Do I have a "linked" FUSION Drive and Why Does Software Update

Hi Folks, I have a 2020 27" iMac with both a 250GB SSD and a 2 TB SSD running Monterey. I purchased this from an online reseller who "Built" the machine to my specifications> I have no idea why the reseller chose Monterey instead of the newer Operating System.


My questions are:


1] Do I have a linked "FUSION SYSTEM"?


2] Why does my machine not see through Software Updates that there are newer Operating Systems available to install?


When I go to System Preferences to Storage all that is listed is my main 2 TB drive with Volume names Macintosh HD & Macintosh Data. They are both listed as disk 2s1s1 and disk 2s5


When I check on Systems SATA, I do see:


Apple SSD Controller 250GB [disk 0]

and Intel Series Chipset 2TB [disk 1]


When I use the terminal and do a diskutil list and a diskutil apfs list, I get the following:

When I do a dikutil apfs list:

When I do a softwareupdate --list-full-installers, I get


Can someone please help me address these issues? THANK YOU!

Curtis



Posted on Aug 5, 2024 2:59 PM

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Posted on Aug 9, 2024 8:18 PM

Yes, you do have a Fusion Drive setup there. Both SSDs are linked to "disk2" which is where your system & data volumes are stored. In fact the APFS report clearly mentions a "Fusion Drive".


As for the software update issue.....since it is showing macOS 10.13 High Sierra as an option, that means you do not have a 2020 iMac since a 2020 iMac would have shipped with either macOS Catalina or Big Sur. Unfortunately I cannot identify an iMac which shipped with macOS 10.13 and supports only up to macOS Monterey. The closest option is a 2017, but that should support Ventura.


Get the system serial number being reported by macOS by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac", then compare that serial number with the serial number printed on the base of the iMac's stand. Do the two serial numbers match? You can enter the system serial number on the check coverage page here to confirm the exact model reported by the serial number (please don't post the serial number on the forum since it is considered personal information).

Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support


Unfortunately people could potentially change the system serial number on the Logic Boards of the 2017 & 2019 models, or maybe a different model Logic Board has been installed into the enclosure. A 2020 iMac has a T2 security chip. Does macOS report a T2 security chip? You can also try booting into Recovery Mode to see if the Startup Security Utility has an option for allowing/disallowing booting from USB....I believe that is only available on a T2 equipped Mac although I am not certain. Startup Security Utility is available on non-T2 Macs.


No matter what.....if you decide to keep this computer, I would personally perform a clean install of macOS onto the Fusion Drive by first erasing the Fusion Drive followed by reinstalling macOS to ensure you have a clean copy of macOS without any nasty hidden surprises. I would suggest creating & using a bootable macOS USB installer so you have more options in case Internet Recovery Mode gives you any problems.


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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 9, 2024 8:18 PM in response to curtispsf

Yes, you do have a Fusion Drive setup there. Both SSDs are linked to "disk2" which is where your system & data volumes are stored. In fact the APFS report clearly mentions a "Fusion Drive".


As for the software update issue.....since it is showing macOS 10.13 High Sierra as an option, that means you do not have a 2020 iMac since a 2020 iMac would have shipped with either macOS Catalina or Big Sur. Unfortunately I cannot identify an iMac which shipped with macOS 10.13 and supports only up to macOS Monterey. The closest option is a 2017, but that should support Ventura.


Get the system serial number being reported by macOS by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac", then compare that serial number with the serial number printed on the base of the iMac's stand. Do the two serial numbers match? You can enter the system serial number on the check coverage page here to confirm the exact model reported by the serial number (please don't post the serial number on the forum since it is considered personal information).

Check Your Service and Support Coverage - Apple Support


Unfortunately people could potentially change the system serial number on the Logic Boards of the 2017 & 2019 models, or maybe a different model Logic Board has been installed into the enclosure. A 2020 iMac has a T2 security chip. Does macOS report a T2 security chip? You can also try booting into Recovery Mode to see if the Startup Security Utility has an option for allowing/disallowing booting from USB....I believe that is only available on a T2 equipped Mac although I am not certain. Startup Security Utility is available on non-T2 Macs.


No matter what.....if you decide to keep this computer, I would personally perform a clean install of macOS onto the Fusion Drive by first erasing the Fusion Drive followed by reinstalling macOS to ensure you have a clean copy of macOS without any nasty hidden surprises. I would suggest creating & using a bootable macOS USB installer so you have more options in case Internet Recovery Mode gives you any problems.


Aug 6, 2024 2:13 AM in response to curtispsf

An iMac 2020 27" Display configured and built by Apple does not come with a Fusion Drive


iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) - Technical Specifications


It comes Only with a single SSD Drive


What and How the " online reseller who "Built" the machine to my specifications " was able to make it into a Fusion Drive or even add an addition Drive into the computer is outside of my knowledge


Suggest and before were move forwards with Monterey installed and not a newer version of macOS


Would you please provide a Screen Shot from " About this Mac " without the Serial Number appearing


We are trying to establish if, In Fact , your computer is really an iMac from 2020 or some other vintage


This may, indirectly answer the question as to why the Terminal command " softwareupdate --list-full-installers " is only finding macOS 12 Monterey and nothing Newer




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Do I have a "linked" FUSION Drive and Why Does Software Update

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