Are SATA drives shown as USB on Thunderbolt?

[Rockadile]

I just bought my first HDD thunderbolt enclosure (Terramaster TD2). The drives are seen as USB connection on Monterey so no SMART.

I've read that you can only get SMART data on SATA and Thunderbolt connections so I bought this enclosure in particular.

I was wondering if all other HDD thunderbolt enclosures behaved the same way. I'm looking for native SMART data support on Monterey for my archival drives.

 

[joevt]

The specifications doesn't show SMART support:
https://www.terra-master.com/global/td2-thunderbolt-3.html?page=menu&mid=318
It seems that Thunderbolt enclosure is using a USB to SATA adapter so that the enclosure can also work with non-Thunderbolt computers.

Get a Thunderbolt enclosure that doesn't advertise support for non-Thunderbolt computers via USB-C connection to its Thunderbolt port. These will usually only support DisplayPort 1.2 if they have a DisplayPort connector at all.

Some Thunderbolt enclosures have a separate USB-B port for connecting to USB computers. They may use a SATA controller for Thunderbolt connection and a USB adapter for USB connection. For example, the AKiTiO Thunder3 Duo Pro is a super old enclosure that predates Thunderbolt 3 support on Macs and therefore requires a patch to work with macOS.

 

[Rockadile]

The specifications doesn't show SMART support:
https://www.terra-master.com/global/td2-thunderbolt-3.html?page=menu&mid=318
It seems that Thunderbolt enclosure is using a USB to SATA adapter so that the enclosure can also work with non-Thunderbolt computers.

Get a Thunderbolt enclosure that doesn't advertise support for non-Thunderbolt computers via USB-C connection to its Thunderbolt port. These will usually only support DisplayPort 1.2 if they have a DisplayPort connector at all.

Some Thunderbolt enclosures have a separate USB-B port for connecting to USB computers. They may use a SATA controller for Thunderbolt connection and a USB adapter for USB connection. For example, the AKiTiO Thunder3 Duo Pro is a super old enclosure that predates Thunderbolt 3 support on Macs and therefore requires a patch to work with macOS.

That's a pity. I liked this enclosure for its variable fan speed, I wouldn't want anything louder at idle. OWC seems to always have their fans at max. Everything other option starts to cost an arm & leg.

There's an eSATA to TB3 adapter from IOGear so I may have to get eSATA dock to try if that would work.

 

[Monotremata]

Ack I never even noticed this before. Just checked my Oyen USB-C enclosure and both of my USB WD MyBook drives and all of them show S.M.A.R.T. Not Supported! I kinda need that as one of those WD's is my Time Machine and the drives in my enclosure are my Cubase/Live/Logic and sample drives!

I'm pretty sure this was there at some point in the past no?? I've been using the MyBook enclosures for awhile, and I could've sworn that used to show up in past MacOS's.

 

[Rockadile]

Ack I never even noticed this before. Just checked my Oyen USB-C enclosure and both of my USB WD MyBook drives and all of them show S.M.A.R.T. Not Supported! I kinda need that as one of those WD's is my Time Machine and the drives in my enclosure are my Cubase/Live/Logic and sample drives!

I'm pretty sure this was there at some point in the past no?? I've been using the MyBook enclosures for awhile, and I could've sworn that used to show up in past MacOS's.

I believe Apple blocked USB SMART around the time when T2 chip or Big Sur released.

You can get USB SMART if you're willing to lower the OS security setting and install a 3rd-party system extension. However, I'm not so I'm in this predicament.

 

[Monotremata]

I believe Apple blocked USB SMART around the time when T2 chip or Big Sur released.

You can get USB SMART if you're willing to lower the OS security setting and install a 3rd-party system extension. However, I'm not so I'm in this predicament.

Ahh that must explain that one. Both these drives began their service on my 2010 Pro, which still has Mojave on it. Ended up getting the Mini about six months before Big Sur was released.

 

[joevt]

You can get USB SMART if you're willing to lower the OS security setting and install a 3rd-party system extension. However, I'm not so I'm in this predicament.

For example, DriveDx.app has a link for a system extension when you click on a USB drive that has SMART.