USB 2.0 vs USB 3.0 on RT-AC68U

[Telly]

Let me start by saying that I am not well experienced with networking technology. I am learning as I go by searching, reading, searching and reading some more.

I am currently using RT-AC68u router with Merlin's firmware: "RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_374.41_beta1" (Disabled Reducing USB 3.0 Interference)

The problem that I am experiencing has to do with USB connected drive as cloud storage.

HGST Deskstar 7K4000 - Formatted in NTFS as GPT single partition
Startech SAT3510BU3 with fan - USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure, 4TB max

The drive and enclosure are brand new and work flawlessly through the USB 2.0 port.
Stock firmware from Asus did not let the router "See" the drive connected to the USB 3.0 port. Merlin's firmware does allow the router to recognize the drive. When connected to the USB 3.0, the router will show the drive but lists it as "unmounted". After several manual reboots of the router and drive, the drive will become accessible for a short period of time before becoming unmounted again.

Any ideas why the USB 2.0 works with my drive and the USB 3.0 freaks?

Thank you

 

[RMerlin]

Some disks are not compatible with the option that reduces USB3 interference (on the 2.4 GHz Professional wireless settings page). Try disabling that option and see if it works better then.

 

[Telly]

I already have that option disabled. This was something that came up a lot while I was researching this issue, so I disabled it.

What else may be causing the issue?

 

[RMerlin]

Could be a compatibility issue with the controller used by that Startech enclosure then, or the USB3 cable you are using isn't properly shielded (I've seen at least one user who resolved his USB3 issues by replacing the USB cable with a better shielded one).

 

[Telly]

The cable that came with the Startech enclosure is very well made and is properly shielded at each end. However; the enclosure states that it is SuperSpeed USB3.0 (5Gbps), and the Asus RT-AC68U does not.

Further, the SuperSpeed USB3.0 is reported to be backwards compatible to USB2.0. (You'd think that it would work with USB3.0, as well!)

Would this require an Asus firmware update/change to get these two communicating properly?

The best transfer speeds that I have witnessed on the USB drive while connected to the RT-AC68U are as follows:
USB2.0 ~26Mbps
USB3.0 ~43Mbps (for the short period that it would connect)

I don't care about getting 5Gbps - I just want the drive to operate properly from the USB3.0 port.

 

[Telly]

I don't know what you included in the Merlin's firmware 3.0.0.4.374.41.0 but ALL of my equipment works like it is supposed to!

My 4Tb drive connects and runs without issue.
Of course, I did a factory reset after updating the firmware and reset everything fresh. Then, a hard reboot of the router with my USB drive attached had me up and running just the way I wanted to be.

Thank you, Merlin

 

[RMerlin]

I don't know what you included in the Merlin's firmware 3.0.0.4.374.41.0 but ALL of my equipment works like it is supposed to!

My 4Tb drive connects and runs without issue.
Of course, I did a factory reset after updating the firmware and reset everything fresh. Then, a hard reboot of the router with my USB drive attached had me up and running just the way I wanted to be.

I'm backporting a patch from newer Linux kernels that helps large disks get properly detected and mounted. That could be the difference there.

 

[Telly]

Well, the USB3.0 connected drive sometimes mounts and sometimes doesn't.
It has become the norm to reboot the router several times to get the drive to mount. Once mounted, it will operate fine for several hours and then unmount once again.

I have become so frustrated with it that I have plugged it into the USB2.0 port where it performs flawlessly (only much slower file transfer times). I was wanting the speed of the USB3.0 which is why I purchased this router and the additional USB3.0 enclosure.

At least Merlin's firmware is a step in the right direction! Hopefully, this issue will eventually get ironed out.

 

[alkimio]

Well, the USB3.0 connected drive sometimes mounts and sometimes doesn't.
It has become the norm to reboot the router several times to get the drive to mount. Once mounted, it will operate fine for several hours and then unmount once again.

I have become so frustrated with it that I have plugged it into the USB2.0 port where it performs flawlessly (only much slower file transfer times). I was wanting the speed of the USB3.0 which is why I purchased this router and the additional USB3.0 enclosure.

