AirPort Extreme Connection Failed with Hard Disk EVERYDAY!

This is getting really annoying now, I have currently three x 2TB hard drives plugged into the AirPort Extreme via a 4 Bay Enclosure.
Everyday, now and then, the connection fails. Meaning it wont let me backup and says "Couldn't find disk". And nor can I access the hard drives on the AirPort Extreme with finder, it just says Connection Failed. Nor can I open up airport utility, it says Reading Settings and then it says "input password to check settings on AirPort Extreme" so I put in the password and it loops over again.
Only way I can fix it is unplugging and pugging the AirPort Extreme back in.. WHY!!!!!!!!!?????? The AEBSn is in my basement along with the drives, it's very very very annoying. How do I fix it?
ALSO I NOTICED THAT THE INTERNET ONLY WORKS ON MY MACBOOK AIR and DOES NOT WORK ON MY WINDOWS 7 MACHINE, when this happens.

Exact same problem here. It used to really work well, Time Machine and all -- some Airport Extreme firmware revisions back. But whether it's changes to firmware or something else I don't know. It just started dropping the share point all the time and I'd have to restart or power cycle the Extreme to get it back. The shared printing to an HP Laserjet 1200 connected to the Extreme consistently works, never fails from any Mac in the house.
My solution: I gave up. I have a good high-powered hub -- the one I was using for printer and hard drive on the Extreme -- that can consistently support two externally powered USB drives. (I already have another external hard drive connected to my MacBook Air because my iTunes library finally outgrew the Air's built-in drive.) So I took the hub from the Extreme, plugged it in to the Air, connected my iTunes library hard drive and the storage/Time Machine hard drive to the hub.
Honestly, I prefer it this way. Printing works great via the Extreme USB connected printer. The network connection locally and to the Internet works great. Now Time Machine consistently works with the drive locally connected. I wouldn't even trade it for a Time Capsule because I'd still be dealing with Wi-Fi speeds. Doing a full Time Machine backup, about 107 GB, to the networked Time Machine volume took about 9 hours over pure 802.11n. Incremental backups and indexing those backups sometimes slowed my Air to a crawl. Connected via the hub to the Air the full backup took 90 minutes and incrementals I don't even notice are running. I rarely have reason to retrieve things from Time Machine, but just going into it takes like no time now. As fast or faster than starting other applications. And when I go mobile with the Air, I just eject the external hard drives and pull the hub's USB connector.
Sorry I don't have anything in the way of a real solution. But I'd long ago switched the other Macs in the house to locally connected external USB drives for Time Machine -- and nobody makes critical changes to the data on those Macs on a regular basis, anyway.
So I just got sick of pulling my hair out, I was the only one using the Airport Extreme networked drive for Time Machine or anything else. I threw in the towel. I spend two or three times the money on Macs than "comparable" Windows computers would cost me and I do that because I'm not by trade a technician. I just want to do my work, the part of it requring a computer, with no hassles. I can learn these technical troubleshooting things but that gets in the way of what I really do for work. So when I have my pricey Mac not properly connecting to my pricey Airport Extreme and I've spent hours and hours reconfiguring and trying to suss it out, I'll happily concede the battle and get back to the rest of my life.

Similar Messages

Airport Extreme Connection problem with new MacBook

Help-
For the past 2 years, I have had no problems with my Airport Extreme. My MacBook Pro (2006), My wife's iBook G4 and two AirPort Express units used as remote speaker connections have been rock solid. Both iPhone and one iPod touch work like a charm.
I just got my wife a new MacBook and since it came in and was connected, my Air Port Extreme has been nothing but a problem, requiring a hard reset every couple of days. As long as that MacBook is not connected, everything is fine.
Anyone have any ideas? Only the MacBook is using 802.11n. It is so frustrating, that my wife want to use her old iBook so if this can't get fixed, the MacBook is going back to Apple.

