Can't use USB 3.0 device in Mac OS, slow speeds on PC

Submitted by taylorwmj on #1

I currently am trying the trial version of VirtualHere before purchasing a license. I am using an Asustor AS5008T with a Intel Celeron 2.41GHz Dual-core processor with 2GB of RAM as the server. Attached to it I have an LG USB 3.0 Blu-ray drive with a model number of BE14NU40.

When I start the Mac client and attempt to use the Blu-ray drive, I receive the following message:

"USB-SATA Bridge" is a USB 3.0 device, plug it into a USB 2.0 hub or port before using."

"USB-SATA Bridge" is how the drive appears through VirtualHere.

However, when I start a PC client, I have no issue getting it squared away, although, the read speeds on the drive are PAINFULLY slow (less than 2.0 Mbps).

Why am I unable to get the client working on the Mac. Additionally, why are read speeds so incredibly slow even when I get it working on the PC client?

Client specs are nearly identical: both Mac and PC have latest generation Core i5 with 8GB of RAM.

Submitted by Michael on Thu, 2015/04/30 - 23:06

#2

Hi, the reason usb 3.0 doesnt (yet) work on mac is because its only supported in kernels > 3.17 and the kernels in asustor are older than that.

I assume you are on a LAN, it shouldnt be that slow, you should expect around 10MB sec. Can you see what the cpu usage is on the AS5008T during the access?

Also what are the ping times between client machine and your asus nas?

Michael,

Thanks for your quick response! I really do appreciate it!

Any idea when the USB 3.0 support will be there? Even just a general timeframe?

I am on LAN...10 MB/sec or 10Mb/sec? Not trying to sound condescending, I just know those two can get flipped unintentionally quite a bit.

I am at work now for the day, but I will provide an update this evening (or perhaps on my lunch) when I can access the network again.

Thanks

Submitted by Michael on Fri, 2015/05/01 - 00:08

#4

I dont have control over the asus kernel so i dont know when they will update it.

Megabytes per second

Ping as anywhere from 3 ms to 15 ms between Asustor and Client.
CPU usage on Asustor while reading blu-ray disc on client was no more than 6%.

I should also note that when initiating client on Windows, I get the following message from Windows:

"This USB Mass Storage Device can transfer information faster if you connect it to a Super-Speed USB 3.0 port."

I can confirm the device is USB 3.0, the port being used on the Asustor is USB 3.0 as well.

OK those ping times are fine.

I think it needs full usb 3.0 support at server side which is not in there yet. USB 3.0 devices like disk thumb drives work pretty fast even at 2.0 in virtualhere but perhaps this blue-ray device really wants usb 3.0 both sides of the connection which is not implemented at this time.

Submitted by stumpjumper82 on Fri, 2017/05/19 - 20:40

#7

Hi Michael,
I would like to add some additional comments about the topics discussed in this thread.
I use the Android USB server version on my Sony Bravia KD-43XE8096 TV (Marshmallow OS) to reach an 4Tb Hard Disk connected through the USB 3.0 port available on the TV. I'm "forced" to use the 3.0 port because I use this hard disk to play 4k contents (elevate bitrates) without any kind of problem of playing (freezes, etc)
Basically from my Mac I'm not able to use the client (due to the usb 2.0 restriction on OSX), but is not a big problem because I've a laptop with Windows 10.

What's actually "frustating" me is the poor speed that I reach when I transfer a file from the laptop to the hard disk; considering that:

- laptop is connected to gigabit port on my router
- TV is connected to a gigabit port on my router
- hard disk is plugged-in to a USB 3.0 port on TV
- VH Windows client is installed correctly (driver included)

I can reach just 10 Megabytes per second at max (respect than 160/170 mb of the HD directly connected on my laptop on usb 3.0 port)!!
So I'm just curious to find out what are the possibles factors that causes this slow performance...
It's the USB 3.0 hub of tv that's not correctly recognized by android client??? What's the bottle neck??

Please also take a look to this topic

https://community.sony.ie/t5/android-tv/writing-on-usb-disks-impossible…

You will have a lot of "potential" additional customers if you increase the transferring performance!! ;)

Submitted by Michael on Fri, 2017/05/19 - 21:43

#8

Found the spec's online, its only got a 100mb ethernet so actually 10megabytes per second is pretty good! 100mbps is theoretically 12.5megabytes per second.

Submitted by stumpjumper82 on Fri, 2017/05/19 - 22:13

#11

You're right.... I can't believe it! :(
What a mistake from Sony!! Especially for a last generation 4K TV that will be require a gigabit connection to stream an 2160p content correctly from a network resource (a NAS for example!), gigabit is the standard network card for all the computers since years! My "basic router" (provided me by local telco provider) doesn't show me the speed of the devices connected, I just believed that LAN connection was gigabit! Many thanks again for your precious answer!