At least Merlin's firmware is a step in the right direction! Hopefully, this issue will eventually get ironed out.

I would try using ext3 instead of NTFS

 

[Telly]

I would try using ext3 instead of NTFS

I spent an entire day formatting and reformatting my 4TB HDD.
Getting it into ext3 was not so bad. Getting it accessible through Windows 7 was impossible!

Guess I'll stick with the USB2.0 until someone gets this feature to actually work reliably.

Thank you for your advise - I learned a lot during this experiment.

Edit:
After extensive searching through this forum I have come to understand that a great many users are reporting issues with the USB3.0.
Hopefully, improvements in this area will come soon.

 

[jayboyyyy]

I spent an entire day formatting and reformatting my 4TB HDD.
Getting it into ext3 was not so bad. Getting it accessible through Windows 7 was impossible!

Guess I'll stick with the USB2.0 until someone gets this feature to actually work reliably.

Thank you for your advise - I learned a lot during this experiment.

try using "paragon extfs for windows" that is what I use and it works great.

 

[Telly]

try using "paragon extfs for windows" that is what I use and it works great.

Thanks

I did try that and was not able to communicate with my drive. After installing it and rebooting, I was able to see the drive, but that was it. Windows Explorer showed an icon with a question-mark on it for the drive.

Since I want to be be able to sync files to this drive from my Windows 7 PC, I reformatted to NTFS/GPT and have connected it to the slow as mud USB2.0.

 

[teiva]

The HD you are trying to connect, is it a 2.5 inch unpowered or 3.5 inch powered USB3.0?

If it's unpowered, have you tried running it through a powered usb3.0 hub prior to plugging it in to the router?

I had a similar problem with my tv, powered 3.5 inch hds were fine but unpowered 2.5 inch hds were problematic until I plugged the 2.5 in to a powered hub.

 

[Telly]

The HD you are trying to connect, is it a 2.5 inch unpowered or 3.5 inch powered USB3.0?

If it's unpowered, have you tried running it through a powered usb3.0 hub prior to plugging it in to the router?

I had a similar problem with my tv, powered 3.5 inch hds were fine but unpowered 2.5 inch hds were problematic until I plugged the 2.5 in to a powered hub.

It is a powered 3.5 inch USB3.0 enclosure.
Startech SAT3510BU3 (with fan) Sata I, II, III (4TB max)

USB2.0 works great with this drive and enclosure.
USB3.0 is a waste of energy and time as it simply does not perform as it should.

This same drive and enclosure works with every computer and entertainment server in my house; just not with the Asus RT-AC68U. I am currently using Merlin's latest build (RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_374.43_2) which is 2 versions newer than when I first posted about this problem.

 

[teiva]

It is a powered 3.5 inch USB3.0 enclosure.
Startech SAT3510BU3 (with fan) Sata I, II, III (4TB max)

USB2.0 works great with this drive and enclosure.
USB3.0 is a waste of energy and time as it simply does not perform as it should.

This same drive and enclosure works with every computer and entertainment server in my house; just not with the Asus RT-AC68U. I am currently using Merlin's latest build (RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_374.43_2) which is 2 versions newer than when I first posted about this problem.

That's quite worrying Telly as I want to use this router to store files etc. and the slow speed would really annoy me. I might have to reconsider and buy the R7000 instead.

 

[Telly]

Overall, I am glad that I purchased the Asus RT-AC68U router.
It has proven to be a reliable and powerful router.
I'm sure that in time, a firmware will be made available that will address the issues with the USB3.0 immaturity. If not, then it will still be an above average router with 'some' USB capabilities.

 

[Evan Carroll]

I'm still seeing this problem today (Firmware:380.59). I'm experiencing everything just like the OP. Also with a StarTech Enclosure (but wo/ fan). I've got USB Reducing disabled, (and the 2.4Ghz band turned off entirely).

Also having the same problem with my Anker, and Inateck.