Welcome to the discussion area!
From your description, it sounds like the wireless communications between the AirPort Extreme and your wife's MacBook are picking up some sort of wireless interference from another source such as a cordless phone or another nearby security system.
I suggest that you try different channels for your wireless to see if you can find a setting with less interference. To do this, you would:
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the AirPort Extreme and then click Manual Setup below
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Look for the Radio Channel or Channel setting
You may need to hold down the option key as you click on the selection box to display all available choices.
Start at the highest channel and work your way down, or start at the lowest and work your way up.
Click Update at the lower right of the window to save your current setting and the AirPort Extreme will restart in 20-25 seconds.
It will take some time to find the optimum channel for your network, so proceed slowly and take a few notes as you go.

Como configuro el airport Extreme para utilizar mi Hard Disk externo?

Alguien me puede ayudar.?

06-sep-2012 0:14
Me compre un ipod classic de 160gb cada vez que trato de ponerle musica de mi disco duro externo solo copia hasta 1500 canciones y luego me congela el Itune y no lo puedo cerrar, me pide que restaure el ipod como de fabrica, lo hago y nada. Trato de cerrar el programa de itune y no me deja, trato de apagar el computador y no lo puedo apagar, he buscado para ver si tiene errores el disco del Ipod y me dice que esta bien. Lo he restaurado como 8 veces y le he puesto musica y videos pero siempre me borra todo. He aplastado Menu y Seleccion para entrar al sistemade diagnostic o del ipod y le pongo el test manual donde entro al IO y me dice q todo esta bien. Le he dado ya varios Format directamente desde el Windows 7 y nada tampoco, siempre me borra todo desde que pasan mas de 1300 canciones y me congeal todo el equipo. Ya no se que pensar de esta compania Apple porque no da ninguna solucion ha este tema.
I bought a 160gb iPod classic every time I try to put music on my external hard drive only copy up to 1500 songs and then freezes Itune me and I can not close, asks me to restore the ipod as factory, and do nothing . I try to close the program and itune will not let me, I try to turn off the computer and I can not shut, I looked to see if the iPod disk errors and says it's okay. I restored it about 8 times and I've put music and videos but I always delete everything. I crushed and Selection Menu to enter diagnostic sistemade or ipod and I put the manual test where I enter the IO and q tells me everything is fine. I have already given several Format directly from the Windows 7 and anything either, I always delete everything from passing over 1300 songs and I congeal whole team. No longer have to think of this company because Apple gives no solution has this issue.
iPod classic, Windows 7, ME BORRA TODO Y SE CONGELA

Airport Extreme 802.11n sharing a disk with a -1 on the mount point

First I have to reboot the device once a day because of the disk that disconnect for no reason like many other on the list ever since I upgraded to 7.2.1 but not sure that as to do with this problem.
Here's is the deal, I have an Airport Extreme 802.11n with a 500GB shared on the USB port. I want to use my iPhoto Library on the 500GB. It's about 11GB, I have tranfered the library over and iPhoto is asking to choose the library I want to use. When I try to point it to the 500GB everything is greyed out. When I use a terminal and do a df command to show the mount point on my computer, I get
/Volumes/500GB-1
Why and where the -1 is coming from?
How can I get /Volumes/500GB only?
One thing I have noticed about the -1 is when I loose the disk connection it prompt me to disconnect 500GB-1 but sometime even with a -2 and -3.
Thx!

can I hook up my printer, scanner and external harddrive through a usb hub?
Partially, a large number of USB printers will work with the AirPort Base Stations' USB port, but not all. I suggest that you checkout the following iFelix site to see if your printer is compatible. Similiarly, most external USB hard drives should work as well.
However, devices that rely on two-way communications, like copiers and scanners, won't work when connected to the USB port.

I wanted to know whether i can diffuse music to the bluetooth only speakers from a airport extreme-connected hard drive through my mac?

