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The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => D-Link Storage => DNS-320L => Topic started by: Mausschubser on September 17, 2013, 11:43:28 AM

Title: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: Mausschubser on September 17, 2013, 11:43:28 AM
Anybody experience with a backup from NAS to 3TB USB drive?

Got a brand new USB drive (Intenso Memory Center 3TB) but I couldn't get the backup running when directly connetcted to my DNS-320L. In the USB backup section I was not able to select a destination folder on the USB drive. The dialog for selecting the destination folder simply shown a blank list (even "new" disappeared when doing so). Trying to activate the backup anyway leads to error message that I have to enter a destination.

1) Which file format does the USB drive need to be formatted with to get the 3TB when running on my NAS?
Anybody succes with NTFS, exFAT or FAT32 - all for >2TB of course.

2) Anybody seen the same problem with non-existing destination path?

thx folks!

btw.: Firmware 1.02 and a WD-Red 3TB inside my NAS.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: Mausschubser on September 22, 2013, 12:31:13 AM
As nobody replied until now, I like to post my own experience on progressing to backup a 3TB HDD to USB drive:

:( I could not use my 3TByte Intenso Memory Center, formatted with NTFS or exFAT, as a USB backup drive on the DNS-320L.
Originally it was formatted with FAT32 (however this is done - so far beyond FAT32 specs...), but this restricts maximum file size to <4GByte.

The only way of making use of this nice drive is to connect it to a PC and simply copy files through Windows from the network shares to the USB disk.

If anybody ever had a >2TByte USB disk running directly on the DNS-320L, please give me a note.


thx, folks! And good luck to everybody trying the same.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: vveris1 on June 13, 2014, 09:38:38 AM
Hi! I dont suppose you worked out what the problem was? I now have exactly the same issue. Bought new 3TB Seagate drive. The NAS can see it as I can see the model and such but when I open destination windows for NAS to USB backup (or source window for USB to NAS) it is just blank. :(. I have now opened a case with D-Link but it does not look good. Thanks Vita
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: lkernan on June 23, 2014, 04:59:23 AM
I just solved this with my drive, it was disappearing when setting up backups too.

Formatting the USB drive as EXT3 makes it appear and work with the USB backup function.
Of course, you need a Linux installation or live CD to be able to format as ext3.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on January 10, 2015, 03:41:38 PM
I have a similar problem. I just got a Seagate Expansion desktop drive which is 3TB in size. The NAS just doesn't want to recognize it properly. It shows up under the USB devices tab but I can't backup to it. I just don't have the option for the USB drive when selection the destination folder. I've tried formatting it as exFAT, EXT4 and EXT3 but nothing seems to work.  :(
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: regi on January 10, 2015, 08:05:06 PM
hi,

i have a 2 tb external drive attached directly to the nas, the drive is formatted in ntfs and havo no problems with it except for the speed
read 15 MB/s
write 6 to 8 MB/s

(MB=megabytes not megabit)  :)

i am using firmware 1.0.3
(http://fs2.directupload.net/images/150111/k26ajvs7.png) (http://www.directupload.net)
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on January 10, 2015, 08:57:14 PM
Hi Regi,

I see the same information you posted but the drive just isn't an option for doing backup etc.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: regi on January 10, 2015, 11:10:46 PM
just tried a nas to usb backup, it works

(http://fs2.directupload.net/images/150111/jlou9tgc.png) (http://www.directupload.net)
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on January 14, 2015, 05:42:14 PM
I'm getting closer. I re-partitioned and re-formatted the USB drive using a 3rd party disk tool. The NAS now recognizes the drive and I can select it as the destination for the USB backup. For the partition type I used a primary rather than a logical partition which was how the drive came from the store. I used EXT3 as the file system.

However, I get an error in the status saying the back up failed, error code 2.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on January 15, 2015, 08:52:50 PM
I got things working. Not sure why the error occurred first time but after restarting the NAS I was able to perform a backup.

