/Library/Extensions in Apple M1 Big Sur?

[vicmarto]

That's is so unfortunate
I think it's possible now to contact ARECA and get a beta drivers for M1 Macs. Of course, only use it to test and experiment with it. And please, always maintain a separate backup!

 

[bergert]

OK: I tested my 8050T3U on the M1-MacMini. It detects the ARECA Thunderbolt device, but the disk does mount as USB (the T3U has USB as well).

 

[vicmarto]

ARECA may not have an M1 driver (yet), but that is not really a problem: I have my 8050T3-8 (USB-C TB3) connected to my MacMini(2010-TB1): with -no- driver installed.

For the RAID function: it is a Thunderbolt RAID, no driver is needed. ARECA and PROMISE are handled by the SAS device driver from Apple.

To manage the RAID, I connect a network cable to the 8050 - use Safari. It has audible alarm and email alerts as well. For ARECA, there is no driver *required*. The driver is a convenience, to run the management software instead of using web-GUI. For others, like PROMISE or LaCie which do not have a network interface: no go; cannot manage the RAID.

Of course you need a driver/kext for a RAID Thunderbolt. It's just working for you because macOS has it built-in (it's the ArcMSR.kext). In Catalina you can find it in /Library/Extensions/, and in Big Sur in /System/Library/Extensions.

Plug your 8050T3-8 to a M1 machine, and it will not work (yet).

 

[bergert]

Of course you need a driver/kext for a RAID Thunderbolt. It's just working for you because macOS has it built-in (it's the ArcMSR.kext). In Catalina you can find it in /Library/Extensions/, and in Big Sur in /System/Library/Extensions.

Plug your 8050T3-8 to a M1 machine, and it will not work (yet).

apologies my bad, I have corrected my post.

 

[vicmarto]

apologies my bad, I have corrected my post.

Thanks @bergert. Anyway, I don't recommend to use a RAID solution with a USB connection. Just too unreliable for my taste.

 

[DesertMC]

I'm in contact with Areca and they tell me they have sent new driver to Apple which sadly they haven't included yet neither in the latest beta, Areca is now working on a temporary solution until it's supported.
I will be returning the M1, knowing Apple this could take months.

Here is the latest mail:

after some tests, i am afraid that we may not able to support M1 machine in current stage. the current problem is OS11 force load the buildin driver even a new driver is installed, but the buildin driver do not support M1 processor as you known. we have no right to remove the buildin driver and no right to force the OS load new driver instead. an OS update would be needed to solve this issue.

we had reported this problem to Apple when we test OS11 beta versions before. it is a minor problem under x86 machines because the buildin driver works with x86 machines, but it become a big problem on M1 machines.

we are working on a temporary solution before OS update available now, i will let you know when it available. sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[Amigalander]

I have an Areca Thunderbolt 3 Raid box. It works fine on my Intel Mac, but it does not mount on my M1. It does show up as a device on the Thunderbolt bus, but it won't mount as a disk.

Disappointing. I guess now we wait on the Apple vs Areca fight. I've sent a support request to Areca.

This probably sounds stupid, but can you use it as a USB device instead of a Thunderbolt device? Would that work?

 

[Amigalander]

I have an Areca Thunderbolt 3 Raid box. It works fine on my Intel Mac, but it does not mount on my M1. It does show up as a device on the Thunderbolt bus, but it won't mount as a disk.

Disappointing. I guess now we wait on the Apple vs Areca fight. I've sent a support request to Areca.

This probably sounds stupid, but can you use it as a USB device instead of a Thunderbolt device? Would that work?

Areca's answer:

Dear Sir/Madam,

we do have driver for M1, but there have problem on using the driver and we are working on a possible solution now.

the current problem is OS11 force load the buildin driver even a new driver is installed, but the buildin driver do not support M1 processor as you known. we have no right to remove the buildin driver and no right to force the OS load new driver instead. an OS update would be needed to solve this issue.

we had reported this problem to Apple when we test OS11 beta versions before. it is a minor problem under x86 machines because the buildin driver works with x86 machines, but it become a big problem on M1 machines.

we are working on a temporary solution before OS update available now, i will let you know when it available. sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[vicmarto]

Areca's answer:

Dear Sir/Madam,

we do have driver for M1, but there have problem on using the driver and we are working on a possible solution now.

the current problem is OS11 force load the buildin driver even a new driver is installed, but the buildin driver do not support M1 processor as you known. we have no right to remove the buildin driver and no right to force the OS load new driver instead. an OS update would be needed to solve this issue.

we had reported this problem to Apple when we test OS11 beta versions before. it is a minor problem under x86 machines because the buildin driver works with x86 machines, but it become a big problem on M1 machines.

we are working on a temporary solution before OS update available now, i will let you know when it available. sorry for the inconvenience.

Maybe the problems in OS11 Big Sur that ARECA is saying is because the SIP. Let me explain, normally the builtin 3th party kexts are installed in /Library/Extensions/ (a non protected SIP directory). This was the case with Catalina (and before it, I think). But, in Big Sur the ArcMSR.kext is installed in /System/Library/Extensions (a SIP protected directory).

 

[DesertMC]

My device is a Thunderbolt 2 and dosen't have a USB option, so can't test that.

Your answer from Areca looks a lot like copy/paste guess he got tied answering the same question.

 

[Amigalander]

Has anyone tested this on 11.1 ?

 

[DesertMC]

I returned mine, but according to the system extensions nothing seems changed still only x86_64.

 

[DesertMC]

Areca have just told me there are updated drivers to support M1 on their webside, sadly I can't test it me self
so anyone with both on hand please try the new driver.

 

[Amigalander]

I just installed the new M1 driver and the Areca TB3 raid mounts correctly.

 

[kave]

A bit of a hassle to install but now my ARC-8050 Thunderbolt mounts on my m1 mac again. Thank you.

 

[vicmarto]

Seems like in Big Sur 11.2 still has the same ArcMSR 1.4.2 x86_64 only extension...

 

[Amigalander]

The driver available from Areca persists through the update from 11.1 to 11.2. It still works normally, except Photos lost track of its library on the drive after the update and just needed the library to be relinked.

 

[chill991]

Just went thru loading the drivers tonight and moving out Areca 8050-T2 over the M1 mini, volumes loaded right up.

 

[jeffhayford]

I had to disable SIP and then reinstall the ATTO FC82-en driver but I got it to load and recognize by the config tool and system profiler. Connected through an OWC Helios 3S TB3 $220.