I'm interested in the new soundlink mini Bose wireless speakers that function only via bluetooth. I wanted to diffuse music to them from an airport extreme connected hard drive through my macbook air. I don't want to stoc music on my mac given the limited flash drive and don't want to go though wires again. Is that possible? Also I can't go with airport express since those speakers don't have the airplay function.
Thanks a lot for your help or ideas

Hello jeri004,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
For more information on this, take a look at:
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
Best of luck,
Mario

I have an Airport Extreme, 2 laptops with windows 7 and a wireless HP printer. I can connect the laptops to the printer. Any advise?

I have an Airport Extreme, 2 laptops with windows 7 and a wireless HP printer. I am not able to connect the laptops to the printer. Any advise?

The problem is not the router.. the issue is the vpn has put your computer in a different IP range with a different gateway. When you turn off the vpn the computer returns to local lan and can print.
Some vpn software allows you to set gateway to use local net instead of remote gateway or access to other webistes or local lan.
Read up the issue.
http://stevejenkins.com/blog/2010/01/using-the-local-default-gateway-with-a-wind ows-vpn-connection/
Cisco vpn client..
https://supportforums.cisco.com/thread/239113
I did not search much.. just grabbed the first article I could find that explains the issue.
The whole point of the vpn is whilst it is connected your computer is NOT part of the Local Lan .. it is part of the Remote LAN via the vpn tunnel.
It is also a security risk using split tunnelling so often it will not be allowed.
Plug the printer directly into the computer via usb or whatever.. Local connection will work.. not local lan.

Can this be done? Airport extreme connected wireless in extend mode to connect a wireless Mac Pro with an ethernet cable from the extended airport extreme..

Can this be done? Airport extreme connected wireless in extend mode to connect a wireless Mac Pro with an ethernet cable from the extended airport extreme.

This will work.....IF....you also have an Apple AirPort router configured to provide your wireless network.
In other words, you need to have two Apple AirPort routers to extend a wireless network.
When the AirPort Extreme is configured to "extend" the wireless of the "main" AirPort, it will provide more wireless coverage and the Ethernet ports are enabled, so you could connect your Mac Pro to any of the Ethernet ports and use that as a network and Internet connection.

Airport Extreme - Wifi BS with WD My Book as NAS

Hello.
I'm a recent buyer of an Apple Airport Extreme, which I will use to replace my current router.
My Airport Extreme has firmware 7.52 and Airport Utility which is used in a laptop is v5.5.2. All updated here!
FYI, the network infrastructure is the following:
Modem: Sagem connected to phone line (ADSL)
Router: Airport Extreme connected via WAN to the Sagem Modem
HDD: WD My Book 1TB (FAT32) connected via USB to Airport Extreme
Media Player: WDTV Live connected via Wifi to Airport Extreme (with 1 Wifi dongle via USB)
2 laptops (1 Windows 7 SP1 + 1 Windows XP SP3), connected via Wifi to Airport Extreme
Wii and PSP connected via Wifi to Airport Extreme
Router: ASUS WL-500GP V2 connected via Wifi to Airport Extreme (as a repeater)
Printer: HP PSC1310 connected via USB to ASUS WL-500GP V2
1 fixed PC connected via Ethernet to ASUS WL-500GP V2
There are 2 things here which are not yet 100%... It's about the first one I need help, as for the second one I haven't invested time on it yet.
When connecting the WD My Book via USB to Airport Extreme, the router had no trouble in detecting it (including total, free space, etc). My problem is in being able to access correctly to the HDD (in the Windows 7 laptop and from the WDTV Live).
In Airport Utility I have the following Disk options set:
- Enable drive sharing (X)
- Secure shared disks (with accounts) --> I have defined 1 single user and password
- Guest access (not allowed)
- Share disks over Ethernet WAN port ( )
- Workgroup e WINS server bothe empty
After some fight, I could only access the HDD from Windows 7 with:
\\Airport_Name\HDD_Name
or
\\Airport_IP\HDD_Name
The 1st thing I cannot do is, in the Windows 7 laptop, is to Airport Base Station utility to work properly. It detects the HDD, but then it doesn't accept me any user/password. It would make sense to use the above defined account, right? This is weird.
The 2nd thing which bugs me and I couldn't overcome yet, is that when I access the HDD, I can only view/change files inside a folder called SHARED created in the HDD root (by the Airport Extreme - with 1 file with extension sharepoint inside).
The main goals of having the HDD connected to Airport Extreme are:
- Backup things from my Windows 7 laptop directly to the HDD;
- Play files (from WDTV Live).
Without being able to access the WHOLE fodler structure in the HDD, I cannot do backups as I want to and playing files in the media player is also a bit cumbersome...
So, I would like to know if anyone know of a way of forcing Airport Extreme to share everything which is in the HDD root via Wifi and not only what it is inside the folder SHARED...
Thanks in advance for any help/idea.

