Vantec NexStar 6G with 4TB hard drive: one partition possible?

[Thomas B]

Hello,

I'm thinking about buying a Vantec NexStar 6G 3.5'' (NST-366S3) USB3.0 hard drive enclosure.
I want to use it with a 4TB hard drive.
This enclosure should support drives up to 6TB.

Does this NexStar 6G support formatting of a 4TB hard drive with GPT mode, and creating a single 4TB partition?

I'm asking because I've read about USB hard drive enclosures which don't permit to create a single partition which is larger than 2TB. For example a 3TB hard drive had to be used with a 2TB partition, and the remaining space was another partition.
If I understood correctly!

I don't want to have two 2TB partitions with a 4TB hard drive, I want one partition which uses the full disk space.

Also, I read the following on the Anandtech forums, and would like to know if the problem could occur also with the Vantec NexStar 6G:
"Some USB docks/adapters don't properly recognize the sector size of newer drives (2Tb+) and won't partition/format it properly.
It might seem to work at first, but when you move it over to SATA (which will recognize the sector size correctly) it's all messed up."

Thanks.

 

[Cerb]

I'm asking because I've read about USB hard drive enclosures which don't permit to create a single partition which is larger than 2TB. For example a 3TB hard drive had to be used with a 2TB partition, and the remaining space was another partition.
If I understood correctly!

If it only supports 2TB*, it only supports 2TB* total, not 2TB* per partition. The last 746GB* will either be unusable, or will be corrupt.

The unit claims to support 6TB*, which likely means it will support even larger for years to come.

The last part I don't know for that enclosure, but forced 4K sectors is much less likely to be a problem with an enclosure than a prebuilt external HDD.

* GiB/TiB

 

[Thomas B]

If it only supports 2TB*, it only supports 2TB* total, not 2TB* per partition. The last 746GB* will either be unusable, or will be corrupt.

I read about prebuilt Verbatim 3TB drives, which support the full 3TB, but not as a single partition: it seems they show as two devices, one 2TB and the other one the rest.
It seems it is possible to see them as a single 3TB drive by using a special tool, which changes the mode of operation: Standard Mode, Emulation Mode, Split Mode. It also seems the tool is strangely not included in the bundled software, but can be requested to Verbatim.

Here are more details, on another forum (it's a long thread):
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/274015-32-external-usb3-drive-shows-devices

I have written to Verbatim about their "Store 'n' Save 3,5'' USB 3.0" enclosure kit, and they confirmed that also this enclosure has the same "problem", and they can provide me that special tool for using 4TB drives as a single partition.

My concern is that also the NexStar 6G enclosure could have this double-devices mode of operation, but could lack this special tool to change it.

I could buy the Verbatim enclosure, but it lacks a power and activity LED.
I have written to Vantec's support, but would like to read also from others.

Thanks.

 

[Cerb]

It won't. It will either present an ATA bridge, or a mass storage device.

 

[Thomas B]

Do you mean "it won't have this double-devices mode of operation"?