The user has the option at boot time to put the computer into a mode of operation called Target Disk Mode (TDM). This mode is similar to SCSI Disk mode on a PowerBook computer equipped with a SCSI port, except it uses a FireWire cable instead of a special SCSI cable.
When the Power Mac G4 Cube is in Target Disk Mode and connected to another Macintosh computer by a FireWire cable, the G4 Cube operates like a FireWire mass storage device with the SBP-2 (Serial Bus Protocol) standard. Target Disk Mode has two primary uses:
The G4 Cube can operate in Target Disk Mode as long as the other computer has a FireWire port and the FireWire version 2.3 or later software.
To put the G4 Cube into Target Disk mode, you restart the computer and holds down the T key until the FireWire icon appears on the display. You then connect a FireWire cable from the G4 Cube to the other computer. When the other computer completes the FireWire connection, a TDM icon appears on its display.
If you disconnect the FireWire cable or turn off the G4 Cube while in Target Disk Mode, an alert appears on the other computer asking you to reconnect the TDM volume.
To take the G4 Cube out of Target Disk Mode, you drag the TDM icon on the other computer to the trash, then turn off the G4 Cube.
For more information, see Target Disk Mode.