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Topic: USB Block Erupter on a Mac? Anybody got it working? (Read 5934 times)

newbie
Activity: 52
Merit: 0
I am using Mac Mini with an Anker 3.0 10 port hub and an Anker 3.0 9+1 hub. However I am running Linux under VMWare Fusion for mining, I don't know if that accounts for the difference.

I did initially have problems getting all the eruptors working when I chained the USB hubs, but with each hub plugged into a usb port on the mac all eruptors work.

Instead of bootcamp you could try a trial of VMWare Fusion and install Windows to see if it makes a difference.
member
Activity: 62
Merit: 10
Wow. I've posted on a few different locations around here trying to get this going with no luck. I've got a mac mini with anker usb hubs 3.0 9 + 1. I can't get all the eruptors to all show up on the hub. I've tried different combinations, I've tried connecting the hubs first then plugin each erupt ors one by one - first hub fills up ok. second hub gets to 6 then won't recognize 7,8,9 and 3rd hub doesn't recognize anything.

I've tried having the eruptors already connected then plugin the hubs into the mac mini by usb and it randomly lights up a few eruptors on each hub - really weird.

Mac mini is new running 10.8.4

I've installed these drivers for the USB miners - http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx

Not sure what else to do? Only thing I can think of is installing Windows 7 via bootcamp and trying to see if windows will recognize all the hubs and eruptors.

Is it the mac mini is it os x - what the hell!
hero member
Activity: 662
Merit: 500
yes, the newer versions of cgminer will auto detect them as long as you didn't install the usb serial drivers, and bfgminer will auto detect them only if you have installed the usb serial drivers
member
Activity: 62
Merit: 10
Anybody get these mining on a Mac yet?  How is it done?

i'm still waiting on my miners, but you can install an older version of cgminer via homebrew. instructions here:

http://blog.nwoolls.com/2013/04/24/bitcoin-mining-on-mac-os-x-cgminer-bfgminer/

not sure if upgrading to the latest version is possible, or if someone has to package a special brew release.

I'm still waiting for the erupters to arrive but cgminer works on my macbook pro. I just don't know what will happen when I connect a USB hub with erupters on it. Will it just recognize them and start working?
hero member
Activity: 658
Merit: 500
decentralize EVERYTHING...
How do you get it to go to the right device? (i.e. Block Erupter?)

open terminal

ls /dev/cu.*

Launch MacMiner, open the bfgminer window. In the advanced settings, enter the flags:

-S /dev/cu.yourdevice

where cu.yourdevice is the likely culprit from the ls /dev/cu.* above

i also used the checkbox to disable gpu mining.


thanks!
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1009
How do you get it to go to the right device? (i.e. Block Erupter?)

open terminal

ls /dev/cu.*

Launch MacMiner, open the bfgminer window. In the advanced settings, enter the flags:

-S /dev/cu.yourdevice

where cu.yourdevice is the likely culprit from the ls /dev/cu.* above

i also used the checkbox to disable gpu mining.
hero member
Activity: 658
Merit: 500
decentralize EVERYTHING...
Sadly, I don't have a Block Erupter. However, I did get cgminer working on OS X mountain lion (on my Hackintosh).

Using these instructions:
http://andarazoroflove.org/compiling-cgminer-with-scrypt-on-osx-mountain-lion-for-gpu-mining-ltc/

make sure to run the command line stuff to pull down the dependancies.

Or you can Just download MaMiner from fabulouspanda.co.uk/macminer/ unzip the app and put in applications folder then run
cd /Applications/MacMiner.app/Contents/Resources/bfgminer/bin
./bfgminer [your server etc. here]

in Terminal and you're good to go without messing with the system!

Do I need any drivers for the mac?
You'll need to use these drivers before can find the device
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx

How do you get it to go to the right device? (i.e. Block Erupter?)

EDIT: after putting 2 & 2 together I figured it out and now it's running using bfgminer in MacMiner...
hero member
Activity: 658
Merit: 500
decentralize EVERYTHING...
I've tried all these different setups on my iMac and none of them seem to work... or they automatically pick up my GPU and start mining.

Is there a definitive absolutely bulletproof setup for running block eruptor on a mac?
full member
Activity: 184
Merit: 100
I'm mining on my iMac just fine using BitMinter.

