mac pro (2013) fails to see usb 3.0 connected drives in boot selection screen

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Level 1

74 points

mac pro (2013) fails to see usb 3.0 connected drives in boot selection screen

Hi,

I am using the late MacPro and have three drives attached via an USB 3.0 hub (Anker Uspeed USB 3.0 7 Port Hub).

The hub has a VIA VL812 chipset with the latest firmware update (9081) - I have verified this.

My problem is, when I enter the boot device selection screen (by pressing the alt-key during startup) none of the drives is recognized.

When I plug any drive directly into one of the four USB 3.0 ports of the MacPro, thereby bypassing the hub, it becomes visible and I can use it to boot.

AFTER the boot process, when OS X has finished loading, everything works fine. I have used two of the drives to backup several GBs of data from my main drives (connected via Thunderbolt) with no issues.

Is anybody able to connect drives through a USB 3.0 hub and use them in the boot selection screen? Which USB hub do you have?

Thanks

Martin

Posted on Jan 30, 2014 12:03 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:30 AM in response to mdopp

I think you tested and answered your own question: must be direct connect. And not all PCIe USB3 controllers support a hub, and assume that you would not use a USB3 hub and not have a USB3 controller as well.

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Answer 2

mdopp Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:40 AM in response to The hatter

Maybe I didn't make it clear enough: after OS X has booted up, I can use all drives connected to the hub just fine.

It is only during the boot selection screen where drives on the hub won't appear.

Is this a general rule (and why?) or should I just get another hub to solve the issue?

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Answer 3

mdopp Author

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74 points

Jan 30, 2014 8:42 AM in response to mdopp

BTW, drives connected to a usb 2.0 hub are visible on the boot selection screen!

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Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jan 30, 2014 9:04 AM in response to mdopp

usb2 is bootable

USB3 needs driver support. That may change perhaps, not sure, with Mavericks.

Not all USB3 PCIe cards (Sonnet Alegro that I have) supports a USB hub, and if your PCIe uses and required a molex power connection.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1519705

Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 users should upgrade to Mountain Lion 10.8.2 or later to avoid unstable connections.

• This hub's firmware has been actively updated for Mac compatibility. For any Mac specific issues, apply the latest Apple updates. Please contact our customer support if any problems remain.

Some USB 3.0 devices require a direct connection to host USB 3.0 ports.(eg: Superdrive and some WD hard drives)

http://www.amazon.com/Anker%C2%AE-7-Port-Adapter-High-Capacity-Chipset/dp/B006TT 91TW

USB3 has not even been perfect with Macs that ship with native USB3. Issues with drivers and support for CalDigit have been on again / off again.

As for booting, how often do you need to? I have not, I have OS X on a couple small partitions on internal drives, I do made a system clone though to external USB3 but that is so I can swap SSDs around and not to boot from.

The FASTA-6GU3 supports many popular features including, S.M.A.R.T., port multiplication, eSATA booting with OS X Lion and support for green and high performance SATA drives. It is also fully compatible with SATA I (1.5G), SATA II (3G) and SATA III (6G) drives.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/CalDigit/FASTA6GU3/

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Answer 5

mdopp Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 30, 2014 10:08 AM in response to The hatter

Ok, now I see your point.

As I have written in my first post I am using the latest MacPro 2013 with native USB 3.0 support - not a PCIe card in an older Mac Pro. And naturally that machine is running 10.9 Mavericks.

The problem is, I can not install Windows 8.1 using boot camp on the Mac's internal drive as I had originally planned (there is a large threat elsewhere on this forum).

But I found a guide that showed me how to install Windows 8.1 on an external drive (usb 3.0 in my case). Only that I can not boot from that drive unless I connect it directly to one of the four MacPro USB 3.0 ports.

The way I have organized my work-space, it would be nice to have this drive aligned with all the other drives. They are all in one cabinet about 1.5 meters away from the MacPro.

It is not really a big issue, but I was wondering why the 3.0 hub wasn't recognized in the boot selection screen when an usb 2.0 hub worked fine.

