Problem with Airport extreme and Time machine

I recently purchased a 320gig external hard drive for Time machine. I connected it to my Airport extreme but it is not being recognized for some unknown reason. If I directly connect it to my iMac it works perfectly. I've updated with the latest firmware and it should work via USB with Airport extreme. Any suggestions why it is not working?

angelop wrote:
I have used the following for about two years.
-MBP, Airport Extreme, External HD (1TB) for my time machine.
You probably know, that's "iffy" and +*not supported by Apple.+* See the Using Time Machine with a USB drive connected to an Airport Extreme *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
To get around this issue, I have switched off the Time Machine, and am only turning on once a week or so, to grab any changes or additions I've made. I've been doing this for about 6 months now with no problems.
Now whenever I do this, (It should only be backing up an album or two from iTunes,) it tries to back up my whole system again. EVERY TIME. It did not do this before.
If you go too long between backups, Time Machine will do a new, full backup. And once it decides to do that, it will keep trying until it succeeds. There are some other possibilities as well. See #D2 in the Using Time Machine with a USB drive connected to an Airport Extreme *User Tip,* also at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum.
If none of those seem to explain it, see #A1 there; download the TM Buddy widget, copy and post the messages here.
Why are you only backing-up once a week? Time Machine was designed to back up changes hourly, as long as your Mac is awake and the TC is in range. It will protect you best that way, and unless there's a problem, those backups will usually be very quick.
But if you're only going to back up once a week or so, then Time Machine is not the best app for you. See Kappy's post on Basic Backup, complete with links to the web sites of each product.

Similar Messages

Issues with Airport Extreme and Time Machine

I have a Airport Extreme that is connected to a cable modem, that airport extreme is then hardwired connected to a time machine.
Recently, I have had trouble connecting wirelessly to the airport extreme. Even more troubling is that I can no longer can connect via ethernet to the time machine directly. In other words, the only way I can connect is by directly connecting to the airport extreme.
Any help would be great. Oh I have a MBP with the latest updates and a MB that is not connecting to the time machine or wireless to the extreme

angelop wrote:
I have used the following for about two years.
-MBP, Airport Extreme, External HD (1TB) for my time machine.
You probably know, that's "iffy" and +*not supported by Apple.+* See the Using Time Machine with a USB drive connected to an Airport Extreme *User Tip,* also at the top of this forum.
To get around this issue, I have switched off the Time Machine, and am only turning on once a week or so, to grab any changes or additions I've made. I've been doing this for about 6 months now with no problems.
Now whenever I do this, (It should only be backing up an album or two from iTunes,) it tries to back up my whole system again. EVERY TIME. It did not do this before.
If you go too long between backups, Time Machine will do a new, full backup. And once it decides to do that, it will keep trying until it succeeds. There are some other possibilities as well. See #D2 in the Using Time Machine with a USB drive connected to an Airport Extreme *User Tip,* also at the top of the +Time Machine+ forum.
If none of those seem to explain it, see #A1 there; download the TM Buddy widget, copy and post the messages here.
Why are you only backing-up once a week? Time Machine was designed to back up changes hourly, as long as your Mac is awake and the TC is in range. It will protect you best that way, and unless there's a problem, those backups will usually be very quick.
But if you're only going to back up once a week or so, then Time Machine is not the best app for you. See Kappy's post on Basic Backup, complete with links to the web sites of each product.

Cisco router RVS4000 with Airport extrem and Time capsule.

Problem droping connection to internet when is Time capsule in extended wifi mode. When I turn off wifi on time capsule Airport extreme work fine.
Airport extreme and Time capsule is conected via ETH.
Any idea ?
Thaks
B.

If you use ethernet to connect the AE and TC .. you must NOT extend wifi.. you use Create a wireless network. And setup with same name and security. You are using roaming network.. not extended wireless.. if you want to use extended wireless no ethernet
see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

I'm having a hard time setting up my external hard from with my AirPort Extreme and Time Machine Backups.