I got a little stuck with the whole 'press the usb button' thing. First the manual doesn't say you have to keep it pressed for few seconds. And secondly, why isn't there a button on the web interface?
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 24, 2015, 07:12:46 AM
I'm getting closer. I re-partitioned and re-formatted the USB drive using a 3rd party disk tool. The NAS now recognizes the drive and I can select it as the destination for the USB backup. For the partition type I used a primary rather than a logical partition which was how the drive came from the store. I used EXT3 as the file system.

Hi, can you please tell me what 3rd party tool did you use? I have the same problem. I had my Intenso 3TB at the begin formatted as fat32 and it worked. Then I converted it to NTFS to store larger files and the NAS can see it but it doesn't mount it. So I tried ext4 and ext3 but it was also the same. It shows the disk but it's missing the third line with the size, which means it is not mounting it.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on August 24, 2015, 07:24:17 AM
I used gparted
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 24, 2015, 09:11:23 AM
I used gparted

Uff. Me too, but it didn't work.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on August 24, 2015, 09:47:59 AM
Make sure you don't use a logical partition. Since the drive is 3TB you will probably also have to use a GPT partitioned drive.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 24, 2015, 10:15:12 AM
Make sure you don't use a logical partition. Since the drive is 3TB you will probably also have to use a GPT partitioned drive.

I formatted it as primary partition ext3. Is this wrong?
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 24, 2015, 11:41:19 AM
Primary partition, GPT. Ext4. Nothing. It doesn't mount it.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: philphil61 on August 24, 2015, 11:52:18 AM
Primary partition, GPT. Ext4. Nothing. It doesn't mount it.

I wonder if there is a size restriction - meaning it'll accept/work with any 2TB drive but not with anything bigger?


@jkayca - could you be more specific in how you partitioned the USB hard drive?
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 24, 2015, 12:08:05 PM
I wonder if there is a size restriction - meaning it'll accept/work with any 2TB drive but not with anything bigger?

The fact is with fat32 partitioning there is no size restriction and I was using it with no problem (it's a 4TB and with fat32 it worked). But I needed to store larger files so I changed it and since then, it's not working.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 25, 2015, 01:51:45 AM
This will help you, I guess.
After the first attempt with NTFS filesystem, I had upgraded my firmware to Security Patch Firmware (1.06.B03). Now, to test once more the HD, I formatted it to FAT32 again, but still I wasn't able to get it working.
So I downgraded to 1.04.B12 and now it's correctly reading the FAT32 formatted HD. So it seems that this new firmware has some problems mounting USB devices.
But still, I formatted again with GPT + ext3 and it doesn't mount it. What can I do?
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: philphil61 on August 25, 2015, 06:03:17 AM
This will help you, I guess.
After the first attempt with NTFS filesystem, I had upgraded my firmware to Security Patch Firmware (1.06.B03). Now, to test once more the HD, I formatted it to FAT32 again, but still I wasn't able to get it working.
So I downgraded to 1.04.B12 and now it's correctly reading the FAT32 formatted HD. So it seems that this new firmware has some problems mounting USB devices.
But still, I formatted again with GPT + ext3 and it doesn't mount it. What can I do?

I'm no specialist or geek BUT

Why EXT3? it's a linux based format yet the USB port should AFAIK accept standard formats
I understand the restriction of file size for FAT32 so did you try EXFAT? - check with other sources/knowledgeable people first

Again I go back to my first "thought" is there possibly a restriction of HD size using the USB port?
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: jkayca on August 25, 2015, 06:22:15 AM
Sorry for the late response. I tried redoing what I did previously so I could record the exact steps to get this all going. Unfortunately, I'm running into the same issues and more! When I reboot the NAS with my USB drive attached, the NAS never finishes powering up. The power light is blinking and the USB light is orange/red. If I disconnect the drive, the power sequence completes. I can plug the drive back in but the drive isn't recognized properly. FYI, I also upgraded recently to 1.05 firmware.

I'm going to play around with this some more tonight.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 25, 2015, 06:53:09 AM
@philphil61

I tried one of the linux filesystems just to see if it worked (and ext3 would have been good since it would let me store large files). But since it doesn't, I will check exfat and shall come back to you.

