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Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

PaulT69 — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:02:02 GMT

Hi, I'm new to this so bear with me please...

I am trying to connect an external SSD (2Tb) to my BT Smarthub 2 via the USB port on the hub. I have formatted the SSD as NTFS. When I connect it ad=nd log into the hub manger it shows the SSD as a mass storage device but has not assigned an IP address to it, I can't find out how to resolve this. If anyone has any solutions please help!!!

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

imjolly — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:09:17 GMT

This post should help

https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Devices/BT-Smart-Hub-2-USB-port/m-p/2402518

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

WSH — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:20:17 GMT

It won't assign an IP address to a USB disk. The IP address is assigned to the hub.

Are you trying to rig some sort of network storage? If it works at all, (as I don't think that is what the USB ports on the hub are intended for), what you may need to do is enable SMB on your computer, as I think the hub still uses the old SMBv1 standard.

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

PaulT69 — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:25:14 GMT

Hi, I have enabled SMB on my computer and yes the idea was to connect the SSD as a network storage device that I can access from my Mac/Pad etc. I use the laptop for designing print images for sublimation printing and the Mac to tidy things up before print. Both computers are opposite ends of the house so I thought this would save a lot of hassle...how wrong I was.

I remember previously at a work location whereby an Ssd was connected to the network for all users to access, that is basically what I am trying to achieve. if the BT hub won't accept the SSD via USB is there a way to connect it to one of the RJ45 network ports?

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

licquorice — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:31:50 GMT

You need to enable SMB1 for it to work and map the drive to //192.168.1.254/usb1

SMB1 is disabled by default on Windows, don't know about Macs

You can't just connect AN SSD drive to an Ethernet port, you need a proper NAS to do that.

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

WSH — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:32:14 GMT

Probably easiest to plug it into one of the two computers and enable a share with the other computer.

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

PaulT69 — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:41:55 GMT

Thanks for that, seems there is no quick easy way. I will have a look at setting it up as a shared drive from my laptop and see how that works. Just thought it might be a simple plug and play...

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

licquorice — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:48:16 GMT

It pretty much is with Windows

Re: Connecting an external SSD to Smarthub 2 via USB

WSH — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:10:16 GMT

Plug the drive into the Windows machine. Open up File Explorer. Find the USB drive and right click on it. Go into Properties and the Sharing tab. Enable sharing and give it a name.

Not entirely sure how it works on a MAC but on another Windows machine you then just type “\\name” into the File Explorer address bar.

(If that doesn’t work you may have to go into Settings and enable Network Discovery).

Edit: In fact, now I put my brain in gear, you don't even need the USB drive. Just share a folder on one machine with the other.