Try a powered USB hub.
Reason....the USB port on the AirPort Extreme is borderline as far as its ability to provide sufficient power to a hard drive....even if the hard drive has its own power supply.
After two years, the power supply in the AirPort Extreme is likely not delivering quite as much oomph as it did when it was younger.
I have three hard drives here, and each one works fine when it is connected directly to a computer (almost all computers have high power USP ports....the AirPort Extreme does not), but none of them will work when I connect them to the AirPort Extreme unless I use a powered USB hub.
Just in case....make sure that you understand the store's return policy before you buy the powered hub....but my hunch (assuming that the USB port on the AirPort is working) would be that you won't be returning it.

AirPort Extreme and shared USB Hard Drive

I received an AirPort Extreme for Christmas with the intent of using it to share a network Hard Drive and Printer between the multiple machines on our home network. I've finally gotten it set up with Bonjour on the PC's, and the AirPort Utility on all machines. It's connected via ethernet cable to a Dell PC, and wirelessly to an iMac, a Dell Laptop, my iPhone and a PS3. Internet functionality is great for all devices.
My next step was to connect a Seagate 750GB External USB Hard Drive to the APE. This drive was previously connected to the Dell PC, and was formatted as NTFS. I went through the hassle of converting it to FAT32, I connected it to the router, and both Dell's and the iMac can see the drive. I haven't checked if the PS3 can see it yet, but since I haven't found Bonjour for the PS3, I'm not holding my breath. The iPhone - well, mine isn't jailbroken at the moment.
A few quick hints I learned from doing a lot of web surfing and trial-and-error. These could save people a LOT of time...
+ Don't format a external drive as either an Apple Drive (HFS+) or as a Windows Drive (NTFS) if you plan on using data off it on both a Mac and a PC. Windows won't read HFS+ without a converter, APE won't accept NTFS. It needs to be FAT32 as this is nearly universal.
+ Windows will only format a maximum of 32GB as FAT32. It's a stupid limit, and you have to jump hoops to get it to do a larger drive size.
+ Use the Disk Utility on the Mac to erase the drive and reformat it as an MS-DOS partition. It will work up to a drive of about 2TB according to what I've read. On the Mac, MS-DOS partition = FAT32, and it formatted my 750GB drive as a single 750GB partition.
Now, I've begun the task of copying all our media to the drive. Copied a few pictures, no problem. Copied a few MP3's, no problem. Where the problems start is in trying to copy movies to the drive. We have ripped most of our DVD's to DivX / H.264, to keep the kids from destroying the DVD's (trust me, DVD's scratch EASY in the hands of a 5-year old). So I have about 50 movies to transfer, each around 1GB in size.
Each time I try to transfer a movie to the drive, I get an error "*Error Copying File or Folder*" which displays the message "*Cannot copy BlahBlahBlah: The specified network name is no longer available.*" This also results in the HDD becoming unavailable to the other machines on the network. I've had to un-plug and then re-plug the APE a few times to get the HDD to work again. Sometimes, the copy actually does work, even though I get this message. I know the easy work-around is to connect the HDD directly to the PC with the files on it and transfer them that way, but I shouldn't have to do that - it should just work.
I'm wondering if anyone else has any kind of a similar experience? It appears that I can stream music and video from the drive easily enough, it's the writing to the drive that seems to be the issue. Thanks in advance...
Best Regards,
Jeff

