RouterOS USB storage device support

Antz · Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:48 am

First off, I'm fairly new to RouterOS and the MikroTik hardware. However with that said I have attempted to search and find the answer to my question in these forums for some time.

What I'm trying to find out is this:
The USB ports on the MikroTik routerboards open them up to nearly infinite connectivity possibilities, but what devices are supported at this time by RouterOS? 3G modems, disk drives, flash memory sticks, ...? For instance I'd like to attach an external HDD and have the router double as a network storage device. Is this possible?

My apologies if this post seems inane and annoying but I'd appreciate any assistance as I have not been able to find much (read: any) detailed information on USB device support in RouterOS.

Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:48 am

yes, 3G modems and Storage devices are supported. You can connect an external HDD or Flash drive and use it for proxy or for logs.

lcx · Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:07 pm

is there somewhere some more information available?
The idea sounds good and it would be great if I could use a routerOS powered router which would also act as storage device for my network (some Mac's)

Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:28 am

is there somewhere some more information available?
The idea sounds good and it would be great if I could use a routerOS powered router which would also act as storage device for my network (some Mac's)

it can be a storage device for the router itself (proxy cache, log files, user manager), but it can't be used as a network share.

lapacho · Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:34 pm

it can be a storage device for the router itself (proxy cache, log files, user manager), but it can't be used as a network share.

have this ( jan 12 2010) changed?

Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:57 am

nope. no plans for that

rmichael · Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:46 pm

Can I connect a storage device and usb modem to the same USB port?

Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:44 am

Yes, you will need a powered USB hub, then you can connect whatever devices you want (that RB supports)

mhonti · Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:24 pm

Hi,

USB - Serial cables should work?

Something like this:
http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11627

I also think about to connect more than one 3G dongle to my RB411U (one for IP network and one to receive text ). Is it safe to use a USB hub for this? I'm afraid about that after a reboot the dongles may be recognized in a different order, so than my configuration can be messed up.

Is there any USB UUID that is used by the config behind the screens, so my USB device names won't be changed or I should buy a mini PC with multiple USB ports for that?

Thanks!

Answers for myself:

USB -> serial converter is working, at least the one I have (Prolific Technology Inc. USB-Serial Controller 12 Mbps )

Have Internet connection and receive text is possible with one dongle only, you just have to set up different channels for them.

dsu · Wed Feb 10, 2010 1:46 am

What are you using usb-serial adapter for?

thanks

j_shirazi · Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:56 am

Hi
It's very interesting.
Could you please tell me more about your last two lines?
first i want to know are you add more than one usb serial to your router?
second how could i setup different channel?
third are you test serial usb with usb hub?
if possible please tell me more about your explement.

Best Regards
Ali

Hi,

USB - Serial cables should work?

Something like this:
http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11627

I also think about to connect more than one 3G dongle to my RB411U (one for IP network and one to receive text ). Is it safe to use a USB hub for this? I'm afraid about that after a reboot the dongles may be recognized in a different order, so than my configuration can be messed up.

Is there any USB UUID that is used by the config behind the screens, so my USB device names won't be changed or I should buy a mini PC with multiple USB ports for that?

Thanks!

Answers for myself:

USB -> serial converter is working, at least the one I have (Prolific Technology Inc. USB-Serial Controller 12 Mbps )

Have Internet connection and receive text is possible with one dongle only, you just have to set up different channels for them.

mxfull · Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:33 am

now I am confused... you can plug in HDD of 500gb on usb., but cant use it like network sharing hardware ? or that 500gb as ftp ? for users inside network ? ., or put inside computer 1 more hdd, and that turn in somehow into network hdd ?

why that isnt in plan to put in routerOS ?

many routers have usb support for put usb HDD and share on network, so other users can put movies or similar to share on - whole network...

Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:37 am

you can see the other disk with FTP, it's possible. but RouterOS is not specifically made for FTP server purposes, so configuration will not be very advanced

mxfull · Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:12 am

still no changes ?