Make sure you install these drivers first:  Silabs drivers: http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx

To get the device ID/port, just open terminal and do the following:

Code:
ls /dev/cu.*



Ignore the hashrate - it is a bug that reports double the actual speed.  It is being worked on.
full member
Activity: 224
Merit: 100
Just run Bitminter if you don't want to mess with settings. Finds them 'automatically' and just runs.
hero member
Activity: 662
Merit: 500
Same issue on Win7 - the flaky erupter can't be recognized for some reason (Error 43 IIRC). Sigh.
I guess that answers the question, that's a shame. At least you can use a Mac though Wink
newbie
Activity: 41
Merit: 0
Same issue on Win7 - the flaky erupter can't be recognized for some reason (Error 43 IIRC). Sigh.
newbie
Activity: 41
Merit: 0
I don't have the devices to test, but perhaps you'd be able to attach another device after renaming one of the existing ones? Does it matter which order you plug them in in?

Can you point me to any directions on how to rename a device? I'm not having much luck with searches. Thanks!
hero member
Activity: 662
Merit: 500
I don't have the devices to test, but perhaps you'd be able to attach another device after renaming one of the existing ones? Does it matter which order you plug them in in?
newbie
Activity: 41
Merit: 0
I'm trying to get a couple erupters working on OSX but I keep running into issues where only 1 of the 2 erupters can be recognized. It seems like a SILabs driver issue but it also seems like one of the erupters might be a little flaky...anyone have any ideas? Does anyone have multiple erupters running on an Anker 10-port on OSX 10.8.3? My next recourse is to try on my Win7 laptop but was hoping to control these from OSX.

Using SiLabs driver for OSX, and MacMiner's bfgminer from the command line.

The strange thing is there was one point where somehow both erupters were recognized - it was a strange combination of plugging my non-working WD Portable HD in to the Anker hub with the *working* erupter, then plugging in the flaky one. After running for a few hours the flaky erupter appeared "dead" to bfgminer, to my dismay.

The blue light on the anker doesn't even light up with only the flaky erupter plugged in - this is on both my Mac Pro tower and my Mac Mini.

The main error I see in console is

Code:
The IOUSBFamily was not able to enumerate a device.
The IOUSBFamily is having trouble enumerating a USB device that has been plugged in.  It will keep retrying.

also

Code:
6/14/13 9:45:39.780 AM com.apple.kextd[12]: Can't load /System/Library/Extensions/SiLabsUSBDriver.kext - no code for running kernel's architecture.
hero member
Activity: 662
Merit: 500
Sadly, I don't have a Block Erupter. However, I did get cgminer working on OS X mountain lion (on my Hackintosh).

Using these instructions:
http://andarazoroflove.org/compiling-cgminer-with-scrypt-on-osx-mountain-lion-for-gpu-mining-ltc/

make sure to run the command line stuff to pull down the dependancies.

Or you can Just download MaMiner from fabulouspanda.co.uk/macminer/ unzip the app and put in applications folder then run
cd /Applications/MacMiner.app/Contents/Resources/bfgminer/bin
./bfgminer [your server etc. here]

in Terminal and you're good to go without messing with the system!

Do I need any drivers for the mac?
You'll need to use these drivers before can find the device
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx
newbie
Activity: 9
Merit: 0
Do I need any drivers for the mac?
sr. member
Activity: 294
Merit: 250
Sadly, I don't have a Block Erupter. However, I did get cgminer working on OS X mountain lion (on my Hackintosh).

Using these instructions:
http://andarazoroflove.org/compiling-cgminer-with-scrypt-on-osx-mountain-lion-for-gpu-mining-ltc/

make sure to run the command line stuff to pull down the dependancies.
hero member
Activity: 662
Merit: 500
Mac Miner works with those (link in sig)

Did you install the drivers and do you know where it is i.e. /dev/cu.something ?

in bfgminer window advanced options use -S /dev/cu.yourdevice

sr. member
Activity: 378
Merit: 255
I used MPBM on mac, works nicely!
legendary
Activity: 1652
Merit: 1067
Christian Antkow
I ended up setting up an Ubuntu VM on my Mac. Was less of a pain than trying to get everything installed to compile the source, and possibly hosing my main production system in the process :|
newbie
Activity: 39
Merit: 0
Anybody get these mining on a Mac yet?  How is it done?

If you're not able to get it done with cgminer via homebrew you might consider installing linux via VMWare Fusion or Parallels until it can be done elsewhere.
legendary
Activity: 1554
Merit: 1009
Anybody get these mining on a Mac yet?  How is it done?

i'm still waiting on my miners, but you can install an older version of cgminer via homebrew. instructions here:

http://blog.nwoolls.com/2013/04/24/bitcoin-mining-on-mac-os-x-cgminer-bfgminer/

not sure if upgrading to the latest version is possible, or if someone has to package a special brew release.
hero member
Activity: 671
Merit: 500
Anybody get these mining on a Mac yet?  How is it done?
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