"Latest Backup" time/date is incorrect for OS X Server Time Machine backups

I administer a OS X Server that provides Time Machine backups for clients across our small business network. I'm running Server on a Mac Mini (2.3 GHz i7 with 8GB RAM), and after going from Mavericks to Yosemite (and from Server 3 to Server 4) the other day, the TM backups are still running hourly, but the "Latest Backup" times are incorrect. Has anyone noticed this behavior? In case it matters, none of the clients currently being backed up are Yosemite clients. I mentioned this because for our older clients (10.6), the "Latest Backup" times/dates were always listed as "Unknown" in Server 3, and continue to be in Server 4. Thanks!

I also had to restart the server and client after applying the "fix" I described above. Basically, no user should have multiple, simultaneous file sharing sessions on the server. But even clearing the user sessions does not resolve the problem beyond the next Time Machine backup, so I also tried disabling and enabling file sharing, but the problem also returns after doing this. Only restarting both the client and server after clearing the sessions has worked for me when I have this problem. The problem may return much later, but this work aroudn definitely works as a temporary solution.
Next time I encounter this problem I will try restarting just the server or just the client, because it is unlikely that the problem exists due to something on both systems. Server 3.x is definitely not as stable as it should be, but for my use, it is getting the job done.

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Unable to connect to the Data Access service for this management server

Hate to raise a sleeping horse but was hoping someone might have some insight into why SCOM Report Server install is failing. I am using a domain account for SCOM 2012 R2 services in a distributive environment
with 2 management servers and 2 SQL servers…one for Ops db and one for DW db.
Install was failing on selecting the management server. Research led me to
Kevin Holman's site. I followed his doc and SPN are set per your config and can telnet to MGMT1 on 5723…firewall is off on all servers. I am a domain admin and scom.mgmt account (MSOMSdkSvc) is a local admin on the MGMT servers.
>setspn -l domain\scom.mgmt
Registered ServicePrincipalNames for CN=scom.mgmt,OU=Service Accounts,DC= domain,DC=net:
MSOMSdkSvc/SCOM-MGMT1
MSOMSdkSvc/SCOM-MGMT1.domain.net
MSOMSdkSvc/SCOM-MGMT2
MSOMSdkSvc/SCOM-MGMT2.domain.net
>setspn -l domain\scom-mgmt1
Registered ServicePrincipalNames for CN=SCOM-MGMT1,OU=SCOM,OU=INTERNAL,DC=domain,DC=net:
MSOMHSvc/SCOM-MGMT1.domain.net
TERMSRV/SCOM-MGMT1.domain.net
WSMAN/SCOM-MGMT1.domain.net
RestrictedKrbHost/SCOM-MGMT1.domain.net
HOST/SCOM-MGMT1.domain.net
MSOMHSvc/SCOM-MGMT1
TERMSRV/SCOM-MGMT1
WSMAN/SCOM-MGMT1
RestrictedKrbHost/SCOM-MGMT1
HOST/SCOM-MGMT1
>setspn -l domain\scom-mgmt2
Registered ServicePrincipalNames for CN=SCOM-MGMT2,OU=SCOM,OU=INTERNAL,DC=domain,DC=net:
MSOMHSvc/ SCOM-MGMT2.domain.net
MSOMHSvc/ SCOM-MGMT2
WSMAN/SCOM-MGMT2.domain.net
WSMAN/SCOM-MGMT2
        TERMSRV/SCOM-MGMT2.domain.net
TERMSRV/SCOM-MGMT2
RestrictedKrbHost/SCOM-MGMT2
HOST/CHH-SCOM-MGMT2
RestrictedKrbHost/CHH-SCOM-MGMT2.osi-asp.net
HOST/CHH-SCOM-MGMT2.osi-asp.net
>setspn -l domain\scom-ssrs
Registered ServicePrincipalNames for CN=SCOM-SSRS,OU=SCOM SQL,OU=SCOM,OU=CHH-INTERNAL,DC=domain,DC=net:
    WSMAN/SCOM-SSRS
WSMAN/SCOM-SSRS.domain.net
MSSQLSvc/SCOM-SSRS.domain.net
MSSQLSvc/SCOM-SSRS.domain.net:1433
    TERMSRV/SCOM-SSRS.domain.net
TERMSRV/SCOM-SSRS
RestrictedKrbHost/SCOM-SSRS
  HOST/SCOM-SSRS
RestrictedKrbHost/SCOM-SSRS.domain.net
HOST/SCOM-SSRS.domain.net
When I point to the MGMT server, I keep getting “Unable to connect to the Data Access service for this management server. Ensure the Data Access service is running and that the service, the management group, and setup are
all the same version”.
OpsMgrSetupWizard.log states…
Info:
:Could not connect to Management Server: scom-mgmt1.domain.net with exception: Threw Exception.Type: System.ArgumentException, Exception Error Code: 0x80070057, Exception.Message: Version string portion was too short or
too long.
Info:
:StackTrace:   at System.Version.TryParseVersion(String version, VersionResult& result) at System.Version..ctor(String version) at Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Setup.Common.SetupHelpers.IsManagementServerCurrentVersion(String
managementServer) at Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Setup.Common.SetupHelpers.CanConnectToManagementGroup(String managementServer)
When I searched on "Exception.Message: Version string portion was too short or too long" it led me to .Net strings in the reg. i deleted all refs to older versions (3.x) but still no good.
Bob

