Sonnet Echo express se iii User manual

User’s Guide

for Echo™Express SE III

Thunderbolt™3 to PCI Express®Card Expansion Chassis

For

Windows

Support Note: This document was up to date at the

time of printing. However, changes to the hardware or

software may have occurred since then. Please check the Sonnet

website for the latest documentation.

1. Go to www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php

2. Click the Thunderbolt Product link.

3. Click the Echo Express SE III link, and then click the

Documentation link.

5. Click the Echo Express SE III User’s Guide [English] link and

then check the Document Version information. If the version

listed is later than this document (revision B), click the

Download Now button for the latest version.

1 Introduction and System Requirements 1

Introduction

Mac Compatibility

Windows Compatibility

System Requirements

Preparing to Use the Echo Express Chassis With a Mac Computer

Preparing to Use the Echo Express Chassis With a Windows Computer

2 Echo Express SE III Description 2

Echo Express SE III Extererior

Echo Express SE III Inner Assembly

Power Adapter and Cord

Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) Cable

Thunderbolt Connector Retainer Clip

3 PCIe Card Installation and Chassis Setup Steps 5

4 Complete Setup and Configuration 8

Setup and Configuration Steps—Mac Users

Setup and Configuration Steps—Windows Users

5 Tips, General Information, and Known Issues 10

Tips, General Information

Known Issues

6 Saftety Precautions, FCC Compliance, and Support Information 11

Safety Precautions

FCC Compliance

Contacting Customer Service

Visit Our Website

Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction and System Requirements

Preparing to Use the Echo Express Chassis With a

Mac Computer

The drivers required to support the Echo Express chassis are

installed as part of macOS; there are no preparation steps beyond

updating your computer to macOS 10.12.6 or newer.

Preparing to Use the Echo Express Chassis With a

Windows Computer

1. Update Windows. You must use Windows 10, 64-Bit Version

1703 or newer (also called the Creator’s Update). To check the

version number, type winver in the search bar and click enter.

2. Update your computer’s BIOS to the latest version. If you

need help updating your BIOS, contact your computer

manufacturer.

3. Update your Thunderbolt Bus Driver to the latest version;

you will need version 16.3.61.275 or newer. To check

your driver version, go to Settings:Apps:Thunderbolt(TM)

Software and you will see the version number. If it is not

16.3.61.275 or newer, then you need to update it. Check with

your computer manufacturer for an update.

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase! The Echo Express SE III is

a Thunderbolt 3 expansion system for PCIe cards. Through its

PCIe slots, you may connect three adapter cards to any Mac®or

Windows®computer with Thunderbolt 3 ports to expand its

capabilities and add connectivity beyond what’s offered through

its native ports.

Mac Compatibility

• Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports

• Macs with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports and Apple

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (sold

separately)

• macOS®10.12.6+

macOS High Sierra compatible

Windows Compatibility

• PCs with Thunderbolt 3 ports

• 64-bit editions of Windows 10, Version 1703 (Creator’s Update)

or newer

Important Note: Windows computers require the latest BIOS

and Thunderbolt drivers to support this product. Check with

your computer manufacturer for update information.

System Requirements

While the Echo Express SE III requires no drivers, most expansion

cards you install do; Thunderbolt-compatible drivers to enable

them to work properly through the Thunderbolt interface are

required. More information on which cards are compatible with

Echo Express SE III is available at: http://sonnettech.com/support

Echo Express SE III Exterior

1 – Power Indicator

This lights when the Echo Express

SE III is powered, the Thunderbolt

cable between the Echo chassis and

your computer is plugged in securely,

and the computer powered on. Note

that if the Echo chassis is connected

to another Thunderbolt device

instead of directly to the computer,

any other Thunderbolt devices

connected between the computer and

Echo chassis must also be powered

on before the Echo chassis’ power

indicator will light up.

2 – Thunderbolt 3 Ports

Connect the included Thunderbolt

cable, or comparable Thunderbolt 3

(40Gbps) cable, between either port and

your computer’s Thunderbolt port (or

other Thunderbolt device in the chain

connected to the computer).

The second port may be used to

connect to another Thunderbolt

peripheral device, display(s), or USB

device (when connected with the

proper cable or adapter).

