USB drive compatibility with Airport Routers. Help make database.

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Level 9

67,202 points

USB drive compatibility with Airport Routers. Help make database.

Please HELP.

Everyone who has a USB drive plugged into the airport directly and working, I want to assemble a database of those that work and those that fail.

And if you could not get it to work but it is ok on a powered USB hub please also give that info.

I see the question over and over about failure of the USB drive to work on a Time Capsule or Extreme (Express is not compatible).

The drive must be formatted correctly. FAT32 or Mac OS Extended (Journaled). (HFS+) are the only formats that work.. and really only the later is recommended.

Yet when people plug their drive into the airport, all correctly formatted it does not work.

There are obvious considerations..

1. Format and partition is correct.

2. Power consumption.. self powered drives may not get enough power.. actually I would not recommend using self-powered drives with any of the older version TC.. the power supply is underrated.. and even the AE power supply is far from excessive. The new version AC models have a far more powerful supply, so self powered drives should not be a problem.

3. USB chipset.. I think the problem is here. A USB drive can work fine on the Computer.. it has huge number of drivers available but the AE/TC has limited firmware space and limited number of drivers. So what I want is to find those that work and those that don't.

Info I would like.

1. Make and model.. as much info as required that a person could go out and buy that same one. ie versions maybe important.

2. Does it work directly on the AE/TC?.. yes or no.

3. Does it work via a powered hub? yes or no. Leave this blank if the answer to 2 is yes.

4. Can you please plug it into the Mac, open the system information and give me this info.

Touro Desk Pro:

Product ID: 0x1013

Vendor ID: 0x4971

Version: 0.00

Serial Number: 31001304180002200312

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: HGST

Location ID: 0xfa130000 / 5

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 8

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,204,136,448 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

It will be more useful as a copy and paste.

But here is the screenshot. So you know where to find it.

5. Comments

You might want to tell us if it is terrible or slow.. or cheap and excellent.. recommend to others or stay away.

The last bit I want is to work out if any of the technical id stuff helps.

What is the USB chipset? You do not need to add the info.. I can search for it.. but when I google the Vendor ID: 0x4971 I discover this is JMicron.

If you are interested then please you can add it as well.

There is a lot of info around the web.. look for reliable source.

http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/smartmontools/wiki/Supported_USB-Devices

6. USB chipset. JMicron

Maybe we can track down the factors that are making it hard to pick devices that work and devices that don't.

At least have a list of drives known to work could be helpful.

There is a listing.. http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/8014.html It is way out of date.

That is the only one I know of.. but if people can point to others that is great.

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 2011 base model

Posted on Feb 17, 2014 3:17 PM

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Answer 1

LaPastenague Author

Level 9

67,202 points

Feb 17, 2014 3:21 PM in response to LaPastenague

Like this.

1. Touro Desk Pro:

2. Yes.

3. N.A. (if 2 is yes then 3 is yes).

4.

Touro Desk Pro:

Product ID: 0x1013

Vendor ID: 0x4971

Version: 0.00

Serial Number: 31001304180002200312

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: HGST

Location ID: 0xfa130000 / 5

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 8

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,204,136,448 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Good price; works fine.

Buy the shells from OWC for a few dollars and use any old disk in it.

6. JMicron.

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Answer 2

profwaw

Level 1

8 points

Mar 11, 2014 5:03 PM in response to LaPastenague

1. Seagate 1TB Backup Plus, model # SRD00F1

2. No

3. Yes; works with unpowered usb hub

4.

Seagate External HDD Mac OS :

Available: 984.31 GB (984,312,909,824 bytes)

Capacity: 999.86 GB (999,860,912,128 bytes)

Mount Point: /Volumes/Seagate External HDD Mac OS

File System: Journaled HFS+

Writable: Yes

Ignore Ownership: Yes

BSD Name: disk5s2

Volume UUID: 2566D476-BC13-3F1C-BA1D-FCCBAF039A90

Physical Drive:

Media Name: Seagate Backup+ BK Media

Protocol: USB

Internal: No

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Not Supported

I'd love to know if you find some that do work directly off the TC USB slot.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

profwaw

Level 1

8 points

Mar 13, 2014 4:19 PM in response to LaPastenague

1. Seagate 1TB Backup Plus, model # SRD00F1

2. Yes

3. N/A

4.

Seagate External HDD Mac OS :

Available: 984.31 GB (984,312,909,824 bytes)

Capacity: 999.86 GB (999,860,912,128 bytes)

Mount Point: /Volumes/Seagate External HDD Mac OS

File System: Journaled HFS+

Writable: Yes

Ignore Ownership: Yes

BSD Name: disk5s2

Volume UUID: 2566D476-BC13-3F1C-BA1D-FCCBAF039A90

Physical Drive:

Media Name: Seagate Backup+ BK Media

Protocol: USB

Internal: No

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Not Supported

The Seagate HDD works directly off the TC usb port after the 03/12/2014 TC firmware update. This reply changes my reply of 03/11/2014 5:03pm

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Answer 4

May 1, 2014 4:53 AM in response to LaPastenague

These are connecting to a 3rd Gen 1TB Time Capsule.