I have been using a Mac Mini with an external hard and Time Machine. I bought an Airport Extreme and have had problem setting up the hard drive using the USB port on the Airport Extreme. I also just recently bought a Mac Book Air and hope to have both computers back up to the external hard drive using Time Machine and Airport Extreme. I have been using the optical drive from the Mac mini to load programs into the Mac Book Air. I think I'm just getting confused in Finder. I am just not seeing the hard drive. I ended up plugging the hard drive back into the Mac Mini and that is work fine again. How do I setting the external hard drive up to the AirPort Extreme and use for both computers? Or at least to start with the Mac mini.

It's critical to understand that Time Machine (TM) stores backups differently between local and network drives. That would mean the TM backup on your locally attached USB hard drive will not be directly useable when it is connected to the AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBS). There is a way to copy a local version to a network version, but it is not fool-proof. When you do connect this drive and point TM to it, TM will start a brand new backup, leaving your existing backup as is.
If your current backup is critical to you, you may want to consider getting a second USB drive to attach to the Extreme and use your existing one as a backup ... or use TM's multi-backup process to backup to more than one destination drive alternatively.
So, at this point, you may want to make a decision on how you want to go forward to help provide a solution for you.
To directly answer your question, when you go to select a destination for a Time Machine backup, the drive(s) that show up under "Backup Disks" are those that TM already recognizes and has backed up to. Those listed under "Available Disks" are drives (either local or on the network) that TM can back up to.

Airport Extreme and Time Machine. Despite now being officially supported, does it work?

The subject says it all. After purchasing the new tall Airport Extreme and connecting a WD 2TB drive (as I had with the earlier AE) I have yet to have a backup execute properly. It will be fine for a few days then TM will announce it's done a verification and a new backup is required. Thank goodness I have offsite backup since TM is doing absolutely SFA for me at the moment.

Yuri van Hoof wrote:
Now I connected this USB External Disk to the Airport so I can use it as an network disk. This is working as well. I can get it mounted and read and write on it. Nice...so far.
Now I want TIme Machine to update/compleet my latest back-up, and here the problems start.
I hate to have to tell you this, but backing-up that way is unreliable and not supported by Apple. See: Using Time Machine with an Airport Extreme Air Disk.
But then I got the message; disk is full. Hmm?
Yes, because Time Machine stores backups differently when done over a network, it doesn't see the ones made while directly connected. See the blue box in #17 of Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.
Does anybody now how to get the old 'Backups.backupdb' connected ore recognized as the ONE which TM should compleet?
Realistically, you have two choices:
Knowing the considerable risks, as detailed in the first link, if still you want to back up wirelessly, connect the disk to your Mac and erase it. Then connect it to your Airport and let Time Machine start fresh.
To return to backing-up while directly-connected, delete the <Computer Name>.sparsebundle from the top level of the drive.

Trouble with Airport Extreme and Time Capsule

Just got a new 2TB time capsule and added it to my network (existing Airport Express and Airport Extreme). All devices are hard-wire back-hauled to Linksys router. Set up was straight forward with no issues and initiated a time capsule back up without a problem. Within hours I noticed that the TC was no longer reachable in Finder.. Opening the AirPort utility, I saw that both the Extreme and the TC were "lost". Still had (green) internet connectivity, but the base stations were showing as off-line in the Airport utility.
Tried rebooting and checking from multiple other devices and no luck. Occasionally will find them both on-line in Airport utility, but seem to lose one (usually TC) after a short period. All are running the most up to date version of firmware (7.7.3). Prior to installing the TC, I had experienced 0 issues with Airport Express and Extreme.
Has anyone else seen similar issues? Are there settings that need to be accounted for in some way to avoid these frustrating "lost devices"?
thanks

Thank you for your quick answer, smorkerz. However, I did it and it doesn't work.
I tried to check separately the time capsule and the airport extreme, switching one off when using the other one. The result is that each one works alone but when I use them both, just time capsule appears, works well, and I can't use the airport to print for instance.
Do you understand anything ?