I would think you would have better luck formatting it as HFS+ (Macintosh Extended File System). You'll still be able to see it from your non-Mac PCs.
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6370006#6370006

Help!! I need to recover my photos on my failed iMac hard disk

I need some help in recovering my photo's on a failed imac hard disk......
The history to this is that I received the cursed flashing folder with a question mark (?) when I tried to boot into my normal OSX Maverck on my imac - I researched this and there was a possibility of a hard disk error.
I booted off the Mac OSX Snow Leopard CD to access Disk Utility to see if I could repair the hard disk - no luck! I couldn't repair it.
I then installed a new version of OSX Snow Leopard on a external hard disk connected to the Imac through the USB - I then upgraded this version of OSX Snow Leopard to OSX Maverick. This allowed me to reboot the Imac off the external version OSX Maverick. I could subsequently see the failed hard disk on File Manager and have access to all the files on the main account. I don't however have access to other accounts (my wife's) where I store my photo's as there is a folder with a red minus sign denying me permission - I tried to change permission on these accounts but when I right click on the folder and select "Get Info" the permissions tab is greyed out denying me the ability to change permissions.
How do I change permissions on the failed hard disk from my external copy of OSX Maverick? How do I get access to those files so I can receover the photo's?
My ulitmate goal is to recover all the information on the failed hard dsik so that I can reformat the hard disk.
By the way, I tried recovering the photo's using Time Machine but the last history I have is December 2011 which is 2.5 years out of date - something must have gone wrong! I don't want to receover this and lose the most recent photo's on the failed hard disk. Another question with Time Machine - if I perform a back-up today, will I be able to recover the data after I reformat the hard disk - my worry is that I'll only be able to get back to where I man now which is not being able to access the data on the folders that I don;t have permission on.
I really appreciate the groups assistance.
Lightning_rabbit

I can think of several ways to get the files off.
One is to create a root (super user account) user whcih will have access to everything. Another thing is to duplicate the other accounts that were on the failed drive on the new one and then log in as that user and move them over.
A link to create the root user is here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14281

I BEG of you: How do I replace an Airport Extreme base station with a 4th-generation Time Capsule as the base station?

I'll be damned if I can figure this out. I have a new late-2012 iMac (OS 10.8.3) connecting to my LAN via Airport wi-fi. (It will be Ethernet-connected, as soon as a hole is drilled into my new work table, but right now the Ethernet cable doesn't reach.) My wife uses a 2011 MacBook Air.
The LAN consists of a flying-saucer-looking Airport Extreme connected by Ethernet to the modem, plus 2 old Airport Expresses. I have an Ethernet switch too, through which I've got a TV connected and a printer connected.
I bought a 4th-generation Time Capsule about a year ago, but couldn't figure out for the life of me how to replace the Airport Extreme with it. I became so incredibly frustrated that I hid it away in a closet until now. I just tried again, with the same results. I've got both Airport Utility 5.6 (to use with the old Extreme and Expresses) and Airport Utility 6.2. I was using version 6.2 to set up the Time Capsule... or to try to. Once again, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it! I tried so many different Ethernet wiring connections that I now cannot remember them well enough to describe them here.
I distinctly remember that, when I tried this a year ago with my wife's MacBook Air and Airport Utility 6.2, I was presented at one point with the question whether I wanted to replace an existing base station with the Time Capsule I was trying to set up, but this time I never was presented with that option.
Is there anyone who can, in essence, hold my hand and walk me through this process step-by-step? At this point I even need to be instructed what to wire to what. I feel like a total incompetent.
My MOST sincere thanks in advance for help!
(I hope Time Capsule is the correct forum for this question. I considered the Airport forum as well, but I don't want to cross-post.)
(And, just to complicate matters, after I get this done-- assuming I ever do-- I want to use the old Airport Extreme on the outside of the house to extend the range of my LAN to the back yard... but that's for another day entirely.)