3 – 12V DC Socket

Connect the included DC power

adapter between this socket and the

included power cord.

Chapter 2 – Echo Express SE III Description

2 – PCIe Slot 1

This is an x8 mechanical (x4 electrical)

PCIe 3.0 slot. It is also compatible with

PCIe 2.0 and 1.1 cards.

3 – PCIe Slot 2

This is an x8 mechanical (x8 electrical)

PCIe 3.0 slot. It is also compatible with

PCIe 2.0 and 1.1 cards.

4 – PCIe Slot 3

This is an x8 mechanical (x8 electrical)

PCIe 3.0 slot. It is also compatible with

PCIe 2.0 and 1.1 cards.

5 – Thunderbolt 3 Interface Card

This is installed into its own slot and

may not be moved to another slot.

6 – Port Access Covers

These cover openings in the chassis

when PCIe slots are unoccupied.

Echo Express SE III Inner Assembly

1 – Fan

The temperature-controlled fan

provides cooling for the installed PCIe

cards and the chassis’ supporting

Thunderbolt circuitry. It operates

quietly when the card is running cool,

and automatically speeds up in steps

as the temperature rises. Do not block

the vent holes on the front or back of

the chassis to prevent overheating.

Chapter 2 – Echo Express SE III Description

Power Adapter and Cord

Connect the adapter to the SE III’s 12VDC

socket. Connect the cord between a power

outlet and the power adapter. Note that

the power cord included with your product

may appear different than the one pictured

here, depending on where the product was

purchased.

Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) Cable

Connect this cable between the Echo

Express SE III and your computer (or other

Thunderbolt device in the chain connected to

the computer).

Thunderbolt Connector Retainer Clip

This secures a Thunderbolt 3 connector

plugged into the Echo chassis’ Thunderbolt 3

port to prevent accidental cable disconnection.

This clip is compatible with the included

Sonnet 0.5-meter Thunderbolt 3 cable, but not

with Sonnet 1-meter Thunderbolt 3 cables.

Chapter 3 – PCIe Card Installation and Chassis Setup Steps

Figure 1

1. Remove the Echo Express SE III chassis from its packaging, and then set

it upside-down on a soft, ﬂat, level surface.

2. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove and set aside the four screws

securing the outer case to the inner assembly (Figure 1).

3. Flip the Echo chassis over. Place one hand on top of the outer case.

Remove the inner assembly by gently grasping its faceplate by the edges

and pulling (Figure 2). Set aside the outer case.

4. Turn the inner assembly on its side with the PCIe slots facing up.

Remove and set aside the screw securing a port access cover from the

Echo Express SE III chassis’ inner assembly (Figure 3).

5. Remove and set aside the loose port access cover (Figure 3).

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 as necessary with the remaining port access

covers.

Support Note: To avoid damaging components due to static

electricity discharge, wear an antistatic wrist strap while working

inside Echo Express SE III.

Figure 2

Figure 3

inner

assembly

outer

case

Chapter 3 – PCIe Card Installation and Chassis Setup Steps

7. Remove a PCIe card from its packaging, handling the card by its edges

and without touching any components or gold connector pins.

8. Line up the card’s connector with the slot, and then gently but ﬁrmly

press the card straight into the slot; do not rock the card or force the

card into the slot. If you encounter excessive resistance, check the

card’s connector and the slot for damage, and then try inserting the

card again (Figure 4).

9. Secure the card using the screw you removed

previously; do not overtighten the screw (Figure 4).

10. Repeat steps 7 – 9 if you are installing any additional

cards. Replace and secure any port access covers

where an empty slot remains.

11. Flip the inner assembly back over to its upright

position. Place your hand on top of the outer case,

and then gently insert the inner assembly back into

the outer case (Figure 5).

12. Turn the Echo Express SE III chassis upside-down, and then using the

four screws you removed previously, secure the outer case to the inner

assembly; do not overtighten the screws (Figure 6).

WARNING: When handling computer products, take care to prevent

components from being damaged by static electricity; avoid working

in carpeted areas. Handle expansion cards only by their edges and avoid

touching connector traces and component pins. Also, avoid touching the

Echo Express SE III chassis’ circuit boards and any of its components.

