This article comprises the Read Me for FireWire 2.0. This software was released by Apple on March 29, 1999 and is available for downloading from Apple Software Updates Online. Please see Software Updates Document Number 11316, or use the following URL to access the article directly: http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n11316 .

Description :

Apple's FireWire 2.0 software is a component of Mac OS that supports the IEEE 1394 High Performance Serial Bus standard. FireWire 2.0 provides a system extension called FireWire Support. This extension adds services to the Mac OS to support the use of FireWire hardware and software.

FireWire 2.0 also provides an extension called FireWire Enabler. This extension adds hardware-specific support for Apple FireWire interfaces. The FireWire Enabler extension only supports the Apple FireWire PCI Card and the built-in FireWire interface on Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) computers.

FireWire 2.0 can improve the quality of video recorded from Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) computers to DV devices. FireWire 2.0 also contains new services that enable the use of FireWire disk drives, printers, and other new devices.

The FireWire 2.0 installer can only be used on Power Macintosh G3 computers.

FireWire 2.0

Apple's FireWire 2.0 software is a component of Mac OS that supports the IEEE 1394 High Performance Serial Bus standard. FireWire 2.0 provides a system extension called FireWire Support. This extension adds services to the Mac OS to support the use of FireWire hardware and software.

FireWire 2.0 also provides an extension called FireWire Enabler. This extension adds hardware-specific support for Apple FireWire interfaces. The FireWire Enabler extension only supports the Apple FireWire PCI Card and the built-in FireWire interface on Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) computers.

FireWire 2.0 can improve the quality of video recorded from Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White) computers to DV devices. FireWire 2.0 also contains new services that enable the use of FireWire disk drives, printers, and other new devices.

The FireWire 2.0 installer can only be used on Power Macintosh G3 computers.

FireWire Description

FireWire is an Apple trademark for the IEEE 1394 standard. This cross-platform digital peripheral interface standard is suitable for multimedia devices and many other high performance applications. FireWire's benefits include fast real-time transfer, plug-and-play, hot swapping, a higher-speed growth path, and easy-to-use cables and connectors.

FireWire products currently available from third parties include digital video cameras and digital video decks, printers, still image cameras, and PCI cards that can connect these devices to a computer. These products can be used to capture digital still images and to perform non-linear editing of digital video, including the creation of new digital media content. The FireWire Support extension provides general-purpose functions used by all of these.

In addition, Apple's FireWire Support extension functions are not limited to digital video applications. Consumer and professional FireWire products available in the near future may include disk drives, printers, synthesizers, digital TVs, scanners, entertainment systems, set-top boxes, and other devices, and the extension will be useful with many of these.

Hardware and Software Requirements

FireWire 2.0 can be used with any Power Macintosh G3 computer running North American English Mac OS 8.5.1. Third party hardware and software may have additional memory, hardware, or software requirements.

FireWire 2.0 requires a built-in FireWire interface or at least one FireWire PCI card.

Customer information about FireWire can be found on Apple's web site at this address: http://www.apple.com/firewire . Information about the IEEE 1394 Trade Association, and many FireWire products, can be found at these addresses: http://www.1394ta.org http://www.1394showcase.com .

Installing FireWire 2.0

FireWire Support may have been installed in the Extensions folder in the System Folder on your Macintosh. Third party products may also include this extension, so you may not need to install FireWire 2.0 separately. Carefully read all third party documentation (e.g. Read Me files) for the latest details. Be careful not to replace a newer version of FireWire Support that is already in your Extensions folder with an older version. If you are not sure of the versions, use the Get Info command in the Finder to compare them first.

You can also find the latest version of FireWire software at http://www.apple.com/firewire .

Important:

If you do not have a FireWire PCI card or built-in interface, there is no reason to install the FireWire Support extension. However, it should not affect the computer's performance if it does not have an interface and you have installed the extension.

If you want to use FireWire digital video devices with your computer, get the latest version of QuickTime, which contains the necessary drivers. You can get the latest version of QuickTime at Apple's World Wide Web site: http://www.apple.com/quicktime .

Known Problems and Limitations

If these instructions are not followed correctly, your computer and other FireWire devices may not operate correctly. For more information about using and troubleshooting FireWire devices, see the electronic documentation installed on your computer.

IEEE 1394 and FireWire support up to 63 FireWire devices (including computers) connected together.

Follow these guidelines for connecting FireWire devices to the computer:

• Do not connect more than 63 devices at one time.
• Do not connect devices in such a way that any two devices have more than 16 cables directly between them.
• Do not connect FireWire cables in a way that forms a ring of devices. Do not plug both ends of one cable into the same device.
• Unused FireWire connections should be left empty. There are no terminators for FireWire connections.
• Connect devices that require power from FireWire directly to the computer.
• Do not unplug a FireWire device while it is being used. For example, do not unplug a FireWire disk while copying files onto it.