DeepSpar Disk Imager 4

[Cris]

Hi Guys

Does anyone know if the new DDI4 has a USB port for connecting USB storage devices?

If so, assuming a USB storage device has a SCSI/ATA Translation (SAT) USB Bridge, would this allow imaging by head of USB connected drives?

Also, should it work for imaging (obtaining the content unencrypted of) Western Digital USB drives that have the Initio (AES versions) chip, where a password has not been set?

Thanks
Cris

[northwind]

I think your best bet is to contact Deepspar and ask them these questions.
But if they add the features you mention, that'd be very interesting

[Cris]

I think your best bet is to contact Deepspar and ask them these questions.

That is probably the best idea, but I don't want to bother them at the moment as I have no intention of purchasing one just yet; I just spent lots of money on other tools.

I thought there might be some beta testers on here for the DDI4, but they are probably under a non-disclosure agreement.

It would be good if DeepSpar published detailed information

The side-on picture of the DDI4 looks like it has a USB (and eSATA) port on the back, but maybe that (possible) USB port is for a license dongle or serial adapter.

[lcoughey]

At this point, DDI 4 only mirrors IDE/SATA source drives. The destination drive is connected via the eSATA port. The config drive is connected to the system board's SATA/IDE ports or via a slower USB connection.

Does that answer your question?

Amendment: there are two USB ports on the eSATA card. External USB is for terminal communication to the drive and the smaller port on the inside is for firmware updates.

[Cris]

Does that answer your question?

It sure does, thanks Luke.

[lcoughey]

It looks like there will be some USB source drive support with their forensic edition add-on when it is released:
http://www.deepspar.com/forensics-ds-disk-imager.html

[Cris]

I missed that part

[CK]

Confirming what Luke says, no USB port for imaging, only for FW update.

BTW, It's really good, we are getting imaging speeds in excess of 100mb/s on some drives.

Yet another great tool from Andrei and his team!

[lcoughey]

I've got a 2TB Seagate going 90MB/s, right now.

In communicating with Andrei, I should mention that the forensic edition's USB as source functionality is with the assumption that the source is a healthy drive.

[northwind]

I've got a 2TB Seagate going 90MB/s, right now.

Pretty impressive indeed!

[pcimage]

I've got a 2TB Seagate going 90MB/s, right now.

Pretty impressive indeed!

We are getting similar speeds from Atola too, on good-ish drives (i.e. mostly good with a few bads) with a gigabit connection to the imager.

[CK]

Indeed Sean, Atola is good (when there's not much wrong with the drive!).

Upgraded to a new version of the software recently and it works well but we don't use it if we suspect weak head or large # of bad sectors. It doesn't compare to DDI. Nice to have for extra capacity, especially for cloning after PCB repair, SA repair, etc

[Russwinters]

Actually I have had amazing experiences using Atola imager in the cases you mention, CK; I am not sure why you are not having good results with it.

Of course DDI is tried and true, but I have found the Atola imager to exceed the DDI in certain instances, just as the DDI exceeds the Atola in many instances as well.


I have many times used Atola to much success on WD drives which have had microjog work performed on them ,etc (being able to disable heads that are not working well, re-transplant, and then continue imaging, etc)


Overall I think BOTH are great products, and really you are only hurting yourself not having both (if you can afford it, of course) I honestly would have a hard time choosing between either if I had to choose only one.

[CK]

Always interesting to hear other peoples experiences and opinions. In my experience, I have yet to find an instance where Atola clearly outperforms Deepspar. I only have 1 Atola but I now have 5 Deepspar and I will continue to invest in them as they provide the performance and stability for us. The network add-on and Deepspar Recovery Environment are clear benefits over Atola Imager. When it comes to WD with MJ adjustment, I would only use PC3K DE for this task but that's just my preference.

EDIT ** I SHOULD ADD THAT I HAVE NO COMMERCIAL AFFILIATION WITH DEEPSPAR/ACEDRE or Atola. - I am merely providing my own personal option based on actual comparison.

[Nick_CT]

I've got a 2TB Seagate going 90MB/s, right now.

That's impressive

[lcoughey]

The network add-on and Deepspar Recovery Environment are clear benefits over Atola Imager.

Have you used the Operations Server functionality? I find the file listing with recoverability report is very useful, as well as the ability to have client's specifically check off what they want recovered and to just be able to simply click a menu "image selected files" to target those sectors.

[CK]

Yeah Luke, it's nice to be able to do that. We usually don't provide a file list unless specifically asked. It tends to confuse most users IMO.

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

Hi Guys ,
The Deepspar Imager Ver 4 Is Looking Very Good ,Is Someone Using The New PCI Express Card .Is The Interface Now Windows Based .

[positivebit]

Hi Guys ,
The Deepspar Imager Ver 4 Is Looking Very Good ,Is Someone Using The New PCI Express Card .Is The Interface Now Windows Based .

so u mean that now it is not needed the usb pendrive to start ddi?

[Amarbir[CDR-Labs]]

Hi Guys ,
The Deepspar Imager Ver 4 Is Looking Very Good ,Is Someone Using The New PCI Express Card .Is The Interface Now Windows Based .

so u mean that now it is not needed the usb pendrive to start ddi?

Well,
i am as ignorant as you are i do not own it