2GB limit using a WD NetCenter

[vintagemarketing]

We are a complete Macintosh office. I just implemented a WD Netcenter Network 320GB Drive.

I am unable to run a backup script and get the message:

Can't add that much data to backup set. The limit is 2.0 G.

 

I am able to DUPLICATE but cannot run a backup script to the Network drive. I read some posts that suggested reformatting the drive to HFS+. I spoke with WD and they told me that the WD NetCenter drive could not be reformatted. Is there a way to backup my data on this drive. It seems silly that Retrospect would set up the application taht way. Wasnt Retospect stictly Mac at one time? It seems liek support for Macintosh computers has slipped into a coma.

 

Can someone recommend a drive that will allow network backup using Macintosh?

[CallMeDave]

Quote:

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I read some posts that suggested reformatting the drive to HFS+. I spoke with WD and they told me that the WD NetCenter drive could not be reformatted. Is there a way to backup my data on this drive. It seems silly that Retrospect would set up the application taht way. Wasnt Retospect stictly Mac at one time? It seems liek support for Macintosh computers has slipped into a coma.

 

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Huh?

 

If the Destination network volume you're attempting to use isn't formatted as HFS+ then Mac OS won't write a single file larger then 2G. This is not a Retrospect limitation, it is a Mac OS limitation.

 

Sounds as if WD is the ones who are not providing the product support you want/need, not Dantz.

Dave

[vintagemarketing]

I am able to DUPLICATE through Retrospect or copy files directly to the drive. When running a backup script from Retrospect is when the 2 GB error occurs.

[waltr]

hi billy,

 

have you tried duplicating files over 2gb? that might tell you something.

 

duplicating the normal files on a mac would not approach the 2gb file size limit you are seeing.

[Lennart_T]

Quote:

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We are a complete Macintosh office. I just implemented a WD Netcenter Network 320GB Drive.

I am unable to run a backup script and get the message:

Can't add that much data to backup set. The limit is 2.0 G.

 

 

---

Hi.

 

If WD implements an OLD version of AFP (Apple File Protocol) the file size limit is 2GB.

Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2003 Server STILL has this limit for Macintosh shares.

 

Buy an XServe and get rid of the problem.

 

Regards

Lennart

[vintagemarketing]

yes, duplicated 7GB of graphc files.

[waltr]

hi billy,

 

you haven't yet given the version of Retrospect you are using. this is a good time to do so.

 

i'd like to know what version (and please don't say, 'the latest', i need specifics down to the build number) and what RDU you are using.

 

you can find all of this info in your logs, it's entered each time Retrospect starts.

[CallMeDave]

Quote:

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duplicated 7GB of graphc files

 

---

 

The above quote is unclear as to what you did.

 

There is no suggestion here that you would be unable to copy seven 1-GB graphic files.

 

The question is, can you transfer any _single_ file greater then 2 GB ?

[waltr]

true enough. i was reading it as though he was saying 'one 7gb graphics file' but on second read, i could be wrong.

 

i'd still like to know the version.

[vintagemarketing]

Rtrospect 6.1.126.

I have DUPLICATED the document folder (7GB) to the WD Netcenter with no problems.

I do not have any single files over 1GB so I cannot answer your question.

 

With Retrospect, when you run a backup script, it creates 1 file, and that 1 file is 7GB, and it will not backup. This is when the error message about the 2 GB limit pops up.

I hope I answered your question

[waltr]

hi billy,

 

in a way. you do realize that retrospect makes a single file for the backup? if it goes over 2gb you will get this problem if you have an older AFP server or SMB (which is what i think you have) server. the point with the larger files is that you would have the same problem with duplicating files over 2gb. just duplicating 7gb of files doesn't really prove anything.

 

i'm reading from your post that you are using 6.1.126 _WITHOUT_ an RDU. if this is correct, you should download the latest RDU from:

 

http://www.dantz.com/updates

 

download Driver Update 6.1.2.102

 

there was a problem i've seen with this that was fixed in the latest RDU. i'd like you to try it, but i cannot guarantee that it will work.

[Lennart_T]

Quote:

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With Retrospect, when you run a backup script, it creates 1 file, and that 1 file is 7GB, and it will not backup.

 

---

Hi.

 

Create that single file locally (on a local disk) using Retrospect. Quit Retrospect.

