Big Sur 11.3 Beta problems - Thunderbolt Bridge!!!

[SamPotts]

I'm experiencing strange issues with Thunderbolt Network devices on my M1 MacBook Pro that started with 11.3 and continue on 11.4. Sometimes upon reboot (usually after a crash reboot), my network connection using the OWC Thunderbolt 10Gbe adapter is no longer listed in the Network section of System Preferences. The device is still listed under Hardware > Thunderbolt in System Information but the network connection is gone. I have to recreate the connection using the "+" option. I can't use the same name as the old connection either. It's pretty frustrating.

I've provided feedback to both Apple via Feedback Assistant and OWC via email. I suspect it's a bug in macOS more than an issue at OWC's end though.

 

[CLemSchn]

I have the same problem. My Mac is an Mac mini (2018) and the NAS is an Qnap TS-453BT3. I don't get a connection with the Tunderbolt Bridge. The OS version at Mac is Big Sur 11.3.1. and the firmware at the NAS is 4.5.3.1652. Is there any fix to solve the problem?

 

[TheVisualsTeam]

Been on the phone to Apple for hours and the only fix I've found is to run a wireless diagnostic (alt-click on wifi symbol in toolbar) which seems to push through a bug in the pipeline and re-opens the port. They also advised making a new 'location' in Network Prefs

I have the same problem. My Mac is an Mac mini (2018) and the NAS is an Qnap TS-453BT3. I don't get a connection with the Tunderbolt Bridge. The OS version at Mac is Big Sur 11.3.1. and the firmware at the NAS is 4.5.3.1652. Is there any fix to solve the problem?

 

[CLemSchn]

Sorry no chance. Id did not work.

In the last two weeks i have on the phone apple for several hours. We run a diagnostic with a tool from apple. But they don`t have any solution to solve this problem. They said i should wait until the next update comes.

Been on the phone to Apple for hours and the only fix I've found is to run a wireless diagnostic (alt-click on wifi symbol in toolbar) which seems to push through a bug in the pipeline and re-opens the port. They also advised making a new 'location' in Network Prefs

 

[Biking Dutch Man]

Dear all,

I am new on Macrumours, but I use a Mac for 31 years. At the moment I use a MBA 2018 (OS 11.3.1). I have linked it a LG 5KHDR (21:9) and to a NAS QNAP TS-453BT3 (OS 4.5.3.1652). I got the similar issue as you all: (kernel panics, reboots when in sleep mode and lack of thunderbridge). I share your frustration having these symptoms already 4 or 5 times in the last two years. I have followed the following procedure, inspired from what is described here above:

1. Unplug the Thunderbolt 3 cable linking the MBA to the NAS.
2. Save the thunderbridge network settings.
3. Erase the thunderbridge network preference.
4. Reboot the Mac, recreate a thunderbridge network preference, inserting the network settings manually.
5. Reboot the NAS.
6. Replug the Thunderbolt 3 cable linking the MBA to the NAS.
7. After some hours the Thunderbolt connection became active again in Qfinder pro, and everything seems back to normal.

I do not have more explanation to offer why suddenly the thunderbrige connection was available again, but it shows that it is possible with the OSes 11.3.1 and 4.5.3.1652 respectively. Thank you to all of you who contributed to this thread allowing me to debug my system, I hope my contribution will help some of you as well. Good luck.

Best regards from The Netherlands.

 

[Biking Dutch Man]

Sorry no chance. Id did not work.

In the last two weeks i have on the phone apple for several hours. We run a diagnostic with a tool from apple. But they don`t have any solution to solve this problem. They said i should wait until the next update comes.

Dear Sir, I have a system that is quite similar to yours. I success to make it work again. I explain it in my message hereunder. Hopefully it will work for you as well.

Best.

 

[Biking Dutch Man]

Did somebody installed the new firmware QTS 4.5.3.1670 build 20210515 to check if it would solve the issue described above?

 

[CLemSchn]

Did somebody installed the new firmware QTS 4.5.3.1670 build 20210515 to check if it would solve the issue described above?

Yes, I tried it with the new firmware QTS 4.5.3.1670 build 20210515. It is not a solution to the problem. I am also absolutely sure that the problem is from Apple. In fact, on an older Macmini with the operating system Mojave, the connection works fine.

 

[jrm21]

When you contact Apple support about this, you should point out that this was a KNOWN issue for over one month. They were made aware of this, they asked for documentation, and they eventually fixed it, but not until 11.4.

Everyone upgrading to 11.3 will face this issue...

I reported it to Apple support and did mention it was a know issue. I think it went in one ear and out the other.

Try restarting you machine.
Did you reset PRAM?
etc.

I'm pretty sure the person I spoke with did not understand what "Thunderbolt Bridge" meant. They kept talking about wifi.

Oddly, my TB network connection randomly comes back. It's gone again after restart. A few days later (machine always on) it will pop back into existence. Very odd. Hopefully 11.4 will be released soon.

