GoFlex, GoFlex Desk, GoFlex Pro, GoFlex Slim, & GoFlex Turbo

[DavidKR]

I just bought a GoFlex Desk 1TB external drive. It has a USB 2 connector. Is it possible/advisable to use a USB-Ethernet adapter to connect this to my wireless router, so I can access it from my laptop without connecting it to the laptop directly? Thanks for any help or advice!

[AskTheLeaf]

Our external drives aren't supported when connected to the USB port on a router  

[DavidKR]

Thank you for such a prompt reply. Just for clarification, does this mean that the external drives don't work in this configuration (I'd actually be connecting through a USB-Ethernet adapter to an Ethernet port on the router); or that Seagate simply does not consider this a normal use of the drive, and will not respond to difficulties I may inflict on myself this way?

[AskTheLeaf · Accepted solution]

DavidKR, it's the latter.

I have seen it work on some systems, so you're welcome to try it.   

It's just that if it shouldn't work, we don't provide any kind of technical assistance for it.

[DavidKR]

Got it, thanks! I'll probably give it a shot, and if it works, great, if not, I'll connect the laptop directly to the GoFlex to back it up.

[angelface]

Wish I had read this dialogue earlier!!!  On 8/1, I purchased a 2TB FreeAgent GoFlex Desk drive because I had a Netgear WNDR3700 router.  Netgear's advertises the compatibility of these two products on their website (see http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11280/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xMzEzMzUzNTY0L3NpZC9...).  I never did figure out what the "3.5 inch" reference meant!

The configuration does work, but only within the wireless network space.  I CAN remotely run the SmartWizard to manage the router from my Android smartphone.  HOWEVER, what I CAN'T do is access the USB storage files (which is the primary reason I created this configuration) from an external network.

It's been a fun two weeks!!!

[melsanborn]

So... how exactly are consumers supposed to know this when they purchase the product???? I purchased the Goflex Home for this very reason - to connect to my home network. It doesn't really help when I find out NOW that Seagate washes their hands of any problems. I'm sorry, but that's complete bull**bleep**. If Seagate is going to completely write off an entire set of functions for a device, then they better put big warning labels on there and quit advertising it as "infinitely adaptable" and such.

[congdongee]

Hi DavidKR,

Did you try setting up your external hard drive with the USB-Ethernet adapter to your router.  I also bought the Seagate GoFlex Desk 2TB as a network hard drive.  I have a Belkin+ N router.

Appreicate the benefit of your experience!

Thanks.

[obulkan]

I have used seagate products since 1988, the story started with 20MB scsi drive. But it seems it will be FIN with  GoFlex Desk 2TB.

I have a 300Mb/s wireless router which has a usb port for mass storage, printer.. etc. It works perfect with an 10$ cost usb stick, and also a few dollars usb adapter based HDD.

It need have been an upgrade of my system at home after my purchase of GoFlex Desk 2TB. 

After a few tests, and reading your discussions here, it is mostly clear.

- GoFlex is a mass storage device. It has a universal port well know as whatever USB 2.0/3.0. It is not acceptable not to support routers. It is misleading.

- How it is flexible? There is a problem of connection of USB 2.0/3.0 GoFlex Desk adapter with routers. But there is no way to use GoFlex Home Network base adapter with the base  hdd. Because it is not on sale without additional GoFlex Drive. I believe the HDD inside has very good quality as compared with competitors. But this is not a fair marketing. Do sell something running, or give way to upgrade to something running.

Today I have sent an email to customer support. I am waiting for their response, and let all you know about the result.

I hope we are wrong, and will be glad to say that we are wrong here.

Wish you all luck following this entry.

[GregH]

When I purchased my 3TB Seagate GoFlex Desk I was using it on a standalone computer.  Since then we have added 2 employees to our office and networked our computers.  I was wanting to migrate the external drive to the network.  Based off of what I am reading this will not work.  Is Seagate willing to help in this situation?