Figure 4

Figure 6

Figure 5

Support Note: If you are installing an x8 PCIe 1.1 card like certain

10 Gigabit Ethernet cards, installing it into slot 1 (furthest from the

Thunderbolt interface card) may result in reduced performance. We

recommend you install it into either slot 1 or 2 for best performance.

Chapter 3 – PCIe Card Installation and Chassis Setup Steps

Figure 7

13. Turn the Echo Express SE III right-side-up.

14. Connect the included Thunderbolt cable (or a comparable

Thunderbolt 3 [40Gbps] cable) between a Thunderbolt 3 port on the

Echo chassis and a Thunderbolt 3 port on your computer, or other

Thunderbolt device in the chain connected to the computer (Figure 7).

Note that cables marked with the USB icon ( ) are NOT compatible.

Secure the retainer clip to the chassis if you attached it. If you are daisy

chaining additional Thunderbolt devices, connect another Thunderbolt

cable between the downstream device and the open Thunderbolt port

on the Echo chassis.

15. Connect the included power cord between a wall outlet or power strip

and the power adapter; verify the connector is plugged in securely.

Note that the power adapter’s power indicator will light at this time.

16. Connect the power adapter cable to the Echo Express SE III’s 12V power

socket. Note that the power indicator on the Echo Express SE III chassis

will not light until the computer, and any other Thunderbolt device

connected between it and the Echo chassis, is powered on.

Support Note: Sonnet’s ThunderLok™ 3 Thunderbolt

connector retainer clip secures the included Thunderbolt 3

(40Gbps) cable to the Echo chassis to prevent accidental

disconnects. The included clip is compatible with Sonnet 0.5-

meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) cables, but it is not compatible

with Sonnet 1-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) cables.

To attach the clip to the cable, remove both items from their

packaging, and then insert the connector through the connector

clip as shown (Figure 7). Note that the connector will pass all the

way through the clip; when you connect the cable to the chassis,

the clip will secure the connector.

Chapter 4 – Complete Setup and Configuration

Figure 8

Figure 9

SETUP AND CONFIGURATION STEPS—MAC USERS

This page instructs Mac users how to verify the Echo

chassis and installed cards are recognized by the computer;

Windows users should skip to the next page.

A – Confirm the Echo Express SE III is Recognized

1. With the Echo chassis powered and connected to the

computer, turn on the computer.

2. Press and hold down the Option key, and then from

the Apple menu, select System Information; a System

Information window will open.

3. In the System Information window, click Thunderbolt

under the Hardware header in the left column

(Figure 8).

4. In the top right column under the Thunderbolt Device

Tree header, you will see Thunderbolt Bus, and then

“Echo Express SE-III TB3” (Figure 8).

B – Confirm the Installed Cards are Recognized

1. In the System Information window click PCI under the

Hardware header in the left column (Figure 9).

2. At the top of the right column, the installed cards are

listed (if not, you may to install drivers before the cards

are recognized). Click one of the cards; you should see

“Yes” next to Driver Installed and Tunnel Compatible,

otherwise the card or driver may not be Thunderbolt-

compatible (Figure 9).

C – Install Card Drivers (If Necessary)

1. Launch a web browser, and then go to your card

manufacturer’s website. Download and install the latest

drivers according to the manufacturer’s directions.

2. Restart your computer; your Echo chassis is ready to use!

Support Note: If “Echo Express SE-III TB3” is not

listed, disconnect and reconnect the Thunderbolt

cable between the computer and Echo chassis. Note that

it is not necessary to shut down the computer before

disconnecting and reconnecting the cable, so long as the

installed card is Thunderbolt-compatible.

Support Note: While the Echo Express SE III

expansion chassis requires no drivers, installed cards

require Thunderbolt-compatible drivers to enable their use.

Chapter 4 – Complete Setup and Conﬁguration

SETUP AND CONFIGURATION STEPS—WINDOWS USERS

A – Confirm the Echo Express SE III and Installed

Cards Are Recognized

1. With the Echo chassis connected to a power source and

to the computer, turn on the computer. Note that if there

are any other Thunderbolt devices connected between

the Sonnet adapter and your computer, they must also be

powered for you to perform the following steps.

