Using '09 iMac as Target Display via Thunderbolt Cable Fail

I have a peculiar situation that I hoping someone can decipher with certainty:
I have a late 2009 iMac core i7, 27" running 10.9.1
I just received a Mac Pro - my plan was to use the iMac as a display for the Mac Pro at least for a while. I purchased a thunderbolt cable. I have connected the mac pro via thunderbolt cable to the mini display port on the iMac.
Unfortunately I simply cannot get CMD-F2 to work, or FN-CMD-F2 on the iMac. I have tried PRAM resets etc. The system does nothing when I hit those keys. I verified the mac pro is working via HDMI.
I am now wondering if I have the right cable. I understood thunderbolt and mini display port to be interchangeable and backward compatible so that my situation would work.
What am I missing? Thanks much, really would like to get this mac pro on screen without buying a new monitor!

I found that MDP iMac MUST use a MDP cable. Which of course is not as easy to come by as the thunderbolt which I picked up. Really annoying.
http://blog.macsales.com/10899-target-display-mode-and-thunderbolt

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Hi all,
I'm currently thinking about getting the new iMac 27" when its finally available in December. Currently I'm only using a PC and I'd like to keep the PC for gaming and Windows specific Software. In this case I'd like to use the iMac as PC-Display. Unfortunately the new iMac will only have Thunderbolt connectors.
My first question is if i'll be possible to use these Thunderbolt-Ports as Video inputs and secondly if it'll be possible to connect a Thunderbolt-equipped PC to the iMac and use it as Display in Taget Display Mode (e.g. with Asus P8Z77-V Pro/Thunderbolt Mainboard).
As long as it's not possible to connect a PC to an iMac and use it as Display I'll not be able to switch to Apple.
Thanks in advance for your help!

Why not install MS Windows on the new iMac and run your video games on the iMac, you can run your games natively in MS WIndows by using Boot Camp for the best user experience.
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Hello eassic,
Thanks for the question, and welcome to Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like Target Display Mode may be what you are looking for:
Target Display Mode lets you use a Mac as the external display for another “primary” Mac. In some cases, you can also play the sound from your primary Mac on the speakers of the external Mac. For example, a MacBook Pro could use a 27-inch iMac as the display and play its audio on the iMac as well.
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http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11302
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Using '09 iMac as Target Display via Thunderbolt Cable Fail

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