apikoros wrote:
The Utility transferred all of the AE's settings, so I still have to change the password, which leaves me with only 2 other questions, I think:
1) I assume it's just a matter of using the Utility, entering a stronger password and checking for it to be remembered in Keychain Access. But do I have to change the password for each individual unit-- the TC, the Extreme and both Expresses-- or will changing it just for the TC alone work for the entire network?
Resetting the password you will need to do for each device... the utility cannot even see those old units.
So you will have to do it for each one.. think it through.. because as you change passwords the others will lose connection.. so start from the express which are wireless extending .. change those first.. and go back up the chain.. as each one changes it will drop off the network.. until you reach extreme and change that. Then you might need to reboot the whole network to get everything talking again. If something goes wrong.. just pluck that one out of the mix and plug in ethernet.. reset and redo the setup. That is my preferred method anyway.. do everything in isolation one by one. By ethernet and then nothing goes wrong.
2) Who's the treasonous SOB who spilled the beans to you about the ICBM in my back yard?!?
N.Korean hackers.
[Edit] Whoops-- one more question: I want to partition the TC's disk, but Disk Utility doesn't see it. What do I need to do?
You cannot partition a network disk. And apple provided no tools for it in the TC itself. You can pull the disk out and partition it but that voids your warranty. (although done with care who is to know).
Look at Q3 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
Mixing TM and data on the TC is worth planning carefully. They don't necessarily sit happily together.

AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem not recognized by airport utililty,

My Apple M8799LL/A AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port is no longer recognized by the airport setup utility, nor will it allow internet connection. Has worked fine until last weekend when I did a full disk utility on all of my drives. Now I get a message, none of your trusted networks are available would I like to join (my network name)? Airport looks fine, can connect locally, lights up as usual.
How can I make it trusted again and get dial up internet to work again?

resetting has worked for months with no return of the problem.

Extend my wired Airport Extreme (5th Gen) with a 2nd Wired Airport Extreme (also 5th Gen)

I have a 5th Generation Airport Extreme in my house hard wired directly from my fiber optic provider
Then I have that 5th Generation Airport Extreme hard wired directly to my Desktop Computer in a separate building in my back yard (using an Ethernet Cable run through an underground conduit).
Using that setup, I DO get Wi-Fi for my iPhone 4S & iPad 3 in that separate building in my back yard, but it is sometimes so weak, it really is not useable.
To improve the Wi-Fi signal for my iPhone 4S & iPad 3, I plan on adding a 2nd 5th Generation Airport Extreme in the separate building in my back yard.
I will disconnect the Ethernet Cable that is currently plugged directly into my Desktop computer & plug it into the 2nd Airport Extreme.
Then, I will use a short Ethernet Cable to directly connect my Desktop Computer to the 2nd Airport Extreme.
The desktop computer is an older Dell Dimension 9200 running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3
With this set-up, will the strong Wi-Fi signal I now get in my house from the 1st Airport Extreme NOT be reduced?
And since the separate building is only 300 square feet, I assume the Wi-Fi signal there will also be as strong with the 2nd Airport Extreme being so close to everything?
Could someone point me to SPECIFIC instructions on how to CORRECTLY set this up so that the 2nd Airport Extreme will EXTEND my home network?

