Backup drive disconnecting

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Backup drive disconnecting

I recently replaced an aging Time Capsule with a Western Digital MyCloud drive. It's plugged in to the same Ethernet port as the Time Capsule was, and I can see it in Finder and connect to it. The problem is that whenever the Mac goes to sleep (or maybe after a specific time limit) the drive disconnects itself. It still shows up in Finder and I can reconnect easily, but the drive is frequently not available to Time Machine for backups. How can I set this drive to remain connected all the time?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Dec 31, 2020 8:33 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,244 points

Dec 31, 2020 4:24 PM in response to walt_scrivens

Thanks for the info..

The drive is a Western Digital MyCloudEX2Ultra and the router is a Netgear Orbi RBR20.

The Orbi has previously been noted for its issues with Bonjour.. so that is one aspect that is contributing to the problem. Maybe in your case the key issue.

When you have issues with the WD.. try pinging it by name again without using .local

I suspect the computer cannot find it once the ARP in the computer expires post the mount command.

One method to overcome this is to mount the drive using its IP address instead of by name. That removes the dependency on search domain.

I gave outline of the method here for Time Capsule.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252095046?answerId=253978990022#253978990022

A similar setup should work with the MyCloud.. BUT... I don't have a computer that is big sur capable yet.. nor do I own a mycloud so I cannot reproduce the problem.

I did check the firmware updates and the latest was March 2019.. that is well before Big Sur hit the street so WD has not spent any time working on Time Machine issues with the latest OS which are extensive. No doubt they will get to it... eventually!!

For now do a google search for

mycloud time machine big sur issues

There are lots of posts.. you might get something useful out of them.

Let me add the issue in your case I think is a combo of the Orbi plus MyCloud. Since you have been successful getting Time Machine to work but the primary problem appears to be network discovery.

Tell me how you go with adding local to the domain.

I use a Synology NAS which is generally considered the top brand for alternative to Time Capsule.. with the price tag to match it should be noted. I very deliberately set the whole network to local because of Time Capsule issues.. I am not sure it is required with MyCloud.

As a test I would also download and try out Carbon Copy Cloner. Since Time Machine has become less and less reliable with each successive version of Mac OS.. you might find it works better. It is free to use without limitation for a month.

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Answer 2

Dec 31, 2020 1:19 PM in response to walt_scrivens

In the setup of the MyCloud drive are you using the sharename or MyCloud drive name or its' IP address?

To test what is happening open a terminal and ping your MyCloud firstly by name.. then add domain if your network is using one.. and finally test by IP address.

One of the real problems with Mac OS recently has been the mDNS is not working (well) if the main router is not bonjour aware.

By replacing the TC which is Apple product with something less Apple it simply cannot figure out where the drive is located.

There are other issues but do give us more info.. what make and model is your main router?

On the computer you are using what is showing in DNS and Domain under Advanced? A screenshot will really help. Here is mine so you know what I am after. Nothing here is going to reveal personal info.. so please post the whole thing without erasing items.

Also using Big Sur you need to expect issues with non-Apple products.

Check WD if they have released a firmware update to improve MyCloud reliability with this latest Mac OS.

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Answer 3

Dec 31, 2020 3:29 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks. The issue is not finding the drive in the first place, it is that the drive is disconnected frequently and I have to manually connect to it in Finder.

Here's a mount command, while the drive is connected:

walts@Walts-MBP /Volumes % mount

/dev/disk1s5s1 on / (apfs, sealed, local, read-only, journaled)

devfs on /dev (devfs, local, nobrowse)

/dev/disk1s4 on /System/Volumes/VM (apfs, local, noexec, journaled, noatime, nobrowse)

/dev/disk1s2 on /System/Volumes/Preboot (apfs, local, journaled, nobrowse)

/dev/disk1s6 on /System/Volumes/Update (apfs, local, journaled, nobrowse)

/dev/disk1s1 on /System/Volumes/Data (apfs, local, journaled, nobrowse)

map auto_home on /System/Volumes/Data/home (autofs, automounted, nobrowse)

/dev/disk3 on /Volumes/Mac Backup (hfs, local, nodev, nosuid, journaled)

//GUEST:@MyCloudEX2Ultra._smb._tcp.local/FREEAGENT on /Volumes/FREEAGENT (smbfs, nodev, nosuid, noowners, quarantine, mounted by walts)

walts@Walts-MBP /Volumes

I'm curious as to the significance of the //GUEST: in the mount designation. (FREEAGENT is a USB disk plugged in to the MyCloud drive, the same as it was with the Time Capsule.))

In Time Machine Preferences it's showing up as MyCloudEX2Ultra.local, and I can ping it as such.

walts@Walts-MBP /Volumes % ping MyCloudEX2Ultra.local

PING mycloudex2ultra.local (192.168.1.7): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from 192.168.1.7: icmp_seq=0 ttl=64 time=15.874 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.7: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=6.096 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.7: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=4.170 ms

64 bytes from 192.168.1.7: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=5.875 ms

^C

--- mycloudex2ultra.local ping statistics ---

4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

I can ping the ip address too.

The drive is a Western Digital MyCloudEX2Ultra and the router is a Netgear Orbi RBR20.

Here's the network info you asked for:

192.168.1.198 is a pi-hole which has been there for many months before the drive replacement.

I noticed that you have local in the domains search. Perhaps that will help, I'll try adding it.

Thanks and I'd welcome any other ideas.

Walt

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Backup drive disconnecting

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