2. When the computer boots for the ﬁrst time after you

connected the Echo Express SE III, an Approve New

Thunderbolt™ Devices window appears. From the drop-down

menu select Always Connect, and then click OK.

3. Right-click the Windows Start button, and then select

Manage; the Computer Management window appears.

4. In the Computer Management window, click the category of

each card type you installed to expand the listing; a generic

adapter listing will appear. After their drivers are installed, the

listings will change to display the names of the installed cards.

B – Install Card Drivers, If Necessary

1. Launch a web browser, and then go to your card

manufacturer’s website. Download and install the latest

drivers according to the manufacturer’s directions.

2. Restart your computer; your Echo chassis is ready to use!

Chapter 5 – Tips, General Information, and Known Issues

TIPS, GENERAL INFORMATION

Keeping the Cards Cool

With its optimized airﬂow design and temperature-controlled

fan providing cooling at all times, Echo Express SE III provides

adequate cooling for the installed cards. Do not operate the Echo

chassis with its cover off, and do not block any of the vents! Otherwise,

the installed cards and Echo chassis’ components may overheat.

Hot Plugging the Echo Express SE III

When a certiﬁed Thunderbolt-compatible card (used with

Thunderbolt-compatible drivers) is installed in the Echo chassis,

you may connect and disconnect it while the computer is on.

Of course, if you have anything connected to the cards, such

as storage devices, cameras, etc., follow proper procedures for

disconnecting those devices before unplugging the Echo chassis.

There’s No Need to Unplug the Power Adapter

Because Echo Express SE III automatically powers on and off with

the computer to which it’s connected, there’s no power switch, nor

is there any need to disconnect the power cable under normal use.

Echo Express SE III Power Indicator LED Operation

The chassis automatically powers on and off with the computer

to which it’s connected, and its power indicator only lights when

the computer is on, and turns off when the computer is sleeping

or powered off. Note that the power adapter’s power indicator

remains lit as long as it is connected to a live power outlet.

Connecting Additional Thunderbolt 3 Peripheral Devices

The Echo Express SE III includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports;

the ﬁrst is reserved for connection to your computer, while

the second supports daisy-chaining of up to ﬁve additional

Thunderbolt peripheral devices.

Using Expansion Cards Without Drivers

Some Thunderbolt-compatible expansion cards, like Sonnet’s

Presto™Gigabit Pro PCIe and Sonnet’s Tempo™SATA Pro 6Gb

PCIe 2.0 eSATA card, use drivers built into the OS, and are ready

to use out of the box.

Some PCIe Cards May Not Fit in Echo Express SE III

Cards installed into Echo Express SE III must be no more than

7.75 inches (19.7 cm) long.

Replacing a Card After Initial Installation

Shut down the computer, and then disconnect the power adapter

and Thunderbolt cables from the Echo Express SE III before

opening the chassis and replacing the card.

PCIe CARDS ARE NOT HOT-PLUGGABLE!

Never install a PCIe card into Echo chassis while it is connected

to a computer or power outlet! If you do, you risk injury, and

damage to the card, chassis, and computer.

Echo Express SE III Provides Upstream Power

For connected peripheral devices requiring extra power, the Echo

chassis provides up to 15 watts of power to bus-powered devices.

Using the Echo Express SE III to Charge Your Notebook or

Laptop Computer

Apple®MacBook Pro®computers with Thunderbolt 3 and some PC

laptops with Thunderbolt 3 may be charged via one of the Echo

chassis’ Thunderbolt 3 ports (via 15W Power Delivery), but some

PC laptops will not accept charging from a Thunderbolt peripheral;

see https://gtrusted.com/technology/thunderbolt/thunderbolt3-

hosts/ for more information. Computers with Thunderbolt 2 or

Thunderbolt ports may not be charged via Thunderbolt.

How to Identify Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) Cables

Look for the Thunderbolt icon ( ) AND the number 3 on the

connector housings to identify these cables. Cables with USB-C

connectors that only have the Thunderbolt icon without the

number 3 support 20Gbps speeds, and are not recommended for

PCIe cards with high bandwidth requirements. Cables marked

with the USB icon ( ) are NOT compatible.

