Best external drive for the Asuswrt-Merlin router

[tonysamson]

My external hard drive attached to my router just gave up on me . Now I'm on the market for an external usb drive. I own a NAS but I prefer using the AiDisk for what its worth. I'm looking for a usb external hard drive Most Compatible with my Asus Router. One that will spin down when idle and can last for a long time time without getting unplugged. Can anyone suggest a specific brand and model for me?


Thanks...

 

[GoNz0]

Just plugged in a Toshiba Stor.E Canvio 3TB today, set the spindown to 5 seconds and hit apply, I heard a click and clatter then heard it spinning down to idle (still spins a bit as it should do)

can't say if it will totally shut off when idle as it is moving 2tb of info and is not set to 5 mins to spin down.

 

[Serpent]

I have this one plugged into a N66U for an year already:
Seagate Expansion 2TB, 3.5inch, 7200rpm, 32MB, USB 3.0

It's working OK. I've tried a Samsung Story Station but isn't working normal.

 

[perla]

I am using a 500GB Freeagent Pro external HDD with my RT-N66U router (Merlin firmware: 3.0.0.4.374.39_0) for a half year now with no problem.
Now I tried to change that HDD to a Samsung Story Station 1TB (older USB2.0 version) model, but it was not recognised by the router. I have tried ext2, ext3 and even ext4 file systems.

What can be the problem? Updating to the latest firmware can solve this issue?

 

[noric]

If you want a usb powered 2,5" hdd, I suggest the Western Digital WD10JUCT.

 

[perla]

Thanks for the tip, but I already own the Samsung eHDD, so I would like to find a solution to be able to use that one with my router.

 

[noric]

Power issue? Can you hear it spin up? Does it click?

 

[RussellInCincinnati]

I'm looking for a usb external hard drive Most Compatible with my Asus Router. One that will spin down when idle and can last for a long time time without getting unplugged.

First question, how many gigabytes of storage do you want?

Related to the first question, note that you can considerably simplify your life by simply using a USB 3.0 flash drive. Have a client who has been using a Patriot Supersonic Magnum 64 gig USB 3.0 flash drive for two years now, plugged into an RT-AC66u, as their main file server for 4 users, 3 Windows and 1 Linux. That setup let the client discard an old Linux desktop server that he had been running for years. Never had the slightest problem with this setup, which used Merlin firmware from day 1. Did format the USB drive under Linux, in the ext2 format.

Pleasant thing about solid state drives plugged into the low-performance router USB ports, is that you at least get the full advantage of the super quick random access time. This shows as quick loading of small files into, for example, database and word processor programs. So with small kinds of random access, response time is nice even if the router bulk transfer rates are not high.

Here's a $48 dollar 128 gigabyte USB 3.0 drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220888
here's a 256 gigabyte USB 3.0 flash drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178725
here's a 480 gig SSD solid state drive that you of course can put into a $20 dollar USB enclosure to give yourself an "inexpensive" 480gb USB drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178742

 

[White_Knight]

I am using simple Docking Station for 3.5'' HDD ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004T8KZQS/?tag=snbforums-20 ) with Seagate 250Gb Drive , All work fine ( but with spin down function )
If this function is turned off HDD starts overheat and router restarts when i try to upload some big files.

I think best External HDD for our routers ( if we talk about connected to router HDD ) is good Docking Station with cooling system ( for example www.amazon.com/SuperSpeed-Aluminum-Docking-Station-Enclosure/dp/B00MHODHT8/ ) and HDD like WD Red ( for example http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JJLW4M/?tag=snbforums-20 )