Hi all,
I bought a 4TB My Cloud. After I set it up on my Gigabit Network with my iMac. I did some speed test on copying files. The speed is not bad. Most files are fast enough.
Then I am ready and trying to transfer more folders and files to My Cloud from the external hard drive that attached to my iMac. I noticed that the trasfer speed is very very slow. The system shows me that it would take days to do it. Then I stopped the transfer and troubleshooted it.
I notice that some files slow down the transfer. I found the Apple Contacs Archive file (e,g. iCal xxx.icbu) slows the most. It’s a ony a 6MB file. It takes me more than 12 minutes to complete it. But when I try another kind of file with the size of 240MB, it would only take less than 10 seconds. Moroever, the Contact Archive File who transferred to My Cloud show differently there. I won’t show the file size like other file. I am not sure whether that related to the nature of those file and/or uncommon extension, or longer than 3 digit extension.
I also notice that some .dmg or .app files is slow too. It’s very weird.
I think there is something wrong with the firmware that causes this problem. Either way, I think it’s not good to have kind of problem. I have two WD Elements USB external hard drive. They are great and I trust them when I start the copy to that hard drive or start Time Machine. But I am not sure whether My Cloud will accomplish it or accomplish it in a timely manner because of what I found.
I still like my MyCloud. I truly hope WD troubleshoot and fix the problem.
Is there any of you experience any similar problem?
V
If the external attached to your iMac are on USB 2.0 the transfer will be slow.
This is not a MyCloud problem, transfer from USB 3.0 or internal HDD and compare speeds.
Thanks for your reply.
I am IT as well. I totally understanding that USB 2.0 is slower than USB 3. But both files Cal Archive File (6MB) vs another file (204MB) are coming from the same external hard drive. It doesn’t make sense the 6MB files took me more than 12 minutes while the 204MB files only took less than 10 seconds.
As I said, not all files that I transferred are slow. It’s happen that I noticed those two types slow down sigificantly.
All those problem can be reproduced and with the same result.
Try this.
While the Cloud is idle, log in via SSH and look at the output of the ‘top’ command.
Then start copying the “slow” files and see what changes in “top”.
In general, the Cloud is completely unaware of the type of files being copied. With a few exceptions – with Media files (photos, music, or videos) it will start a process to catalog and create metadata for those files for use with the built-in media server.
When it’s busy doing that indexing, it will slow the Cloud down – but I’ve never seen a dramatic slowdown like you’re seeing – maybe 30-40% slower is all I see.
The output of “top” will show you that, if that’s what it’s doing.
Thanks TonyPh12345.
After I read your message, I disable the DLTA and iTunes Server setting. I restarted my My Cloud. When the system is idle and no scanning, I tried to copied a 11MB file (iCal Archive). It shows it will take 5 hours and I do notice the significantly slowness. I suspect that’s the problem of how the drive handle those files. As those archive files (along with app or dmg files) are actually a package file contain multiple files and contents.
Based on the informaton at Content Scan Status, I think My Cloud might have drill into those files for indexing. I only copy one file, the scan status number jump a lot more than that.
That’s definitely something abnormal. I hope this can be fixed soon.
I have the same problem, replaced the Airport, cables, etc and slow performance. Tried tuning the network, no luck.
Here is another example
I just copied one Mac Cotacts Archive file (xxxxx.abbu). I don’t know how the Content Scan Status count jump to 40170…
Hi Skylander,
I have the same issue like u. Were u able to fix it?
Hi Operathor,
I talked to their level 1 support. They refer me to level 2 for further help. I will give it a try tomorrow.
In the meantime, I read some posts about connecting My Cloud via SMB instead of AFP on Mac. I tried it and it’s faster. But I need to initiate SMB from Safari instead of MyCloud icon on Finder.
But some particular files are still slow.
I will share with everyone if I know anything futher.
skylander,
thx for sharing any new on this.
perhaps one additional question, refering to the screenshot u attached the other day, where the progress bar stuck close to finish, any word on this piece? I’m faceing the same here, too, stucking since days; even reboot seams not to help.
cheers mate
I had the exact same problem. So, what I did to fix it was to create a ‘Media’ Share, and a ‘File’ share. I then turned off media services on the File share, and left Media services on, on the Media Share. So, when copying non-media type files to the File share, no media services are on, and things are very fast for all file types.
Hope this helps.
Hi Bkomanet and all,
Thanks for your information. I have serveral discussion with their level 2 support. During my troubleshooting (I am an IT system analyst as well), I found couple problems and be able to confirmed what I suspected. If I copy file from Finder, I cannot really convince enough to WD about the problem. Fortunately, I noticed that their WD My Cloud app has the same problem. To make it better, it visualize the problem. When I copy one file (e.g. Contact Archive file I mentioned earlier), the app is trying to create hundreds of folders. It tooks so long and we have to stop it. It’s a 6MB file only!
WD 2nd level support was with me and they were able to reproduce the problem on their computer. They already report this to their programmer to fix this.
That’s the update for everyone. I will keep everyone updated.
Initially, I noticed that problem when I use it on Mac OS X. I use Finder (similar to Windows Explorer in Windows) to copy some files to My Cloud. I know it’s too slow to be normal. Some files are fast. But some are exceptionally slow. That’s what I wrote on my initial posting. But I won’t be able to seen how the file being copied.
Later, I found out it behave in a similar way in MyCloud App for Mac. But it shows visually. The one file I copied became multiple folders instead.
I hope that clarify it.
Heheh… It looks like either the OS or the app are unbundling the ICBU files (which are actually bundles, like a ZIP) instead of leaving it as-is?
Yes I agree. I think this probably related to how My Cloud handle those uncommon extension or some contents of the file. I notice that it hppens on some .app or .dmg files too. (eg Logitech Control Center installer.app).
I wonder if that related to how their Content Scan feature. But I think those should be able to corrected and fixed by updating the firmware. I hope they can find the root cause soon…
I am not surprised that there are other situation or files that have similar problem. I hope WD can find a way to good way to create exception to cover all those.
