norman.chonacky

Q: Can I mount a USB disk drive connected to a Airport Express

Can you simply mount a usb drive that is connected to an Airport network?

 

I have an Airport Extreme configured as a base station serving a network that has been extended via an Airport Express. I have connected an external USB hard drive to that Xpress's USB port. I'd like to think that I should be able to mount that networked drive on my desktop but have not been able to figure out how. Is it possible? Any experiences or ideas?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 22, 2012 9:15 AM

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Q: Can I mount a USB disk drive connected to a Airport Express

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  • by John Galt,Solvedanswer

    John Galt John Galt Oct 22, 2012 9:22 AM in response to norman.chonacky
    Level 8 (49,787 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2012 9:22 AM in response to norman.chonacky

    norman.chonacky wrote:

     

    ... I have connected an external USB hard drive to that Xpress's USB port. I'd like to think that I should be able to mount that networked drive on my desktop but have not been able to figure out how. Is it possible?

     

    No. Only an AirPort Extreme can do that.

     

    Plug it into the Extreme's USB port, not the Express's.

     

    Uses for the USB port of Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express:

     

    AirPort Extreme 802.11n

    • Single self-powered USB hard disk
    • Single powered USB printer directly into the USB port, or several printers connected to the base station via a powered USB hub
    • Using a powered USB hub you may connect several hard disks and/or printers

    AirPort Express 802.11n

    • Single powered USB printer directly into the USB port, or several printers to the base station via a powered USB hub

     

     

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2421

  • by norman.chonacky,

    norman.chonacky norman.chonacky Oct 22, 2012 9:46 AM in response to norman.chonacky
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2012 9:46 AM in response to norman.chonacky

    Thanks John ... this answered my question. I guess the reason that this connectivity only works for Airport Extreme may be related to the absence of routing capabiltiy in Airport Express.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Oct 22, 2012 9:58 AM in response to norman.chonacky
    Level 8 (49,787 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 22, 2012 9:58 AM in response to norman.chonacky

    You're welcome... whatever the reason for the USB port limitations it's not routing capability though. The Express is capable of operating as a router. The reason probably has more to do with marketing decisions, in the same way that Apple decided not to include the same Express iTunes music streaming capability in the Extreme.