JMicron bridge firmware compatibility with Apple Silicon chips?

Docks, Hubs, Display Adapters
1

I’m having issues with a brand new SDOC2U33EB.

Hoping to simply plug and play, but from the very start the USB device enumerates correctly but attached disks fail to appear. Bridge is being detected but not exposing a block device.

Suspect:

  • JMicron bridge firmware compatibility with Apple Silicon
  • Physical failure of the JMS56x SATA bridge

Mac

│

AppleT6000USBXHCI

│ ← working

JMicron JMS56x bridge

│ ← likely failing here

SATA PHY

│

Hard drive

Anyone else have this problem?

Setup desired:

WD Red Plus 6Tb 3.5" SATA disks
SDOC2U33EB
USB3.0 cable
Apple Silicon M1 Pro (MacOS Sequoia 15.7.7)

Isolation & System Tests:

  • physical USB 3.0 Cables, working well enough to enumerate.
  • USB device appears in System Info, ie xHCI controller and Jmicron chip communicating at USB level
  • 3 x USB 3.1 ports, all correctly read the JMicro MS56x bridge.
  • 6 x 3.5" HDDs (WD Red Plus 6Tb), all spin
  • DiskUtility shows nothing mounted
  • DiskUtil shows no external disk

System Info report:

USB 3.1 Bus controller: AppleT6000USBXHCI
JMS56x Series:
Product ID: 0x0562
Vendor ID: 0x152d (JMicron Technology Corp.)
Version: 1.09
Serial Number: RANDOM__5C090397067C

2

Hello @soltonomundo,

Thank you posting here on the StarTech.com community page.

I appreciate you taking the time to provide some key details about this strange issue experienced with the SDOCK2U33EB.

If possible, there are a few tests we can recommend to help us narrow down what is happening the SDOCK2U33EB.

  1. Try with a different hard drive, testing in each slot
  2. Test the WD Red drive on a different interface to confirm the drive itself is working
  3. Try the SDOCK2U33EB with a different computer
  4. Try a different USD 3.0 A to B cable

Depending on the results of these tests we may better understand what is occurring.

If all of these tests are successful and the issue seems to be only between this particular docking station and the Apple M1 Pro system, I have another suggestion based on my experience with unrecognized USB devices in macOS systems.

Try introducing an intermediate device between the docking station and the laptop. A USB 3.0 hub may be the simplest option, but other devices with integrated USB 3.0 hubs, like a laptop docking station, multi-port adapters, or USB equipped displays. Though it is slower you may test a USB 2.0 cable to connect the SDOCK2U33EB to the computer directly. Other USB 2.0-based intermediate devices could be worth testing also.

Please let us know if any of these tests are possible, share any results you have, and we will be happy to look into this further with you.

Sincerely,
@DavidF