So, I should unplug the 1st Airport Extreme from the outlet before doing anything?
Yes.
Since the 2 Airport Extremes will be in 2 separate locations, which do I plug into the outlet first?
I would suggest plugging the one in the house first, then the second one in the backyard building. Be sure to connect the Ethernet coming from the first into the second before power-on either base station.
Could I connect the Ethernet both to the 2nd Airport Extreme & then to the desktop, then plug in the current Airport Extreme in the house, then run out & plug in the 2nd Airport Extreme in the separate building?
The key is to leave everything powered-off; connect the Ethernet cables, and then, start by powering up the house unit, then the backyard unit, and then, the PC. Make sense?
P.S. I have the Version 5.5.3 of Airport Utility for Windows (using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 3)
There does NOT seem to be a later version than that.
That worked great for the installation of the 1st Airport Extreme several months ago, so I shouldn't have any problems, should I?
There is a later version (5.6.1) for Windows, but required Windows 7 to run on. Since you can already administer the 1st 5th gen Extreme with the version you have now, you shouldn't have any issues continuing to use it for the second unit.

Airport Extreme 802.11ac and USB disk failure

hi,
Had an Airport Extreme 5th gen with a USB disk attached for over a year of which my Mac was using Time Machine and creating backups no problem, didnt skip a beat.
Just bought a new Airport Extreme 802.11ac, attached the same USB disk and Time Machine works once or twice then fails saying it cant find the disk. True enough if I open finder and try and find the disk its not listed.
Opening the airport utility it shows the disk attached. If I reboot the Airport Extreme the disk shows up again in finder for a short period of time.
Looks like they released a firmware update 7.7.1 which was supposed to fix this but it seems in my case it hasnt. Even factory reset after the update but no joy.
Normal wireless activities like internet access etc are fine.
Not sure if anyone else has experienced this yet? If not I guess ill try a non self powered disk or something, either that my AE is faulty.
thanks
matt

My experience with the 802.11ac extreme with 7.7.1 firmware suggests Time Machine doesn't work when the name assigned to the device (not the SSID) contains a period, which the out-of-the-box name does.
Out-of-the-box, with the default device name still assigned, I could not get Time Machine to recognize the remote disk on multiple 10.8.4 Macs until I created an empty folder on it. Yet once registered with Time Machine, backups never occurred to the disk--TM status was always "waiting". The server name displayed in TM had the period in "802.11ac" escaped with a backslash (i.e., "802\.11ac").
I renamed the extreme, but used a name that still contained a period. The same difficulty was encountered registering the disk with TM. Once registered, TM status for the disk was still "waiting".The server name again had the period escaped with a backslash.
Finally, I just removed the period from the name. Registering the disk with TM then occurred normally and backup began immediately.
(In an earlier case with the 7.7.0 firmware, I had no trouble registering and backing up to an 802.11ac Time Capsule that had previously been given a name without a period in it.)

Airport Extreme doesn't recognize USB disk

I have a USB external hard drive that I've used for a number of years plugged directly into my Mac mini. I'm trying to move it to the Airport Extreme as a shared hard drive, but the device is not recognizing it. It won't show up in my Finder sidebar, nor will it appear in Airport Utility in the list of disks.
For contrast, I've got another drive that shows up fine whenever I plug it in.
Things I've tried:
- A USB hub plugged into the Airport Extreme. If I plug both disks into the hub, the second one works just fine, while the first still won't appear in the Finder, and in Airport Utility it is displayed as a "0MB" capacity drive with no volumes. If I don't plug in the second disk, I don't think the first disk shows up at all.
- Different USB cable. Same result.
- Reformat the drive (via Disk Utility, as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"). Same result.
- Rollback the firmware. Currently at 7.6. I tried 7.5.2 and 7.4.1. Same result.
Any ideas?

Some older drives just won't work at a network USB location....probably a firmware limitation on the drive electronics.
Check to see if the firmware on the hard drive can be updated.
If you have checked your powered USB hub to verify that all ports are functional, and checked USB cables, I think you have to conclude that you....like me in the past....have found a drive just won't work where you want it to.

AirPort Extreme Connection Failed with Hard Disk EVERYDAY!

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