Panther and FW800 external firewire warning -
 

From the Apple site -

"Apple has identified an issue with external FireWire hard drives using the Oxford 922 bridge chip-set with firmware version 1.02 that can result in the loss of data stored on the disk drive. Apple is working with Oxford Semiconductor and affected drive manufacturers to resolve this issue which resides in the Oxford 922 chip-set.

In the interim, Apple recommends that you do not use these drives. To stop using the drive, you should unmount or eject the disk drive before doing anything else. Please check this web page for further updates."

Apparently this just effects external FW800 drives with a specific firmware version. LaCie has already posted a firmware update on their site (if you can boot to OS9, OSX to come later).

There is a report on MacInTouch that at least one company is also advising owners of its firewire 400 drives not to use it with Panther at this time.

The problem is apparently limited to Firewire 800 drives according to Apple, LaCie and Wiebetech. The problem is in the Oxford 922 chipset, not the 911 chipset.

A limited number of FireWire 400 drives have been released with the 922 chipset, I believe. But Apple confirms that this is limited to FW 800 drives.

MacFixIt is quoting Oxford as urging caution with drives utilizing its other chipsets as well. And MacFixIt is claiming one of its own firewire 400 drives lost data.

Fixes are being released, check with your drive manufacture.


October 31, 2003 - Austin, Texas / FirewireDirect is strongly advising all users of Apple’s 10.3 operating system – “Panther” – to update the firmware on their FireWire 800 storage products to avoid a problem that exists between Apple’s OS and the firmware on the Oxford 922 chipset that drives all FireWire 800 storage products.


FirewireDirect is the first company to test and provide access to the updater that corrects the problem, hard on the heels of Apple's disclosure of the issue late this week. All FirewireDirect drives shipping after October 30 have been updated with the new firmware. But FirewireDirect urges their customers who purchased before that date to take seriously the need to update their firmware.


They provide detailed information and an opportunity to download the updater at their site at http://www.firewiredirect.com


This announcement comes after Apple announced they had discovered an issue with their operating system and the Oxford 922 chipset. The Oxford 922 board is the dominant chipset in FireWire 800 and is used in all of FirewireDirect’s 800Mbps products.


FirewireDirect strongly urges all users of FireWire 800 products from any manufacturer to immediately disconnect their drive and seek information about the update. Failure to do so can result in catastrophic loss of data. The updater evolves the Oxford firmware from v. 1.02 to v. 1.05. If you are not absolutely sure you are using a Firewire 800 drive already updated to 1.05, please take this announcement seriously and contact FirewireDirect or the manufacturer of your drive.


The update from Oxford has been tested with FirewireDirect products, and the file is available now from FirewireDirect athttp://firewiredirect.com/site/panther.shtml


If you have questions about this matter or any other, please visit the FirewireDirect Help Desk athttp://www.firewiredirect.com/helpdesk.shtml

Firewire 400 Drives In Jeopardy
 

It looks like Firewire 400 drives may, indeed, face some risk of corruption according to this Mac Central story. This story relates what amounts to isolated incidents and it's not exactly hard, reliable news.

Bottom line: Be careful if you're updating to Panther.

I just purchased a lacie d2 extreme for a dual 2.5 which I have connected by firewire 800. I can see it's been some time since the last post, so... has this problem been corrected or do I still need to get the update?

Thanks

Check the manufactures web site and if your not sure, then contact their support.