I guess in the long run I will spend the extra money and install Windows on a dedicated thunderbolt drive.

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Answer 6

Corsair2

Level 1

18 points

Jan 30, 2014 11:54 AM in response to The hatter

For the Hatter. I just ordered a new MacPro upgrading from my early 2008. I have a question on USB 3.0 compatibility with my USB 2.0 accessories. Will my USB 2.0 keyboard, printer and SD Card reader cables plug in to the new 3.0 ports? I also have an Apple Cinema display and am using an HDMI to DVI plug for the display cable. I am getting a Thunderbolt Hub (Belkin) for my external hard drives which I am taking from my old pro and using an OWC Thuderbolt adapater and Eide enclosure to put my old drives in. Thanks. Corsair2

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Answer 7

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jan 30, 2014 12:36 PM in response to mdopp

And this is the nMP (aka "trash can" cylinder of less than 20 lbs?) I missed that,, but that is what "2013" designates and not one with PCIe unless Thunderbolt.

And you could go with some TB adapters, TB expansion case that can use PCIe.

There are multiple USB3 ports on nMP but they all come off of and share one common bus and have to share bandwidth.

Yes the same keyboards work. http://www.apple.com/support/macpro/ Check specs, device support

Anandtech's Big review is out:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7603/mac-pro-review-late-2013

The Mac Pro teardown: Compact, yet easy to upgrade

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac+Pro+Late+2013+Teardown/20778#s56812

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Answer 8

mdopp Author

Level 1

74 points

Jan 31, 2014 9:18 AM in response to Corsair2

[Will my USB 2.0 keyboard, printer and SD Card reader cables plug in to the new 3.0 ports?]

Yes, they will run without problems. I've done this myself with a couple of devices.

[I also have an Apple Cinema display and am using an HDMI to DVI plug for the display cable. I am getting a Thunderbolt Hub (Belkin) for my external hard drives which I am taking from my old pro and using an OWC Thuderbolt adapater and Eide enclosure to put my old drives in. ]

I see no reason why that shouldn't work.

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Answer 9

Corsair2

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18 points

Jan 31, 2014 1:37 PM in response to mdopp

Thank you.

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Answer 10

Pixel8r

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2014 12:05 PM in response to mdopp

I am having the same problem on a mac pro 2013. I have a USB 3.0 drive connected direct to the mac pro usb port and it doesn't show in the boot selection screen after cloning my system disc to it.

From what I have gathered it is that USB 3.0 boot rom has not been added to the firmware yet. So it looks like it doesn't make any difference if you are connected via a hub or not.

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Answer 11

mdopp Author

Level 1

74 points

Mar 23, 2014 1:13 PM in response to Pixel8r

No, I can access a direct connected usb 3.0 drive just fine (well maybe it is seen as a usb 2.0 device at boot time).

But on an usb 3.0 hub the drive is not visible.

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Answer 12

Pixel8r

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2014 1:34 PM in response to mdopp

It would appear that you are only able to connect to it on USB 2.0

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5643170?answerId=25169660022#25169660022

I just hope that Apple pull their finger out and update the firmware quickly.

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Answer 13

Mar 23, 2014 6:36 PM in response to mdopp

Got the latest firmware?

Computer	Model identifier	EFI Boot ROM version	SMC version
Mac Pro
Mac Pro (Late 2013)	MacPro6,1	MP61.0116.B04 (EFI 2.0)	2.20f18 (SMC 2.0)

.

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Answer 14

mdopp Author

Level 1

74 points

Mar 23, 2014 9:38 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks, but yes. These are my EFI and SMC versions.

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Answer 15

mdopp Author

Level 1

74 points

Mar 23, 2014 9:43 PM in response to Pixel8r

Thanks for the link. Interesting discussion.

I can assure you my workable boot drive is using a USB 3 cable! And I am pretty sure it is connected as a USB 3 drive at least AFTER the boot process (otherwise Windows 8.1, which is installed on that drive, would be a lot slower).

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