Airport Extreme and Time Machine backups using a USB drive

Hi there,
I checked through the threads/FAQ's for an answer to this but couldn't find anything...
I have an AE set up with a USB drive attached as my Time Machine backup drive. When I start my MBP up and initiate a forced backup, Time Machine will go and find my drive (via the AE), mount it and carry out the backup without a problem. However, if I start my MBP up and wait for the scheduled hourly backup, TM doesn't see the drive (or perform the backup) unless I go and manually mount the drive first.
I realise I can put the drive in my login items to auto mount on boot but I wondered if there was a way to get the scheduled backups to work without doing this (as with the forced backups).
Thanks

mattschenker wrote:
Pondini,
Actually, I wasn't thinking about theft. I was just thinking that for security in a possible data-loss "event," it was better to have the backup drive physically separated from the main computer. But maybe that's not necessary.
That's unlikely. A power surge could take out both your Mac and connected external HD. You do have your Macs on good surge protectors or, better yet, U.P.S. systems, right? If not, see [Using a U.P.S. System with a Mac|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/UPS.html].
But wherever the external HD is, unless it's on a surge protector or U.P.S., it's still exposed.
Other things causing data loss are even less likely to affect your Time Machine drive (especially if there's no other data on it).
Yes, I could hook something up to my Mac Mini. Good point! And that would really keep it separated, since it would be in an entirely different floor. But then again, Time Machine backups done wirelessly would probably take forever.
The first one, yes. But if you have a good WIFI connection, subsequent ones shouldn't take too long or be too obtrusive, except when you've updated a lot of data (like installing an OSX update).
See #22 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum), for setup instructions.
But this just shows that there are a lot of options.
Yes.
I do wish Apple would solve the problem of Time Machine working via the Airport Extreme. That would be my favorite option.
Not likely. Time Machine's been out since Leopard, about 3 years, and backups via an Extreme have never been reliable or supported. Just why they work well on a Time Capsule, or even a USB drive connected to a TC, but not an Airport, is a mystery, but that's the way it is.
But it's always a good idea to keep secondary backups. See #27 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum), for some suggestions.

Anyone having problems with airport extreme and a BT homehub?

i have a BT homehub broadcasting wirelessly connected into a airport extreme unit.
the wireless connection keeps on dropping off, i run diagnostics and sometimes i have to re-enter the network password and other times it reports airport is working fine.
i am sure the problem is with the homehub. i wonder if i turned the homehub's wireless of the connection might be better!
any thoughts?
many thanks

Yes, that might help reduce the likelihood that these two wireless routers are interfering with each other's wireless network, resulting in the symptoms you have described.
The other thing you could do is configure the AEBSn for "n only" wireless transmission. You could then use the HomeHub for slower b/g connections, and the AEBSn for faster n-only connections.

Big problem with Airport Extreme and Vivax Provider in Brazil

Hello guys.
I live in Brazil and I bought my Airport Extreme in a recent trip to USA.
For some years I was a client of Telefonica and had an ADSL link, I had a D'Link G604T to do both the modem and router operation in the same box. I was happy with my connection of 1Mbps.
In a recent promotion of Vivax I switched to a cable connection to have both TV and Internet at the same operator, my link now has 3Mbps.
With this pack I also received free one RCA cable modem model DCM425B, it was installed fine in one computer only. Everything was fine my connection was faster the old one.
So I went to install the Airport Extreme to make things even better.
After I installed I went to see the web status of my modem, all parts were looking fine, but the modem could not see the computer. Bad sign.
I talked to Vivax support people and apparently it was a problem with their network setup and they manage to make it right. My model now sees my computer.
After that problem was solved I could not make AE to work with the modem, it had the green light and the setup looked fine, but I could not open any site. I tried to turn off my modem and AE, waited some minutes and turned on first my modem and after it was up I turned on AE. All lights looked fine but again no connection to any site.
I called again the Vivax support center and they tried to help me but the don't know AE and they could not help me with all the details but said there was 2 10.x.x.x coming from my side. So I tried to use in bridge mode. I also selected the 192.x.x.x range instead of 10.x.x.x as default.
After many setups and turn off and on again my connection is working but I have a big problem with wireless. If I turn it on I loose my connection, it seems that AE sends 2 equal ethernet address to Vivax and their network don't like it cutting me off.
So my connection setup is like this:
RCA Cable modem model DCM425B at 3Mbps using a 200.x.x.x ip
Airport Extreme connected to a Mac and a Windows PC by wire using the 192.x.x.x range ip
Wireless is off
Bridge mode is on
This the only way I could make it work.