1. Western Digital My Passport 0740

2. Yes

3. Yes

4.

Product ID: 0x0740

Vendor ID: 0x1058 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)

Version: 10.07

Serial Number: 575852314342315738313335

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Western Digital

Location ID: 0x26200000 / 3

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 500

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,170,586,112 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk5

Partition Map Type: MBR (Master Boot Record)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Purchased in 2012.

1. Sony Vaio (roughly from 2007-8)

2. Yes

3. Yes

4.

Product ID: 0x6390

Vendor ID: 0x058f (Alcor Micro, Corp.)

Version: 1.00

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Generic

Location ID: 0x24100000 / 3

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 100

Capacity: 160.04 GB (160,041,885,696 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk4

Partition Map Type: APM (Apple Partition Map)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Purchased in 2008

1. Seagate Backup Plus for Mac SRD0SP0 1TB

2. Yes

3. Yes

4.

Product ID: 0xa013

Vendor ID: 0x0bc2 (Seagate LLC)

Version: 1.00

Serial Number: NA5P3KTA

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Seagate

Location ID: 0x26200000 / 3

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 100

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,204,885,504 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk5

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Purchased in 2013.

1. Drobo 5D

2. No.

3. No, not even on a Belkin Powered USB hub.

4.

Product ID: 0x3455

Vendor ID: 0x19b9

Version: 0.00

Serial Number: D0B135101700078

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Drobo

Location ID: 0x24100000 / 3

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 2

Capacity: 17.59 TB (17,592,186,044,416 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk4

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. It was working at once stage when plugged directly into the TC, but stopped.

Details here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6151788

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Answer 5

LaPastenague Author

Level 9

67,202 points

May 1, 2014 5:35 AM in response to simonsimon

Thanks for posting all of that info.. it helps to keep track. I will search later for all I can find on what USB chips they are.

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Answer 6

Oct 30, 2014 8:44 AM in response to LaPastenague

1. Western Digital WD10EZEX - WD 1TB 3.5 64MB SATA 6Gbs 7200RPM — **But** in a Hitachi G-Drive enclosure

2. Yes

3.

4. Product ID: 0xce33

Vendor ID: 0x4971

Version: 2.05

Serial Number: EB2303QE

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: G-TECH

Location ID: 0x14200000 / 5

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 0

Capacity: 1 TB (1,000,204,886,016 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk2

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. It worked for a while then mysteriously unmounted and I couldn't get it working again. Now, it's working again.

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Answer 7

Tesserax

Level 10

148,423 points

Oct 30, 2014 10:11 AM in response to LaPastenague

Hi LaPastenague,

I happen to have a number of Western Digital My Passport drives handy that I use for both file storage and Time Machine backups with my Apple routers. I have been using them from when I had 3rd gen 802.11n AirPorts up to today with my 802.11ac models. I have yet to find reliability as an issue ... but, limited to USB v2.0, they are definitely NOT speed demons.

Western Digital My Passport WD6000MEA
Yes
Product ID: 0x0704

Vendor ID: 0x1058 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)

Version: 1.75

Serial Number: 57442D57584E593038535530353336

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Western Digital

Location ID: 0xfa130000 / 5

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 2

Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Relatively slow, but reliable drive.

Western Digital My Passport WDBAAB5000ACH
Yes
Product ID: 0x071a

Vendor ID: 0x1058 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)

Version: 20.19

Serial Number: 57584C314142304132373531

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Western Digital

Location ID: 0xfa130000 / 5

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 500

Capacity: 500.08 GB (500,079,525,888 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: MBR (Master Boot Record)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Relatively slow, but reliable drive.

Western Digital My Passport WD5000ME-01
Yes

Product ID: 0x0704

Vendor ID: 0x1058 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)

Version: 1.75

Serial Number: 57442D575833304136394B38323730

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: Western Digital

Location ID: 0xfa130000 / 5

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 2

Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. Relatively slow, but reliable drive.

General data transfer speed comments on all of the above My Passport drives:

When directly connected to a 4th generation Time Capsule's USB port, I got an average of 28 MBps (write) & 85 MBps (read) speeds. Note: For this test the network path was between a 2012 Mac mini via Ethernet > Cisco RV180 router > via Ethernet > Time Capsule

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 30, 2014 7:58 PM in response to LaPastenague

LaPastenague

I am not sure how these can be integrated into your database. I have two enclosures with a SATA drive in each one.

1. Macally S250U3B

2. Yes

3.

4.

External USB 3.0:

Product ID: 0x0569

Vendor ID: 0x152d (JMicron Technology Corp.)

Version: 0.01

Serial Number: 20130319000188

Speed: Up to 5 Gb/sec

Manufacturer: PI-548

Location ID: 0x15100000 / 12

Current Available (mA): 900

Current Required (mA): 2

Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. It is fairly reliable, and seems to handle USB2 well. No additional power source is necessary.

1. Macally S250UAB

2. Yes

3.

4.