... no hdd support for exchange data on local network ?

netWorm · Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:00 am

i have a rb751u-2hnd, is it possible to work with usb sound card? This board dont hava a internal speaker, is there some way to attach a speaker (beeper) ?

mxfull · Thu Nov 17, 2011 10:46 pm

this is joke right ? sound ? XD ... ppl need hdd support ., for network sharing., and you need sound on your board ? LOL

netWorm · Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:03 am

yep, it's very usefull when 3 in the morning one of the main links is down, and i can configure the board to play highway to the hell from ACDC to wake me up!

Ultanium · Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:28 am

Actually, sound support would be very useful, and easy to implement. This would open up a whole new revenue stream for Mikrotik, streaming audio routers along the lines of Barix and Tieline. I work in broadcasting as well as IT, and we use these routers all the time. You have my vote!

Tommy Johnson
Pecan Wireless
Houston, Texas

deniwidianast · Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:40 am

i have rb751u-2hnd, i plan to connect to usb port with usb modem and usb hdd for proxy. it's reliable?thanks

yes, 3G modems and Storage devices are supported. You can connect an external HDD or Flash drive and use it for proxy or for logs.

Fated · Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:47 pm

Hello,
I use my usb flash drive as ftp storage, why after reboot all files on storage is deleted

Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:13 pm

Hello,
I use my usb flash drive as ftp storage, why after reboot all files on storage is deleted

Have not seen any such issues. Did you configure the drive in the "Store" menu and format it from there?

Fated · Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:20 am

Hello,
I use my usb flash drive as ftp storage, why after reboot all files on storage is deleted
Have not seen any such issues. Did you configure the drive in the "Store" menu and format it from there?

Yes, shure
also i try another flash drive, but did not work

rb751 (ROS 5.10, fw 2.37)

pateutz · Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:18 pm

Hi all,

i had purchased the new RB750UP (equipped with USB port). After i have tested the USB port for connecting 3G modem Huawei K3765 (and works) i had decided to use and test the same port with an flash drive.
After configuration and format process the driver was seen by the system. The next step was to configure the ftp server to copy something on it. For that had used the ftp protocol to access and copy file on it.

The issue that i had discovered; after i had reboot the device, the directory ( folders as we know in windows) copied on it disappear.

What i mean ?

So using an ftp client i had copy and iso file on it, reboot the router the file still present.
Following the same steps but this time copy an entire directory (folders as we know in windows), after reboot the entire directory has disappeared.

So experts where is the issue if exist .

Best Regards,

Daniel

PS:

RB750UP with 5.11 on it ( updated on last version ) current firmware 2.37

Fated · Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:36 pm

The issue that i had discovered; after i had reboot the device, the directory ( folders as we know in windows) copied on it disappear...

Same issue, maybe it's problem with 7xxU series...

fickk · Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:32 pm

it can be a storage device for the router itself (proxy cache, log files, user manager), but it can't be used as a network share.
have this ( jan 12 2010) changed?

What's new in 5.12 (2012-Jan-19 14:31):
*) implemented simple SMB (windows file sharing) server;

But I am unable to make it work. What is missing?
Thanks in advance!

[admin@Hugo] /store disk> print
Flags: S - system
# NAME TOTAL-SPACE FREE-SPACE STATUS
0 S system 126976KiB 85464KiB ready
1 usb1 153837436KiB 153645364KiB ready

[admin@Hugo] /ip smb> print
enabled: yes
domain: fickk
comment: hugo
allow-guests: yes
interfaces: br LAN

[admin@Hugo] /ip smb shares> print
Flags: X - disabled, I - inactive, * - default
# NAME DIRECTORY MAX-SESSIONS
0 * ;;; default share
pub /pub 10
1 HD /usb1 10

Fated · Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:27 pm

After ROS 5.12 i tried to use smb server on RB751U-2HnD but after a reboot - all my files are deleted

Same problem was when I used flash drive as FTP server

(RB751U-2HnD with ROS 5.12, flash drive Kingston 8GB (tried and Transcend 16GB))

pateutz · Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:17 am

Hi all ,

anything new with this issue ? I upload also the beta version 6.0b2 and the behavior is the same.

