card area (PCI Express slots); refer to your
computer’s user manual for specific information.

2. Locate an available PCI Express slot inside your computer
and remove its access cover:

• Mac Pro users may install the card into any available slot.

• Power Mac G5 users should use slot 2 or slot 4 if possible, or

slot 3 if necessary.

3. Remove the Sonnet card from its packaging, and then
install it into the PCI Express slot; make sure the card is
firmly seated and secured.

4. Close your computer.

5. Turn on your computer; depending on the computer and
operating system used:

• If you installed the card into a Mac Pro (Early 2009), Mac

Pro (Early 2008), Power Mac G5, or Xserve (Late 2006),
your installation is complete

• If you installed the card into a pre-2008 Mac Pro, depending

on which version of Mac OS X your computer is running,
Expansion Slot Utility may open automatically. If it does
not open by itself, you must do so manually (Expansion
Slot Utility is located in the /System/Library/CoreServices
folder). Select the configuration appropriate for your setup
(your Sonnet card is an x1 card), and then click Quit if the
default configuration was appropriate, or click Save and
Restart if you changed the configuration.

Installation Steps—Windows Users (continued)

5. Turn on your computer and log in. Depending on how your
computer was configured prior to installing the Sonnet card,
Found New Hardware, Installing Device Driver Software, or other
pop-ups will appear. Once the last pop-up disappears, your
installation is complete.

Known Issues and Advice

FireWire and USB peripherals have some limitations you should
be aware of, and we have listed some additional advice here. Refer
to the peripheral manufacturers’ web sites and user’s guides for
more specific information.

Windows Users:

• Allegro FW800 PCIe and Tango 800 PCIe users must

install additional drivers to support FireWire 800 devices
at FireWire 800 speeds; go to http://www.sonnettech.com/

support to locate and download the drivers.

• Always “stop”, “unplug”, “eject”, or “put away” any drive (hard

drive, memory card, iPod, etc.) before disconnecting it from its
cable or the Sonnet card.

Mac Users:

• Always eject any drive (hard drive, memory card, iPod, etc.)

from the desktop (“eject” it or drag it to the trash) before
disconnecting it from its cable or the Sonnet card.

• When using a FireWire drive with a Tango PCIe card installed

in a Power Mac G5, you must eject the volume and turn off the
drive’s power (in that order) before putting your computer to
sleep. Otherwise, your computer may not wake without a hard
restart, or the drive may not reappear.

All Users:

• 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’s manual
for information about necessary software.

Installation Steps—Windows Users

1. Shut down your computer, and then open it to access
the expansion card area (PCI Express slots); refer to your
computer’s user manual for specific information.

2. Locate an available PCI Express slot inside your computer
and remove its port access cover, if present.

3. Remove the Sonnet card from its packaging, and then
install it into the PCI Express slot; make sure the card is

firmly seated and secured.

4. Close your computer.

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

• Although many peripherals may draw power directly from the
Sonnet card, other devices require an external power source.
Remember to use external power supplies when necessary.

• 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.

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