USB2.0 /1394 B/1394A Drive:

Product ID: 0x000a

Vendor ID: 0x0928 (Oxford Semiconductor Ltd.)

Version: 0.00

Serial Number: 2012071100002568

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: PI-263

Location ID: 0x14100000 / 13

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 0

Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk1

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

5. It is reliable, and seems to be a good workhorse. No additional power source is necessary.

http://i.imgur.com/uzQgLqF.png

http://i.imgur.com/YPmXImG.png

These two drives backup two Mac mini servers, one is 2010 with SL 10.6.8 Server, the other is a 2012 Mac mini with ML 10.8.5 Server.

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Answer 9

LaPastenague Author

Level 9

67,202 points

Oct 30, 2014 9:04 PM in response to Tesserax

I got an average of 28 MBps (write) & 85 MBps (read) speeds.

That is a lot better than expected.. I will have to go back and check my values. (You are using B for Bytes??)

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 500

This makes sense for an unpowered drive..

For the drives that only require 2mA are they powered or in a USB powered hub??

Thanks for posting the info.

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Answer 10

LaPastenague Author

Level 9

67,202 points

Oct 30, 2014 9:06 PM in response to Loner T

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 0

When you comment, No additional power source is necessary is this a powered device or powered hub.. If it is directly plugged in I don't know how it can be 0.

Thanks for posting the info.

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Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 30, 2014 9:57 PM in response to LaPastenague

The disks were unplugged from a 4th Gen TC and plugged into a Mac to get the USB details. They do not use external power source but draw power from the TC. I posted the output from System Profiler. Apologies for the confusion.

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Answer 12

Oct 30, 2014 10:45 PM in response to LaPastenague

Good Afternoon Stingray

1. Make and model

LaCie Porsche Design P'9221 500GB USB 2.0 2.5" External Hard Drive

2. Does it work directly on the TC?

YES

3. Does it work via a powered hub?

Left blank as answer to 2 is YES.

4. Plug into Mac, system information.

P'9221 Mobile Drive:

Product ID: 0x1058

Vendor ID: 0x059f (LaCie)

Version: 0.06

Serial Number: 00000000e485f4f700ad

Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec

Manufacturer: LaCie

Location ID: 0x24100000 / 3

Current Available (mA): 500

Current Required (mA): 0

Capacity: 500.11 GB (500,107,862,016 bytes)

Removable Media: Yes

Detachable Drive: Yes

BSD Name: disk4

Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)

S.M.A.R.T. status: Not Supported

Volumes:

EFI:

Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)

BSD Name: disk4s1

Content: EFI

Volume UUID: 0E239BC6-F960-3107-89CF-1C97F78BB46B

LaCie:

Capacity: 499.76 GB (499,763,888,128 bytes)

Available: 450 GB (449,997,578,240 bytes)

Writable: Yes

File System: Journaled HFS+

BSD Name: disk4s2

Mount Point: /Volumes/LaCie

Content: Apple_HFS

Volume UUID: D6FBBCCB-94AA-3465-9DAB-6F4AFB77C59A

5. Comments

Bought about 2 years ago for Time Machine backups of my wife’s MacBook Air. No issues when connected directly. Recently removed from her desk and connected to current model Time Capsule 2TB and used for wireless backups. Fast enough and no connection issues as yet. 

6. USB chipset

Not determined.

I hope this may prove useful.

Thanks.

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Answer 13

LaPastenague Author

Level 9

67,202 points

Oct 30, 2014 11:14 PM in response to Tenterden

Thanks for adding your LaCie products.. the Macally and LaCie will clearly tend to be better tested to work in the Apple environment but it is good to see it confirmed.

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Answer 14

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Oct 31, 2014 3:36 AM in response to LaPastenague

LaPastenague wrote:

the Macally and LaCie will clearly tend to be better tested to work in the Apple environment but it is good to see it confirmed.

I have a Macally PHR100AC from circa 2001 that houses a 33GB PATA drive backing up a Windows NT/2K dual-boot. They are very nice enclosures, but tend to be on the expensive side. The S250U3B was USD60. I could have bought a 2TB external HD for USD90, but chose the Macally instead.

Thanks for putting this together.

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Answer 15

Tesserax

Level 10

148,423 points

Oct 31, 2014 11:36 AM in response to LaPastenague

That is a lot better than expected.. I will have to go back and check my values. (You are using B for Bytes??)

Yes, the "B" stands for Bytes. I use a number of throughput tools to take the measurements, including IPNetTunerX, Net Monitor, and AJA System Test, to name just a few.

For the drives that only require 2mA are they powered or in a USB powered hub??

Neither. They are connected directly to the Time Capsule's USB port where they all get their power from. I believe all of the WD My Passport models get their power this way as they are very portable drives. I have also used several of them together using a powered-USB hub attached to the TC. I found using more than two with an unpowered-hub to be the limit before they become randomly unreliable.

I use a dedicated Symbology NAS for my primary network backups, including the Time Machine ones. The My Passports are secondary backups that I can easily store off-site because of their portability.

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