Asus RT-AC56U and Time Machine over USB 3

[cgalloway]

I'm having some trouble getting my iMac to connect with various parts of my LAN via the AC56U. In particular, I'm having no luck getting it to communicate with my time machine connected to the router's USB3 port.
I'm using an iMac, the time machine is on a 1TB WD drive in a USB3 compatible housing. Its is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
The first problem was getting the USB3 port to work at all. After reading another post on this forum, I disabled "Reducing USB3 interference" under the Professional tab of wireless settings. USB 3 then began functioning insofar as the relevant modem LED came on and I could see the drive in the UI and in the Mac Finder. I still couldnt access it though. After flashing with the Merlin FW, suddenly I was able to logon to both the USB3 (time machine) drive and to a separate drive in the USB2 port (containing dvd movies). That was progress of sorts, but I'm still having problems. This is mainly because I cant see any of the existing files on either drive. Though the UI can tell me how big the drives are, it also tells me they are both empty (ie, all space is available). However, it seems I can transfer data onto them via the Finder (at least with the USB2 drive - havent tried with the time machine as I dont want to screw up the existing data). More importantly, though, time machine cant see the drive attached to the Asus. I'd simply overwrite it if I could, but I cant configure it to backup.
Does anyone know how (or if) I can make the Asus see and backup with time machine?

 

[RMerlin]

AFAIK, the router is not compatible with Time Machine. First reason being the router cannot read/write HPFS+ filesystems.

 

[cgalloway]

I was afraid of that. But I have seen a source on the net stating the router should be TM compatible. See:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...u-pce-ac66-802-11ac-network-kit-review-2.html

"During this summer’s Computex not only did ASUS announce Time Machine support for their various Black Diamond series routers, but also a pair of new routers: the AC56U and AC68U".

Does anyone know if this is correct, and if so, when we might see Asus support for HFS+volumes? Otherwise I have found a couple of sites that suggest workarounds. The first involves Linux use and is beyond me:

https://code.google.com/p/rt-n56u/issues/detail?id=38

The other seems more user friendly:

http://basilsalad.com/how-to/create-time-machine-backup-network-drive-lion/

I'll try it when I have some time.

 

[RMerlin]

It was announced, but it's not implemented yet.

 

[Asusnet]

I was afraid of that. But I have seen a source on the net stating the router should be TM compatible. See:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...u-pce-ac66-802-11ac-network-kit-review-2.html

"During this summer’s Computex not only did ASUS announce Time Machine support for their various Black Diamond series routers, but also a pair of new routers: the AC56U and AC68U".

Does anyone know if this is correct, and if so, when we might see Asus support for HFS+volumes? Otherwise I have found a couple of sites that suggest workarounds. The first involves Linux use and is beyond me:

https://code.google.com/p/rt-n56u/issues/detail?id=38

The other seems more user friendly:

http://basilsalad.com/how-to/create-time-machine-backup-network-drive-lion/

I'll try it when I have some time.

Time Machine support is undergoing test at this time. There's no specific ETA yet, but it is likely to release before the end of the year.

 

[NJHokie]

Hello,

First time poster here. Trying to help a friend out who just purchased this router (ac56u) and is trying to access the HDD with his mac (time machine software).

Has this issue been resolved with a firmware update from asus? Or, I saw it mentioned somewhere also that your (RMerlin) firmware will allow this to work properly.
He can see the drive fine through the router firmware itself, but time machine cannot find it.

Any help would be appreciated. I would like to advise him if it makes more sense to return this router and purchase a 66u or 68u.

Thanks!

 

[cgalloway]

This may be stating the obvious, but has he set it up in the firmware under the USB application/Time Machine tab?

 

[NJHokie]

This may be stating the obvious, but has he set it up in the firmware under the USB application/Time Machine tab?

He is able to see the HDD in the router fine but when he starts up time machine he cannot find the router.
The router and HDD appear in Finder but he cannot go further. I.e. cannot see the partitions that are setup on the HDD (3TB, 1.5TB partitions).

Previously the HDD was used with time machine (has backups on it) when it was connected to his old, now dead, time capsule router.

 

[cgalloway]

Yes thats normal but he still has to configure the Asus within the router's GUI. I'm not sure whether the Asus firmware has this capability, but Merlin included it in his version several months back. You can configure under the 'USB Applications' tab. If thats not done it won't work.

 

[NJHokie]

Yes thats normal but he still has to configure the Asus within the router's GUI. I'm not sure whether the Asus firmware has this capability, but Merlin included it in his version several months back. You can configure under the 'USB Applications' tab. If thats not done it won't work.

Ok, i'll check that out. He has uploaded the latest Merlin firmware so he should be able to see it. Thanks, i'll report back.

 

[NJHokie]

When he goes into the router he says the time machine option is not even there. Perhaps the firmware didn't update properly?
Does he need to perform a reset on the router after updating the firmware?

 

[cgalloway]

Yes, he will have to reboot it. Its definitely there in the 3.0.0.4.374.39 Merlin build. Click 'USB application'. Time Machine is the fifth icon from the top.

 

[NJHokie]

I'm sorry everyone following this.
He bought a N56U not an AC56U, that's the problem.

Thank you for trying to help out. Looks like an exchange is in order.