After a firmware update it worked fine.

Problems with Airport Extreme and OS 7.6.4

Last week, we updated three devices (Time Capsule, Airport Express and Airport Extreme) to OS 7.6.4. Time Capsule and Airport Express seems to work well but the Airport Extreme didnt! Users of the AiEx told me about bad ping statistisc after wlan login. The connectivity changes in a curious way. one second, 0 % loss and one second after the connectivity changes to more than 50% loss, even the users are sitting in te same room, the AiEx does ???
We used a 2 GHz and also an 5 GHz Wlan-Network. Additional to the problem of connectivity, somtime the 5GHz-Network ist for seconds not visible!!
Now i restored the old 7.6.3 and it works well like before. One additional triel results in the same problem, even i resettet the station two times.
What to do? for the next time, our Airport Extreme got the old OS 7.6.3.
greesting
A.

If memnongr's advice doesn't work, you can revert to an old version of the firmware by using AirPort Utility 5.6.
http://macintoshdesktop.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/airport-utility-56-and-mountain-l ion.html
Go to Base Station>Upload Firmware on the menu bar, and it will allow you to revert to an earlier version.

Problems with AirPort Extreme and connecting to personal ftp

Hi all
I seem to be having a problem with connecting to my personal server outside of my network. When I connect using a static IP within my network(192.168.1.x) I can connect fine using my Mac and PC so I've ruled out improper server settings. I've mapped a port (21) to the same static IP as my server, but I cannot connect. I am prompted with "An FTP Connection to "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" could not be opened because the FTP server dropped the connection" I think I've toggled every option in the Airport Utility but nothing seems to work. Has anybody been successful in making this work?
Thanks for any help offered

OK, thanks for the info, which really helps.
Your AirPort Extreme is in Bridge Mode, so the IP addresses that your devices need are being assigned by the Cradelpoint router, not the AirPort Extreme.
Either the Cradlepoint router is not allowing more than 3 devices to connect, or it is your service provider that is limiting the number of devices that can connect....probably because of very limited bandwidth.
I'm not sure whether you want to try to contact support at Cradlepoint or your service provider to try to find out who is actually responsible for the maximum number of connections allowed, since they will likely each blame the other for the problem.
The workaround...if you want to try it, since it bends networking rules a bit....is to configure the AirPort Extreme as a router, not a bridge.
The upside to this is that all of your devices will be able to connect and get a valid IP address.
One downside is that this will introduce what is known as a Double NAT error on the network, but that is rarely serious on a home network, and Apple does provide you with the option to "ignore" the error, so you get a nice green light on the AirPorts.
Another downside may be....depending on the bandwidth that your service provides....that your connection is really slow....as in dial up speed slow....when you have a number of devices all connected to the network simultaneously, since they will all share the available bandwidth is provided.
I never had any problems in the past with wireless connections when I configured the AirPort as the router. But I also was very careful to avoid downloading large files using the Cradlepoint connection since the bandwidth was quite limited.
Not sure how you want to proceed.
We can tell you how to configure the AirPort as the router in this type of setup if you will let us know what operating system you used to configure the AirPorts, but we cannot guarantee that things will work for you if you try it.