 

[jk73]

Is it possible this Thunderbolt issue is why my 2019 MBP won’t recognize my 2016 MBP when the latter is in Target Disk Mode and connected via a passive Thunderbolt cable? I’m at my wit‘s end. The 2016 seems to recognize the connection (the icon switches immediately to Thunderbolt as soon as connected) but the 2019 doesn‘t see the 2016 and Settings shows all four Thunderbolt ports as Inactive. Thanks.

 

[HDFan]

Installed 11.4. Existing Thunderbolt bridge in network preferences still showed no connection although QNAP showed an active connection.

Went into Qfinder, which detected the thunderbolt port. Allowed it to create a new bridge. Now is working! But will see if it lasts, and if still get panics on reboot.

 

[Killerbob]

My Thunderbolt Bridge has been working fine since 11.4 Beta. I am now on 11.5 Beta, and it still works just fine. So, now I can connect to my QNAP NAS in 3 ways; Gigabit Ethernet, 10G Ethernet, and Thunderbolt. All three works fine, and I also had to blow away ALL Thunderbolt Bridge settings on my Mac Pros after upgrading to macOS 11.4 Beta to get it working.

As for the QNAP NAS; it was the same in FW .1630, and now on .1670.

 

[SamPotts]

I still occasionally have to unplug and plug in my 10Gbe adapter, even on 11.5 beta. Your mileage may vary.

 

[CLemSchn]

I just did the 11.4 update. Then I deleted the Thunderbolt Bridge in System Preferences under Network and then restarted the Mac again. The connection works again. I hope that this runs stable.

Many greetings from the Taunus

 

[Biking Dutch Man]

I just did the 11.4 update. Then I deleted the Thunderbolt Bridge in System Preferences under Network and then restarted the Mac again. The connection works again. I hope that this runs stable.

Many greetings from the Taunus

I did the same, I put the Mac to sleep for the night keeping the TB link to the QNAP on, and in the morning it woke up flawless, the problem seems to be solved, but it should just not happen!

Greetings from the Netherlands

 

[Ifti]

The dock will, but will Ethernet over TB work? I got burned with 11.2 when the “geniuses” at Apple decided to remove the driver that allowed soft raid to work on my OWC Thunderblade and downgrading to 11.1 was a bear. I don’t want to take any chances.

I have updated to every release of OSX 11 - through each iteration.

I have 3 OWC ThunderBlade drives (8TB, 8TB, 4TB) connected to an OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub, hence all connect to my MBP with a single TB cable.

I have a CalDigit Thunderbolt to 10GBe adapter, connected to my MBP via Thunderbolt.
This connects to my 10GBe switch, on which I also have my QNAP connected via 10GBe.

I've honestly noted no issues whatsoever. This thread is the first Ive heard of the issue, so maybe its just something between the QNAP and direct TB connection to the MAC - I've only ever used the 10GBe switch in between when it comes to connecting to my QNAP, but my 10GBe TB adapter etc have continued to work perfectly fine......

I know this doesn't help you with your scenario, but hopefully narrows the problem down to a direct connection issue?....

 

[Killerbob]

@Ifti - in your scenario I din’t think you are using Thunderbolt Bridge at all. Your drives via the hub, are just using standard Thunderbolt. And your Thunderbolt 10GbE adapter is just an ethernet connection. Check your network settings, but I don’t think you even have an active Thunderbolt Bridge, at least you do not need one.

 

[Szityu]

I still occasionally have to unplug and plug in my 10Gbe adapter, even on 11.5 beta. Your mileage may vary.

Hi Sam,

I have the same OWC Thunderbolt 10Gbe. Upgraded to 11.4, still not working. Tried all the suggestions.
Support should provide clear working instructions.

Do you still have warranty?

 

[Killerbob]

I saw somewhere that a lot of people are having with the Thunderbolt/USB Ethernet 10G plug-ins. The reason is supposedly the power the Thunderbolt interface is distributing to the unit. If you are going through a TB2<->TB3 dongle, for most it doesn't work, due to the power needs of the units.

 

[SamPotts]

Hi Sam,

I have the same OWC Thunderbolt 10Gbe. Upgraded to 11.4, still not working. Tried all the suggestions.
Support should provide clear working instructions.

Do you still have warranty?

It was only bought back in Feb so it would still be under warranty but I suspect it's an issue with Big Sur rather than the OWC Adapter itself. OWC did tell me that the adapter isn't supported on Big Sur but conveniently they don't tell you that before you buy it [1]. Even on 11.3, on my work 2019 16" MacBook Pro, the Belkin USB-C Thunderbolt ethernet adapter occasionally stops working after waking from sleep and needs to be re-plugged to work. I've tried deleting the adapters and adding them again, it always ends up in flakiness. I'm also using their Thunderbolt 4 hub so my next step would be bypass that and see if that's the issue.

1. "Mac: macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or later"
   https://www.owcdigital.com/products/thunderbolt-3-10g-ethernet-adapter#tech-specs

I saw somewhere that a lot of people are having with the Thunderbolt/USB Ethernet 10G plug-ins. The reason is supposedly the power the Thunderbolt interface is distributing to the unit. If you are going through a TB2<->TB3 dongle, for most it doesn't work, due to the power needs of the units.

This one is straight Thunderbolt 3.