@ jkayca

Oh, no! I'm really sorry you missed the only thing important you had got for yourself. I'm really sorry. I have the same error: lights are all blue as if it was working correctly, but it doesn't mount (and now I'm back with old firmware). I'll let you know with exfat reformatting. Hold on!
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 25, 2015, 07:08:16 AM
No way. Exfat is being seen by NAS, but can't be mounted.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: philphil61 on August 25, 2015, 09:37:20 AM
No way. Exfat is being seen by NAS, but can't be mounted.

Apologises qiuvax - I don't understand what you mean by "Exfat is being seen by NAS, but can't be mounted"

Unless it's this 2Tb size restriction I keep going on about

I don't want to waste your time but I know how frustrating it can be to find a fix....  therefore can you try to partition the 3Tb so that the size of the "active partition is 2Tb or less

HTH
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 25, 2015, 09:48:18 AM
Apologises qiuvax - I don't understand what you mean by "Exfat is being seen by NAS, but can't be mounted"

You don't need to apologize at all :)
I mean this. In the NAS control panel, in the page Management -> System Management -> USB devices, I can see a "Manufacturer   Intenso Product   USB 3.0 Device" line. But when disks are really mounted, in this section a new line is added, which shows the size and the label of the volume. When the disk was formatted as FAT32, the third line was showing "UsbDisk1_1 - xxxGB - etc.". Now the third line with these infos is missing, and I can't see the disk in every other menu, for example the one who manages the network shares. It's the same thing when a disk has an error and the computer can see it (for example in gparted) but cannot mount it.
With FAT32 I could see it entirely as it was though it is 3TB. I'm gonna try make two partitions smaller than 2 TB to test your hypothesis.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 25, 2015, 09:56:48 AM
Nothing. Two partitions smaller than 2TB and still it doesn't mount them.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: philphil61 on August 25, 2015, 12:59:25 PM
Nothing. Two partitions smaller than 2TB and still it doesn't mount them.

Thanks for understanding ;)

Well it rules out the 2Tb restriction I had thought of

Maybe it's software related - inability of D Link to recognise any USB storage media unless it's FAT32?  IDK

maybe a quick email to D Link via the support tab on mydlink will get some answers...  hopefully
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: giuvax on August 25, 2015, 11:16:57 PM
I just sent a message to mydlink support. I'll let you know. Thank you guys.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: Budgey on December 04, 2016, 04:59:51 AM
I just sent a message to mydlink support. I'll let you know. Thank you guys.

Hi, Did you by any chance get a resolution from D-Link regarding this problem?
I'm a fellow sufferer.  :)
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: ivan on December 04, 2016, 07:56:35 AM
To add a bit of information.

The maximum volume size for FAR32 formatted volumes depends on how you format it.

You need to setup the format with the size of both sectors and clusters otherwise it defaults to 2TB maximum.  The list below gives the necessary information:

2 TiB (with 512 byte sectors)
8 TiB (with 2 KiB sectors and 32 KiB clusters)
16 TiB (with 4 KiB sectors and 64 KiB clusters)

Use this information to correctly format a USB device because if you don't you will have problems.  It can appear to format with the incorrect settings but most Linux based equipment will not 'see' it or mount it.

Edit:
I should add that there can also be problems when using old USB caddies, some of them have restrictions on the size of the drive they can use.  It should also be noted that USB sticks/thumb drives with a USB 3 interface may not work as expected on older NAS boxes with USB 2 interfaces.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: junetlan on June 14, 2017, 08:06:43 PM
Many thanks for the reply
    I also had the same problems trying to connect a hdd 3t seagate to the usb port of DNS 320l ... because it is not able to read partitions on a pen drive whether it is exfat = fat64 , exfat3 , exfat4 , ntfs with more than 2t, Etc ... in summary and a very bad, terrible defect that was not cured by the manufacturer and will never be fixed. Because it is a physical limitation of DNS 320l.
   I have performed a lot of tests with seagate 3t hdd, seagate 4t hdd, and all were in vao even changing the size of the clusters as informed above by the forum colleague did not have success ...