Then, using the Finder, try to copy the 7GB file to the WD network disk. It will fail and it's not Retrospect's fault.

 

Regards

Lennart

[coffeysh]

I read this line of posts because I just bought a LaCie 250 GB drive and I hit the same problem of not being able to backup a single file larger than 2 GB. I suggest the following to pin down the exact problem. Go to the apple and click on "About this Mac", then "More Info". Click on Fireware or USB depending on which interface your drive is using. Somewhere near the bottom of the resulting display you should find "File System:". It probably will not say that it is Journaled HFS+. It probably will say something like DOS or something else that indicates it is not a HFS+ formatted drive. So, either you reformat the drive or if it cannot be reformatted, you need to purchase one that is or can be formatted HFS+.

 

Shannon

[CallMeDave]

Quote:

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Click on Fireware or USB depending on which interface your drive is using

 

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The device in question actually connects directly to the ethernet network, and is being accessed via CIFS (the new name for SMB) over the network. But the answer is the same as was suggested in the first reply above; if the drive doesn't support HFS+ then its limitations are not caused by (nor can be cured by) Retrospect.

[coffeysh]

I agree. Sure, Retrospect cannot write files larger than 2 mb to a disk that is not formatted HFS+. No program can write single files larger than 2 mb to a non HFS+ disk.

 

The problem seemed to be that billyd did not know how the disk was formatted. All that business of trying to copy a 7 Mb file to the disk would be unnecessary if he merely looked to see how the disk is formatted. I suggested looking at the disk information. If the disk had been connected directly to the mac , then system info would provide that information. Surely there is another way to do it even if it is on the network. Probably the thing to do would be to connect the disk, temporarily to a Mac and then querry the disk. That is probably necessary in order to reformat it. Which brings me to the problem of reformatting the disk. I am no expert in formatting disks, but I am very surprised that the disk could not be reformatted, not withstanding what the company "expert" said. Why does the disk even care how the 1s and 0s are written on the disk. If I were him, I would connect the disk to a Mac and try to erase the disk and in that process it could be reformatted HFS+ (Journaled)

 

Shannon

[glasgowd]

Hi--

 

Not sure whether to create a new thread here, but I'm getting the same error under different circumstances....

 

Trying to back up from a Mac (PowerBook G3, OS 10.4.3) over an Ethernet network to a Dell PC using Retrospect 6.1.126. The "Backup" and "Backup.cat" files are created fine on the target volume, but I get the "Can't add that much data to backup set/The limit is 2.0 G" message.

 

Reformatting the target volume is not an option--is there a way around this? Can Retrospect automatically split up its "File" backups (just as it does with multiple CD-R's, say) to avoid the 2 GB limit?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

: )

David

[CallMeDave]

Quote:

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If I were him, I would connect the disk to a Mac and try to erase the disk and in that process it could be reformatted HFS+

 

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The Western Digital NetCenter is not just a simple hard drive/bridge board, but is in fact a computer running embedded Linux. So while the _disk_ doesn't care how it's formatted, the operating system that communicates with the disk surely does!

 

There are two USB ports on the unit; but I'd be hesitant to recommend repartitioning a volume with a format that is unsupported by the manufacturer, unless the tools to fall back to the default configuration are available.

[Lennart_T]

Quote:

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Trying to back up from a Mac (PowerBook G3, OS 10.4.3) over an Ethernet network to a Dell PC using Retrospect 6.1.126. The "Backup" and "Backup.cat" files are created fine on the target volume, but I get the "Can't add that much data to backup set/The limit is 2.0 G" message.

 

Reformatting the target volume is not an option--is there a way around this? Can Retrospect automatically split up its "File" backups (just as it does with multiple CD-R's, say) to avoid the 2 GB limit?

 

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Hi.

 

Unfortunately, Windows file sharing doesn't allow files larger than 2GB and Retrospect can't split files. But it would be a nice feature. Even better if Microsoft would update their file sharing software. NTFS allows very large files, but the file sharing does NOT.

 

Regards

Lennart

[jdlh]

I encountered a similar problem, and fixed it by installing the most recent Retrospect Driver update. For details, see my post at http://forums.dantz.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=74939&page=0&vc=#Post74939

 

Hope this helps,

--Jim