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BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD

BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD

BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago
Model: Deco BE65  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.2.0 Build 20250718 Rel. 43949

Looking for advice - I woiuld like to connect a 2Tb portable SSD to my BE65 USB port and use it for my Mac TimeMachine. No matter how I format the SSD and connect through the SMB// command, I only can see 196 Mb partition with the name BE65-DBEA. 

I have tried setting-up a 1 tb and 750Gb partition but no joy. I tried different portable disks but agai , no success.

 

I have tried everything I could find on the internet - is there anyone who can advice what I'm missing or doing wrong?

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#1
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9 Reply
Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @The_Cat 

 

See if this thread helps if not please get back to us 

 

https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/694644

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#2
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @HelpFixDecoApp 

Thank you for your advice - I reformatted the SSD to ex-FAT as indicated, despite the documented recommendation to use APFS, and I managed to mount the SSD and can see it in Finder. It seems to have created two volumes - G - which looks look some standard TP-Link volume of app. 170Gb and H size 1.8 Tb. Looked good till I tried using H as my Time Machine volume - I can only add G as a Time Machine volume. H is not visible for Time Machine. 

 

I have used the SMB command to connect to the volume but still get the warning that connecting this way will not be supported in future O/S releasees. 

 

So it looks like I am one step closer but still can't use the SSD as intended. 

 

Any further advice would be welcome.

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#3
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @The_Cat 

 

See if any of the following help if not I will get a member of the tp-link staff involved 

 

1. Check Physical Connections and Power

  • Ensure the drive is connected: Use a reliable USB or other cable and confirm it's plugged securely into your Mac. 
  • Power the drive: If it's a separate external drive, make sure it's powered on. 

2. Restart Your Mac 

  • A simple restart can often resolve temporary connectivity issues.

3. Verify Disk Visibility in Finder

  • Open Finder. 
  • Go to Finder > Settings (or Preferences). 
  • In the General tab, ensure "External disks" is checked so the drive appears on your desktop. 
  • In the Sidebar tab, ensure "External disks" and "Hard disks" are checked in the sidebar as well. 

4. Check the Drive's Format and Health

  • Open Disk Utility by navigating to Applications > Utilities. 
  • Select the drive from the left-hand panel. 
  • Use Disk Utility's "First Aid" function to verify and repair the disk if needed. 

5. Re-Select the Drive in Time Machine

  • Open Time Machine from the menu bar. 
  • Go to Time Machine Preferences (or System Settings > General > Time Machine). 
  • Click on "Options..." and re-select your drive. 
  • If it's a network drive, you might need to re-enter a password. 

6. Check Network Settings for Networked Drives 

  • If you are using a network drive (like a Time Capsule or NAS), confirm your Mac and the network disk are on the same network.
  • Restart the server or network device if experiencing network issues.
Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#4
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago
Thank you – when I plug the SSD directly into my Mac it works fine – it is visible in Finder and I can select it as disk for Time Machine. I ran First Aid and it is all in order. I bought the BE65 so I could connect the SSD to my network and use it as back-up disk for multiple laptops in the house – I have tried formatting the SSD with different formats, tried connecting through the main Deco and tried connecting using the SMB command –the problem remains the same. I tried different settings on de BE65 – sharing, etc. I'm using the BE65 in AP mode. When trying to select the SSD as back-up disk for Time Machine I can only see a volume Back-upTM (not a name defined by me) of app. 170Mb. Hope you can provide further advice
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#5
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

@David-TP any ideas?

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#6
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Re:BE65 - problem making a TimeMachine backup to a portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @HelpFixDecoApp I have received advice from a few people, many thanks for this. 

Following the advice and what I could find on internet I have connected the SSD directly to my Mac and formatted the SSD with ex-Fat. Subsequently I made a Time Machine backup - all looked good, till I checked the SSD with Disk Utility and noticed that the format of the SSD was changed to APFS!

 

If I connect the SSD through USB to the BE65 immediately after formatting it in ex-FAT I can see the disk but cannot select it through Time Machine. 

 

I now find an Apple article, stating that Apple TimeMachine cannot use an ex-FAT formatted SSD and changes it to APFS when you back-up and the BE65 cannot handle APFS format -  

 

So how are you expected to use a SSD connected to the BE65 for TimeMachine?

 

Help, anyone?

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#7
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @The_Cat 

 

David is working right now so hoping he will be able to help you with this 

Need help with the Deco app, setup, Ethernet backhaul, network switch or rolling back firmware? Router or AP mode? https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/699816?page=1
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#8
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @The_Cat 

Thank you very much for your feedback.

I remember there was a similar description but the user might have a different focus:

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/747636

 

Can I have some screenshots on the USB sharing settings on the Deco, such as:

 

Scenario one: formatted the SSD to ex-FAT and plug into Mac First, then to Deco BE65

I reformatted the SSD to ex-FAT as indicated, despite the documented recommendation to use APFS, and I managed to mount the SSD and can see it in Finder. It seems to have created two volumes - G - which looks look some standard TP-Link volume of app. 170Gb and H size 1.8 Tb. Looked good till I tried using H as my Time Machine volume - I can only add G as a Time Machine volume. H is not visible for Time Machine. 

---Is it what you've experienced on the MacBook? The SDD was automatically set to two partitions, and only the smaller one was selected to use for Time Machine?

 

Scenario two: formatted the SSD to ex-FAT and directly plugged into Deco BE65

If I connect the SSD through USB to the BE65 immediately after formatting it in ex-FAT I can see the disk with full 2TB but cannot select it through Time Machine. 

 

Thank you very much.

Best regards.

 

 

▶Check What's Currently Going on With Deco ▶Deco BE85 1.2.0 Enhanced Mesh Backhaul Stability and Device Roaming Experience ▶Deco BE65/BE65 Pro 1.2.0 Enhanced Mesh Network Stability and System Security ▶Deco BE75 1.1.0 Added WireGuard VPN, Manual Channel Selection and More Try to leave a Message if urgent help is required.
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#9
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Re:BE65 - problem connecting portable SSD
3 weeks ago

  @David-TP My situation looks like scenario 2 - below the screenshots as requested.

 

 

Note:

my firmware is up-to-date.

I formatted the SSD in ex-Fat - 

I tried create a few partitions and just as a single partition - No difference. Currently just a single partition.

You will see two partitions- I did not create G & H - (if I first make a TM backup directly connected to the MAC - the SSD becomes APFS formatted and I can only see G in the Deco App.)

I can enable TM in de Deco app in combination with disk G as well as H but on the Mac, only BackupTM (FM-BE65) can be selected as back-up disk.

 

 

 

 

 

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#10
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