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How to know File system Time Capsule

M

melaitaliana

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 31, 2011
13
0
Hello everybody,
I am searching all around but I dont know how I can find time capsule's filesystem, I dont know if it is Fat32, Exfat, Hfs+, Ntfs.. where I can find it? With Disk Utility?

I am using Lion 10.7.2 and a Time capsule 1st generation 1TB.

Actually I can record and read files more big than 4gb (for this I think that it is not fat32) with Windows and Mac.

Thank you so much in advance, hoping you can solving my problem.. and so sorry for my english
 
Last edited:
Right mouse on the drive and select 'More Info I'm sure it mentions the File format on the info page, though I'm not on my Mac at the moment so can't check.
 
stridemat said:
Right mouse on the drive and select 'More Info I'm sure it mentions the File format on the info page, though I'm not on my Mac at the moment so can't check.
Click to expand...

I don't know, if TC is different, but my shared HDD in my MBP shows up like this on the iMac:
2012_01_17_pA1_FinderGetInfo_Format_AppleShare.png

But the external HDD connected to my flat mate's Windows PC shows up like this:
2012_01_17_pA2_FinderGetInfo_Format_NTFS.png

Strange, that Mac OS X can't show the format of an HFS+ formatted volume, but one that uses NTFS as file system.
 
I am happy you understand my question! I think it will be soved right soon.

For now I can tell you this:
- If I show you More Info here it is.

- There is something that I cannot understand!
If it was HFS+ I did not write and read with windows too.
Actually I can read write record with windows (XP, 7) and MAC without any problem also files more bigger than 4GB.
 
melaitaliana said:
I am happy you understand my question! I think it will be soved right soon.

For now I can tell you this:
- If I show you More Info here it is.

- There is something that I cannot understand!
If it was HFS+ I did not write and read with windows too.
Actually I can read write record with windows (XP, 7) and MAC without any problem also files more bigger than 4GB.
Click to expand...

That is because the network connection you have "does not care" about the file system and the protocols involved allow you to write and read to/from HDDs shared over a network regardless of the file system employed on them.
As it shows Apple Share in the Format section, I guess, HFS+ is the file system.

Is that understandable?

 
-Windows Cannot reads and write on HFS+ (without any software)
I can read and write on my time capsule with windows (XP and seven) (without any software)

-Mac cannot write on NTFS (without any software)
I can write and read on my time capsule with mymac (without any software)

-Fat32 does not copy files bigger than 4GB
I can copy files more bigger than 4GB on my time capsule

-This time capsule is very old (1/2/2009) I dont remeber how I formatted it but I think it is too old for Exfat formatting.

- Can be other fie system?


- Here is it how is info of time capsule on Windows XP (on parallels)
 
The hard drive in the Time Capsule is formatted as HFS+

Mac computers use AFP, a networking protocol, to read and write to the hard drive in the Time Capsule.

Windows computers use SMB, also a networking protocol, to read and write to the hard drive in the Time Capsule. Windows will also incorrectly show the drive as formatted FAT32.

Neither actually care that the hard drive is formatted HFS+

I've opened up my Time Capsule and mounted the hard drive in an enclosure on my Mac. It's HFS+

The rules of HFS+, NTFS, FAT32 do not apply to it because the computers are using either AFP or SMB to communicate with the drive.

Edit: In comparison, most NAS drives I've seen use EXT3 or EXT4 as a default for their hard drives. Neither Mac OS X or Windows support EXT formatted drives natively (as far as I know) but both can communicate just fine with the NAS. It's pretty much the same thing.
 
melaitaliana said:
-Windows Cannot reads and write on HFS+ (without any software)
I can read and write on my time capsule with windows (XP and seven) (without any software)

-Mac cannot write on NTFS (without any software)
I can write and read on my time capsule with mymac (without any software)
Click to expand...

The thing is, your machine is using other software - it's using network protocols (in this case, SMB) to connect to a network drive.

Take note that this only works because you're using the Time Capsule as a network attached storage drive. If you were to plug it (or another) drive into a USB port on your Mac, you'd need either a native filesystem or third-party software.
 
Tomorrow said:
Take note that this only works because you're using the Time Capsule as a network attached storage drive. If you were to plug it (or another) drive into a USB port on your Mac, you'd need either a native filesystem or third-party software.
Click to expand...

Except that you cannot use the USB port on the Time Capsule to attach it directly to any computer. It's only used for connecting HDDs or printers to share. That said, if you were to open the Time Capsule and seat the hard drive in an enclosure or dock and connect it to a computer, it'll be read as HFS+ (and then the hard drive formatting rules apply).
 
simsaladimbamba said:
Strange, that Mac OS X can't show the format of an HFS+ formatted volume, but one that uses NTFS as file system.
Click to expand...
From here:
Even if your destination volume is HFS+ formatted, if it is attached to an Airport Base Station (for example), then you're accessing the volume via file sharing. If you open the Get Info panel for the volume, you will see that the volume format is "AppleShare", not HFS+. It is not possible to update an OS backup on a network volume.
Click to expand...

For others who might read this thread, here's a recap of the formats:

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
  • Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
    [*]Maximum file size: 4GB.
  • Maximum volume size: 2TB
  • You can use this format if you share the drive between Mac OS X and Windows computers and have no files larger than 4GB.

NTFS (Windows NT File System)
  • Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
  • Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
    [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
    • For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion)
    • For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
    • For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
    • Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
    • Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
  • AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
  • Maximum file size: 16 TB
  • Maximum volume size: 256TB
  • You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Don't use case-sensitive)

exFAT (FAT64)
  • Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
  • Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
  • exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
  • AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
  • Maximum file size: 16 EiB
  • Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB
  • You can use this format if it is supported by all computers with which you intend to share the drive. See "disadvantages" for details.
 
Oh yes! This is the solution

skorpien said:
The hard drive in the Time Capsule is formatted as HFS+


Neither actually care that the hard drive is formatted HFS+

I've opened up my Time Capsule and mounted the hard drive in an enclosure on my Mac. It's HFS+

The rules of HFS+, NTFS, FAT32 do not apply to it because the computers are using either AFP or SMB to communicate with the drive.
Click to expand...

Wow oh yes! This is the solution of my question. skorpien Thank you very much! Grazie mille! You are a very professional mac user.

Thank you everybody. Sono veramente grato a tutti.
 
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