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AirPort Express Base as File Server

G

gman1234

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 23, 2005
1
0
Hi folks-

Can the USB port on the AirPort base station also be used to connect an external USB hard drive to act as a file server? If yes, would the drive need an operating system installed? Is it possible to put a USB hub on the base station so I can still network my printer?

If the answer to all of the above is no, does anyone have suggestions on networking an external HD without connecting an entire computer to the network? I don't even know if that's possible.

Thanks!

Gman1234
 
gman1234 said:
Hi folks-

Can the USB port on the AirPort base station also be used to connect an external USB hard drive to act as a file server? If yes, would the drive need an operating system installed? Is it possible to put a USB hub on the base station so I can still network my printer?

If the answer to all of the above is no, does anyone have suggestions on networking an external HD without connecting an entire computer to the network? I don't even know if that's possible.

Thanks!

Gman1234
Click to expand...

Found this in a quick google search.

[QUOTE/]This is absolutely not possible. There are only two devices you can connect to the Airport Express USB port:
- a printer
- the Keyspan Express remote control device for iTunes[/QUOTE]

However i know companies such a lacie sell ethernet hard drives. Such as this http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10034.
 
Sorry but I'm pretty sure the answer's no for the moment. Apple has a little way to go with their AirPort firmware, they still won't allow wireless scanning for multifunction printers. :(

I can't think of a solution other than connecting the external to a computer that's always on the network, sorry.
 
That USB port is for printers.

Even if you might be able to get a Bonjour/Rendezvous enabled disk to work with some hacking, I think you're better off with a network enabled HD, like this one from Western Digital (this is no endorsement for this disk, its purpose here is only as an example... ;))
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
That USB port is for printers.

Even if you might be able to get a Bonjour/Rendezvous enabled disk to work with some hacking, I think you're better off with a network enabled HD, like this one from Western Digital (this is no endorsement for this disk, its purpose here is only as an example... ;))
Click to expand...


Thanks a million for that, I didn't realise you could do this through the ethernet port. Does this apply for all ethernet external hard drives or just the special network ones like that posted?
 
mad jew said:
Thanks a million for that, I didn't realise you could do this through the ethernet port. Does this apply for all ethernet external hard drives or just the special network ones like that posted?
Click to expand...
What are you thinking about?

I think any network enabled HDs with a ethernet port will work over any ethernet network and you should be able to access it with your Mac (the WD disk I linked to above is specified to work with both PC and Mac).

Edit: and the WD disk should be accessible over an AirPort connection, too:

netcenterdiagram.gif


I have no idea if you could get any Bonjour/Rendezvous enabled HDs to work over the AirPort Express' USB port or if there even are any B/R enabled drives for sale. I only stated that there is a theoretical possibility that you might get that to work and that this probably will involve a fair amount of hacking... ;)
 
I'm just trying to work out whether any external hard disk connected by ethernet will work or whether there has to be some sort of firmware on the disk. The site Mitthrawnuruodo posted implies that special firmware is needed but I was wondering if that's just because they want us to buy their drives.
 
mad jew said:
I'm just trying to work out whether any external hard disk connected by ethernet will work or whether there has to be some sort of firmware on the disk. The site Mitthrawnuruodo posted implies that special firmware is needed but I was wondering if that's just because they want us to buy their drives.
Click to expand...

if you buy an external hard drive with the ability to work with ethernet it will have the firmware it needs to connect to the network.
 
mad jew said:
Thanks for that. :)
Click to expand...

There are some, though, that will only format to FAT32, and you should watch out for that, since you might run into limitations if you want to make big file archives on there. Then again, if you want to share between Win and Mac, you'll want the FAT32.

Oh, and is there a way for you to hook it into the Airport Express without a LAN port?
 
Thanks mkrishnan, it'll have to be a FAT32 drive because of my PCs. :(


mkrishnan said:
Oh, and is there a way for you to hook it into the Airport Express without a LAN port?
Click to expand...


Is that directed at me? I don't quite understand. I'll be using the second Express on my network - the one without the DSL modem already attached so I don't really mind using up the port.
 
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