Is "Mac OSX extended" format ok for the PCH?

[narra]

Sorry... not sure if I'm missing something but I just formatted an external HDD to Mac OS X extended and I'm able to write to it on the PCH (both through copying from internal and through SMB). I thought I wasn't supposed to be able to do this. Can someone tell me if I'll run into problems later or if I should really try to go to ext2/3.

Thanks

[n8gray]

I believe that HFS+ (that's the tech-name for the OS X filesystem) is officially supported. I'm not sure I would trust the (linux-based) drivers completely, but it *should* work.

[narra]

Man, you guys are quick. (appreciate that) Just asking because HFS+ write support isn't on the wiki. But maybe it hasn't been updated yet.

[dc11ab]

There are some undocumented features, not officially supported, I suppose. Another example is rtsp.

[narra]

(08-31-2008 07:13 PM)dc11ab Wrote:  There are some undocumented features, not officially supported, I suppose. Another example is rtsp.

So is this an unofficially supported feature (i.e. one that still has bugs)? It'd be a bit of a pain to get ext2/3 on the external but I really don't want to run into problems later on with HFS+.

[lundman]

The ext3 driver for OsX seems to work rather well I thought, even had a System Preferences Panel

[narra]

(09-01-2008 06:30 AM)lundman Wrote:  The ext3 driver for OsX seems to work rather well I thought, even had a System Preferences Panel

Hey lundman, you know where I can pick up that ext3 driver? Running OSX 10.4 though on a PowerPC. And can I format the drive with my mac? Picked up the ext2 driver and it says I have formatting support but I think they hid it in Terminal and I'm not too good using that.

Right now I'm just looking to pick up a Linux Live-CD to boot from there and format but it's a bit of a hassle. After that, I can do with just accessing the drive through the PCH. But if you found a better way...

And thanks to all you guys and your input!

[dc11ab]

You don't need to format the Popcorn drive on your Mac, just use the built-in function to install the filesystem and the NMT apps via the GUI of your Popcorn (I think it's under 'Maintenance', available once a drive is inserted).
There you can choose between EXT2 and EXT3.

[narra]

(09-02-2008 11:14 PM)dc11ab Wrote:  You don't need to format the Popcorn drive on your Mac, just use the built-in function to install the filesystem and the NMT apps via the GUI of your Popcorn (I think it's under 'Maintenance', available once a drive is inserted).
There you can choose between EXT2 and EXT3.

Yeah, I tried looking for that at first but it's only giving the option for the internal. And installing NMT apps on an external wouldn't be of any use anyway so I don't think it was made for formatting external drives.

Anyway, thanks for everyone's help. Guess I'll go the Linux boot CD route.

[Christian123]

I ordered a A110 (and am waiting...). As a Mac user i am planning to connect a external USB HDD (formatted to HFS+) to A110 and write over LAN to the disk.

Can anyone confirm this will work? How has the HDD to formatted (apple oder guid partition table)? Is there anything else i have to keep in mind?

Thank you!

[Pilou]

(09-02-2008 11:14 PM)dc11ab Wrote:  There you can choose between EXT2 and EXT3.

ExtFS2X trough USB is much faster than Samba or FTP but I am afraid of the non supported features of ext3 ie journalisation : did you guys install someting else or recommend formatting to ext2 instead of ext3 ?

@Christian : don't see anything else than the internal drive through the network. Some app could help but then you need an internal Extx drive : if your drive is external, you can easily move it to your mac anyway.

Thinking of adding a HFS+ partition to support time machine, as anyone tried it ?

[Christian123]

(09-23-2008 09:27 PM)Pilou Wrote:  @Christian : don't see anything else than the internal drive through the network. Some app could help but then you need an internal Extx drive : if your drive is external, you can easily move it to your mac anyway.

Thinking of adding a HFS+ partition to support time machine, as anyone tried it ?

But narra wrote:
formatted an external HDD to Mac OS X extended and I'm able to write to it on the PCH (both through copying from internal and through SMB)

Am i wrong or does he says it would work and you say i doesn't? Can you clear my confusion?

To carry the HDD everytime from my Mac to the PCH is not so really what i have in mind. I am thinking of an 3,5" with ext. power. A 2,5" HDD would be ideal for being carried between Mac and PCH but has too less space.

Thanks!

PS: Sorry, never tried the Time Machine (so far...).

[dc11ab]

EXT2 vs. EXT3 has been discussed in some earlier threads. My personal thought is that the performance gained is to big enough to justify the risk of data corruption on a rainy day.

[Pilou]

(09-23-2008 10:43 PM)Christian123 Wrote:  But narra wrote:
formatted an external HDD to Mac OS X extended and I'm able to write to it on the PCH (both through copying from internal and through SMB)

Am i wrong or does he says it would work and you say i doesn't? Can you clear my confusion?

Sorry for the confusion, I just stick a usb key and it didn't show in SMB but when I change the media source, a new folder appears, it does work

Concerning ext3, I didn't found any post on recommended mac driver apart ext2fsx ?

Cheers, Pilou.

[Christian123]

@Pilou
Sorry, i have some further questions:
Do you have a internal HDD installed? (I hope an internal HDD is not the reason for giving write support)
The external media source you attached was a 3,5" USB-HDD?
How did you format the drive? Under Mac OS 10.5 with HFS+? Apple or GUID?
The ext. HDD showed up in the Finder (i guess under Network)? And you could simply transfer the files using the Finder via drag and drop?

Sorry if some questions sound stupid. But so far i am still waiting for my A110.

Thank you so far!