KNOWN ISSUES

Not All Computers’ Thunderbolt 3 Performance is Equal

While the Echo Express SE III features a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3

interface, some computers equipped with Thunderbolt 3 use an

x2 PCIe (2-lane) implementation of Thunderbolt 3 technology

that limits PCIe performance to 20Gbps. For more computer

information, visit http://gtrusted.com/technology/thunderbolt/

thunderbolt3-hosts/

Not all PCIe Cards Will Perform at 100%

Thunderbolt 3’s PCIe bandwidth is limited to 40Gbps. While

most cards will operate at full performance, some may not due

to the fact they require more bandwidth than Thunderbolt 3 is

capable of supporting.

Not All Thunderbolt 3 Cables Deliver Full Performance or

Power Delivery Capabilities

Full performance and power delivery capabilities from

the Echo Express SE III require the use of the included or

comparable Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) cable. When shopping for

a Thunderbolt 3 cable, please be aware that some cables support

only lower data transfer speeds (20Gbps) and/or power delivery

capabilities.

Operating System (OS) Updates May Break Compatibility

Speciﬁc device drivers that work under one OS version may not work

under a later version. Before updating your computer to the latest OS,

we recommend that you contact Sonnet or your PCIe card’s

manufacturer to verify that the existing drivers work. Note

that other software updates for the computer may also break

compatibility.

Some Devices’ Performance May be Affected by Where They

Are Connected in a Thunderbolt Chain

However small, Thunderbolt introduces latency to a device chain.

If you expand with additional Thunderbolt expansion chassis,

you may need to experiment with which cards work better in

chassis closer to or farther from the computer in the chain.

Chapter 6 – Safety Precautions, FCC Compliance, and Support Information

Contacting Customer Service

The Sonnet Web site located at www.sonnettech.com has the

most current support information and technical updates. Before

you call Customer Service, please check our Web site for the latest

updates and online support ﬁles, and check this User’s Guide for

helpful information.

Email support requests generally receive the fastest responses, and

are usually processed within a 24-hour period during normal

business hours, excluding holidays. When you contact Customer

Service, have the following information available so the customer

service staff can better assist you:

• Product name

• Date and place of purchase

• Computer model

• PCIe card models

• Operating system version

• Software/ﬁrmware versions

• A System Report (macOS) or a Microsoft System Information

MSINFO32 (Windows) report (Windows), along with a descrip-

tion of the issue(s) you are encountering with your device.

USA Customers

If further assistance is needed, please contact Sonnet Customer

Service at:

E-mail: support@sonnettech.com

Tel: 1-949-472-2772

(Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Paciﬁc Time)

For Customers Outside the USA

For support on this product, contact your reseller or local

distributor.

Visit Our Web Site

For the most current product information and online support

ﬁles, visit the Sonnet Web site at www.sonnettech.com/support/.

to be informed of future upgrades and product releases.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Please read this section carefully before proceeding. These

precautions explain the correct and safe use of this device,

thereby helping to prevent injury to you or others, and also help

you to minimize the risk of damaging the device.

Warnings

Always follow the basic warnings listed here to avoid the risk of

serious injury or death from electrical shock, short-circuiting, ﬁre,

and other hazards. These warnings include, but are not limited to:

• Do not attempt to modify the enclosure. If this device appears

to be malfunctioning, contact your reseller or local distributor.

• Do not drop the chassis; dropping or mishandling the chassis

may result in a malfunction leaving the product inoperable.

• Do not expose the device to rain, use it near water or containers

that contain liquids which might spill into any openings, or in

damp or wet conditions.

• If unusual smells, sounds, or smoke come from the device, or if

liquids enter it, switch it off immediately and unplug it from the

electrical outlet.

• Follow the instructions in this manual carefully; contact your

reseller or local distributor for additional advice not covered in

this User’s Guide.

FCC Compliance

Echo Express SE III complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions: This device

may not cause harmful interference, AND this device must accept

any interference received, including interference that may cause

undesired operation.

Inc. FireWire, Mac, the Mac logo, MacBook Pro, and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.Thunderbolt 3 and the Thunderbolt logo

are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change

without notice. Printed in the USA. UG-ECHO-EXP-SE3-E-B-020218

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