   The fault is the following ...

1- You connect your 3T hdd drive to the DNS 320L usb (2.0) primitive port -
2- The DNS 320l device ... connects to the usb and an orange / red light rises ... ie (saying that it did not recognize the partition) so you can DELETE ALL YOUR VICE VERSA BACKUP DATA. OR NOT, RS ... BETTER NOT.
3- If you persist, click and hold the button on the 320l -USB DNS device and hold until the light goes out ... it switches off and the orange / red light ... goes off then
4- Hold the USB button again, on the DNS 320l device it will appear BLUE and you will have a momentary joy ... because even Blue it is NOT ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVICE CONNECTED to usb 2.0 of DNS 320l.

That is ... exfat = (fat64), exfat3 , exfat4 , ntfs , fat32 with more than 2Tib Do not work on the Usb port of the 320l DNS device. unfortunately.

   And even those that work are limited the configurations mentioned above ... that are them ...:

"" You need to setup the format with the size of both sectors and clusters otherwise it defaults to 2TB maximum. The list below gives the necessary information:

2 TiB (with 512 byte sectors)
8 TiB (with 2 KiB sectors and 32 KiB clusters)
16 TiB (with 4 KiB sectors and 64 KiB clusters)

Ps: The Usb Port of the Dns 320l Device Is not compatible with almost any partition ... even if it is small of 4 8 16 32 64Gb. Recovers only what is written to NTFS (which ends with the life of the Pendrive in up to 75%)
And Fat32 (which is unpopular to record and read files over 4Gb or can not see good quality movies because fat32 does not.)
NOT SUPPORTED EXFAT = FAT64 IN SOME WAY IN PEN DRIVERS.

In short the usb port of Dns 320l and Obsolete .. almost useless, for enthusiasts and a real shame the USb (2.0) port of the device

Use this information to correctly format a USB device because if you do not you will have problems. It can appear to format with the incorrect settings but most Linux based equipment will not 'see' it or mount it. ""

      Then I believe that this information is useful to all those who seek the limitations or which ones: fat, size, number of clusters the DNS device 320l d'link and able to read and record through the usb port. Usb 2.0.
      My tests were conducted on 06/2017 with the  fix Firmware:
           1.09B06
            Hardware: DNS-320L A1 / A2 / A3
           DNS-320LW A1 / A2
           Date: 2017/01/11 to 04/05/17

Please , por favor link in portuguese if possible.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: FurryNutz on September 11, 2017, 11:47:39 AM
Thanks for posting this information. Hope it helps future users.

Many thanks for the reply
    I also had the same problems trying to connect a hdd 3t seagate to the usb port of DNS 320l ... because it is not able to read partitions on a pen drive whether it is exfat = fat64 , exfat3 , exfat4 , ntfs with more than 2t, Etc ... in summary and a very bad, terrible defect that was not cured by the manufacturer and will never be fixed. Because it is a physical limitation of DNS 320l.
   I have performed a lot of tests with seagate 3t hdd, seagate 4t hdd, and all were in vao even changing the size of the clusters as informed above by the forum colleague did not have success ...

   The fault is the following ...

1- You connect your 3T hdd drive to the DNS 320L usb (2.0) primitive port -
2- The DNS 320l device ... connects to the usb and an orange / red light rises ... ie (saying that it did not recognize the partition) so you can DELETE ALL YOUR VICE VERSA BACKUP DATA. OR NOT, RS ... BETTER NOT.
3- If you persist, click and hold the button on the 320l -USB DNS device and hold until the light goes out ... it switches off and the orange / red light ... goes off then
4- Hold the USB button again, on the DNS 320l device it will appear BLUE and you will have a momentary joy ... because even Blue it is NOT ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE DEVICE CONNECTED to usb 2.0 of DNS 320l.

That is ... exfat = (fat64), exfat3 , exfat4 , ntfs , fat32 with more than 2Tib Do not work on the Usb port of the 320l DNS device. unfortunately.