Best Regards,

Daniel

alchemyx · Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:59 pm

It seems I have same issue. After reboot files are gone. My Disk is WD 500GB external hard drive.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:23 am

You guys need to update to v5.15 and see what happens then. v6beta2 reports should go in the Beta forum, bugs are possible in v6

alchemyx · Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:46 am

Unfortunately same with 5.15 and also with 6.0b2

Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:08 am

alchemyx, thank you for the report. We will try to fix the problem at the next RouterOS version.

alchemyx · Fri May 11, 2012 2:39 pm

Unfortunately it is not resolved in 5.16. Problem persists.

Fated · Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:44 pm

What's new in 5.17 (2012-May-28 12:34):
*) files - fixed problem when directories disappeared after reboot on usb or sd flash;

gone to test

dadach · Wed Aug 22, 2012 4:41 pm

hi im fairly new to this, so i was wondering what kind of parameters i have to adjust to be able to use external 200gb hdd in mikrotik 751 usb port? like which options to click. thanks in advance. i guess i also need to update from 5.16 to 5.20 to not get files deleted. is it resolved in the last version? tnx for the infos

Fated · Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:03 am

hi im fairly new to this, so i was wondering what kind of parameters i have to adjust to be able to use external 200gb hdd in mikrotik 751 usb port? like which options to click. thanks in advance. i guess i also need to update from 5.16 to 5.20 to not get files deleted. is it resolved in the last version? tnx for the infos

First you need activate your storage
/store> add name=some_name disk=disk1 type=user-manager activate=yes
you also can select another options - http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:Store
After format - is ready

Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:08 am

make sure you don't attach a drive with important data inside. RouterOS needs to format the drive before use.

dadach · Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:39 pm

thanks guys

i got it to work (mostly) but i thing the transfer speeds are like 5-6 mb/s, which isnt too good

also, my media player can see the share, but cant connect to it. pc connects normally, but only when guest is allowed

Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:02 am

did you set up SMB users? http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:IP/SMB

dadach · Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:58 am

did you set up SMB users? http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:IP/SMB

yes, and i couldnt connect with those credentials when the login popped up. only when i had "allow guests" checked, could i connect.

askarz · Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:25 am

Can I use user manager to store it's database in an external HDD/Flash Drive connecting it with Micro usb port of RB2011 UAS-RM?
I am Planning to purchase Level6 license.
will the performance of the user manager will be good enough and be a best alternative for aptilo/inventum?
Any real time experience?
Please recommend..

ahmedagha · Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:15 pm

is there somewhere some more information available?
The idea sounds good and it would be great if I could use a routerOS powered router which would also act as storage device for my network (some Mac's)
it can be a storage device for the router itself (proxy cache, log files, user manager), but it can't be used as a network share.

so is that mean i cant use HDD as ftp? i saw ftp in my mikrotik RB751 but how can i use it?

el berto · Fri Mar 07, 2014 12:23 pm

Hi to all, on RB912UAG-5HPnD-OUT I installed 3G card (Sierra Wireless MC8775).
Factory defaults don't allow me to see modem, so I have to set:

/system routerboard usb set type=mini-PCIe

Now I would like to save some logs to usb pen drive, but I can't see any usb device:

[admin@crstres] > port print
Flags: I - inactive 
 #   DEVICE NAME                     CHANNELS USED-BY                   BAUD-RATE
 0   1:2    usb1                            3 PPP <3G>                  9600     
[admin@crstres] >

Could I use both 3G and USB disk toghether?
Or is my USB disk defective?
Thanks.

geom007 · Sat May 17, 2014 4:24 am

Secured sftp and scp are also available for usb/hdd file sharing.

nilesh · Wed Jul 16, 2014 5:38 am

I have issue with external hard disk in CCR-1036-12G-4S.
Initially I have selected External USB drive as Active for UserManager and WebProxy. But after every some time when I check the status of the Drive it shows as a Backup.
I have attached 1 TB HDD will the above router support that.

efaden · Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:12 pm

My USB key works until I reboot. Then it doesn't show up until I unplug and plug it in again. Running latest RC... Anyone else have this? Or he a fix

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Sat Jan 28, 2017 3:19 pm

I have made an examples on my website.
Dutch but look at the screenshots.
http://www.wirelessinfo.be/index.php/mi ... pages/disk
Translation follows in the future

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