I just purchased a Hitachi 2TB drive I would like to hook it up to my airport so I can back up both my I mac and laptop where can I find instructions to accomplish this. Plus I need to know how to partition the drive
iMac, Mac OS X (10.0.x)
Drive Preparation
1. Boot from your OS X Installer Disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
If you are preparing an external or a non-startup drive, then open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
2. After ** loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the ** main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one, or more if you prefer to make more than one volume. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the ** main window.
5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.
What "airport" do you have? Is this an Airport Extreme Base Station? If so connect the drive via USB cable to the USB port on the AEBS. Open Airport Utility in your Utilities folder, click on the Manual button, then click on the Drive icon in the toolbar, set up the drive to be shared then enable File Sharing in your Sharing preferences of System Preferences.
First Thank you so much for the information, The "airport" i have is Airport Express 802.112n Wi Fi. Frank
Unfortunately, if you really do have an AirPort Express, and you are trying to connect your drive to the USB port on the Express, this will not work because the AirPort Express will only support a compatible printer. It does not support hard drive operation at the USB port.
Is there a work around? or do I have to hook up the hard drive to each machine when I want to do a back up?
Unfortunately, there is no workaround available if your drive connects using USB. You will need to hook up the hard drive directly to your computer when you want to do a back up.
Where are you getting this information (Airport Express USB for printers only)? I have been using a Western Digital Drive connected to my Airport Extreme as both a Time Capsule storage point as well as an iTune Library storage point for several months. Today I tried replacing the Western Digital with a Hitachi Touro Pro (USB 3.0) and it did not work. Apple support had no problems when I told them what I was doing. Hitachi advised I exchange the Touro Pro (USB 3.) for a Touro XL (USB 2.0).
Sorry, just noticed the fine point of "airport extreme" vs. "airport express". Apple explicitly claims Airport Extreme USB enables sharing a hard disk see this link: http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/features/harddrivesharing.html . You may be right the little Airport Express may not have that capability.
Where are you getting this information (Airport Express USB for printers only)?
From Apple.....http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2421
In additon, the information sheet on the AirPort Express confirms this as well.....http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
Nowhere in any support pages or literature does it say that the AirPort Express will support a hard drive.
If you find otherwise, please post back with the information.
I just purchased a Hitachi 2TB drive I would like to hook it up to my airport so I can back up both my I mac and laptop where can I find instructions?