   And even those that work are limited the configurations mentioned above ... that are them ...:

"" You need to setup the format with the size of both sectors and clusters otherwise it defaults to 2TB maximum. The list below gives the necessary information:

2 TiB (with 512 byte sectors)
8 TiB (with 2 KiB sectors and 32 KiB clusters)
16 TiB (with 4 KiB sectors and 64 KiB clusters)

Ps: The Usb Port of the Dns 320l Device Is not compatible with almost any partition ... even if it is small of 4 8 16 32 64Gb. Recovers only what is written to NTFS (which ends with the life of the Pendrive in up to 75%)
And Fat32 (which is unpopular to record and read files over 4Gb or can not see good quality movies because fat32 does not.)
NOT SUPPORTED EXFAT = FAT64 IN SOME WAY IN PEN DRIVERS.

In short the usb port of Dns 320l and Obsolete .. almost useless, for enthusiasts and a real shame the USb (2.0) port of the device

Use this information to correctly format a USB device because if you do not you will have problems. It can appear to format with the incorrect settings but most Linux based equipment will not 'see' it or mount it. ""

      Then I believe that this information is useful to all those who seek the limitations or which ones: fat, size, number of clusters the DNS device 320l d'link and able to read and record through the usb port. Usb 2.0.
      My tests were conducted on 06/2017 with the  fix Firmware:
           1.09B06
            Hardware: DNS-320L A1 / A2 / A3
           DNS-320LW A1 / A2
           Date: 2017/01/11 to 04/05/17

Please , por favor link in portuguese if possible.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: shadow9485 on May 22, 2018, 12:17:48 AM
[Partially Solved] I have the DNS-320L for years and it works perfectly as a file server for SME with not so many security measure. But it does the job.

Now I probably have to move on to some other NAS as DNS-320L is no longer available. Here comes the problem. I cannot use my WD 4TB External drive to backup the files through USB Backup.

Because of my DNS-320L is loaded with 1TBx2 with RAID-1 setting. My data is about at 727.6GB (79% used). I figured that I probably can set my WD 4TB External to be just 1TB (900GB-ish) just for temporary backup. So, I just use Disk Management (Windows 7) to shrink the size down below 1TB, Primary, ignore the rest of empty spaces, keep the NTFS format.

Plug it in with the standard USB3 cable to USB2 port on the device. The Ext. Drive mount as usual. Go to Local Backups - USB Backups - NAS to USB

Whala!! The Destination can be picked as "USBDisk1_1" and as I push the USB button in front of the device, it started to copy. However, the status remained "Blank" the entire process but the external drive LED is blinking so I assumed it is still in the process. Hopefully it will made successful copy.

I will try to report back again when it is done. Hope this may help anyone struggle with the backup problem.

The test conducted on 05/2018 with
Firmware 1.0 (05/08/2012) (never been update)

Hope it helps.
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: FurryNutz on May 22, 2018, 06:39:49 AM
Thanks for letting us know. I'm wondering if a FW update would fix this. However if you got it working my mirroring the same drive sizes, i'd leave it.
 ;)
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: ivan on May 29, 2018, 03:17:01 AM
Just to add a little more information here regarding USB drives.
1) any size drive can become a USB drive by using a USB/SATA adapter (example: Anker USB 3.0 to SATA 3ft Converter Adapter Cable for 2.5 inch/3.5 inch Hard Drive Disk HDD and SSD, Power Adapter included from Amazon - it works with USB2.0 without problems).

2) treat the drive in the adapter as a normal drive that can be partitioned and formatted (I have drives with 5 partitions on them and three different formats), just make sure the formats can be read by what you are using them on - while Linux can read and write to windows NTFS formatted disks windows cant see Linux formatted disks.

3) when backing up data from a NAS use a partition on the backup USB drive that will hold all the data (don't forget there are limits on sizes of partitions that can be seen by the NAS firmware).
Title: Re: Backup to 3TB USB drive
Post by: FurryNutz on May 29, 2018, 06:40:39 AM
Thank you Sir.
 ;)