Problems with airport extreme and windows vista

Hi, I have windows vista and I'm having problems conecting it to air port extreme. The only way I can make airport extreme work is to disconect and reconect the powercord and then my computer reconizes it.
Any sugestions would be helpful.

I just got off the HP "chat" technical assistance about my HP DV6500z doing this same thing. At least for my model there is an October BIOS update. She had me re-install the Broadcom drivers and run the BIOS update. Now the whole computer runs faster in addition to connecting wirelessly! Not only that, I can use the "closed" network feature through the Airport Utility to hide my network as I did in the past and the PC finds it! I guess through all of the very testy notes on HP's discussion board they finally came through (well, at least on this model). My model has the AMD processor so if yours is Intel it may not be the same. I recommend going to their TA chat line or type in your model on their Software & Driver page to see if there is a recent revision on your models BIOS. The one I downloaded was dated 10-2007.

Setup problems with airport extreme and cable.

I am trying to install a new airportextreme 802.11n with cable (comcast) using a Motorola SURFboard eXtreme. The airport extreme keeps blinking amber. Any suggestions?

Should I connect the modem to the AEBS before I power it up?
Yes, all devices that normally are interconnected by Ethernet, should be connected during the power recycle.
If it continues to flash amber, should I still go through the set up with Airport Utility? If so, manual or let it guide me?
Yes. The following Apple Support article describes the flashing amber status light in more detail.
By default, your AEBS will broadcast an unsecured wireless network with a network name of something like: Apple Network NNNNNN. You would then use the AirPort Utility to make any required configuration changes. The Utility has two basic modes: 1) Assist-me (aka Automatic) and 2) Manual Setup. The latter is used to fine-tune any settings. The assisted mode, should take you through the steps to get the AEBS up and running properly for most common configurations.
Please feel free to post back if you have any questions on setting your AEBS up.

Problem with MyBook Live and Time Machine on MacBook Pro

Hi,
I bought recently a WD MybookLive 2 tb.
The HD is connected to the modem and make backup from Macbook Pro 15 'with Time Machine.
Previously everything worked correctly, the Mac recognizes the disc and carried outregular backups, everything started to not work after the updates that were released by Apple on November 11 with software update - firmware on the My Book Live theMyBookLive 02.10.09-124: Core F / W
I get this error:
Time Machine can not complete the backup. The disk backup is not available.
Apart from Time Machine, yes, I use the MyBook Live, I load the disk where you are within the Public folders Shared Music, Shared Pictures, Shared Videos, and Software,I can easily copy files and copy them from there into to my computer - the My Book and'set a DHCP address.
Thanks

try this:
http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=184462
or here
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=it&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=it&ie=UTF-8&la yout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nervous.it%2F2009%2F09%2Fbackup-snowleopard-sha re-di-rete%2F&act=url

Problem with airport extreme and HP photosmart 8750 printer

I have connected my HP8750 printer to my internal network via one of the ethernet ports on the Airport Extreme base station. My computer accesses the network via the wireless AP.
I have no trouble finding the printer - it shows up as a bonjour printer when I try to add a printer.
It does not know how to access the "supply levels" page hosted by the printer. This information is absolutely necessary in managing a photo printer.
Before I upgraded to the Airport Extreme, I was using an older SMC wireless router. There the supply levels web page showed up at a fixed address.
Does anyone know how I can access this page?

I have found a "solution" which is not elegant but ....
I connect my iMac to the Airport Extreme via an Ethernet port. I then look at the IP address of my iMac and poke around using a web browser, examining adjacent IP addresses. I find the HP8750 hosted page at one of these. I then switch back to wireless and the web page is still there. I bookmark it.
I guess these addresses are stable.
It would be more elegant to be able to get the same info via the printer popup window by clicking on "supply levels" but this workaround seems to work.
How do other flavors of printer handle this when they are addressed as bonjour printers?

Problem with Airport extreme and Time machine

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