Well, I’m back to trying to get SCOM Report Server up and running. This time I decided to try the command line silent install and rely on logs to debug. But it still fails.
This is the script: SETUP /install /InstallPath:D:\Program Files\Microsoft System Center 2012 R2\Operations Manager /components:OMReporting /ManagementServer:<server>.<domain> /SRSInstance:<instance> /DataReaderUser:<domain>\<account>
/DataReaderPassword:******** /SendODRReports:0 /UseMicrosoftUpdate:0 /AcceptEndUserLicenseAgreement:1
When I run the script, I get a pop-up: “System CenterOperations Manager Setup has stopped working with the following:
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:
CLR20r3
Problem Signature 01:
setupchainerui.exe
Problem Signature 02:
7.0.5000.0
Problem Signature 03:
522a5b85
Problem Signature 04:
mscorlib
Problem Signature 05:
4.0.0.0
Problem Signature 06:
53b4fc1e
Problem Signature 07:
e4d
Problem Signature 08:
5a
Problem Signature 09:
System.FormatException
OS Version:
6.1.7601.2.1.0.274.10
Locale ID:
1033
Additional Information 1:
4911
Additional Information 2:
49111a576c61a461b7f2900e4224563c
Additional Information 3:
a1e6
Additional Information 4:
a1e62e9c159c1d7601a31ccff83dbf94
App Event Log:
- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name=".NET Runtime" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1026</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-01-29T19:02:39.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>4999</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>SERVER NAME</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data>Application: SetupChainerUI.exe Framework Version: v4.0.30319 Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.FormatException Stack: at Microsoft.SystemCenter.Essentials.SetupFramework.Program.Main()</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Application Error" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-01-29T19:02:41.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>5000</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>SERVER NAME</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data>SetupChainerUI.exe</Data>
<Data>7.1.10226.0</Data>
<Data>522a5b85</Data>
<Data>KERNELBASE.dll</Data>
<Data>6.1.7601.18409</Data>
<Data>5315a05a</Data>
<Data>e0434352</Data>
<Data>000000000000940d</Data>
<Data>a64</Data>
<Data>01d03bf626a03a7a</Data>
<Data>C:\Users\USER NAME\AppData\Local\SCOM\Setup\SetupChainerUI.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\Windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll</Data>
<Data>65be21be-a7e9-11e4-a4d7-005056966e1b</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Windows Error Reporting" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1001</EventID>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-01-29T19:03:27.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>5001</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>SERVER NAME</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data />
<Data>0</Data>
<Data>CLR20r3</Data>
<Data>Not available</Data>
<Data>0</Data>
<Data>setupchainerui.exe</Data>
<Data>7.0.5000.0</Data>
<Data>522a5b85</Data>
<Data>mscorlib</Data>
<Data>4.0.0.0</Data>
<Data>53b4fc1e</Data>
<Data>e4d</Data>
<Data>5a</Data>
<Data>System.FormatException</Data>
<Data />
<Data />
<Data>C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_setupchainerui.e_9724aaa8eec4ffba07c27fea369e612e949d75_5b269652</Data>
<Data />
<Data>0</Data>
<Data>65be21be-a7e9-11e4-a4d7-005056966e1b</Data>
<Data>0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
OpsMgrSetupWizard.log
[13:48:16]:
Error:     :Uncaught Exception: Threw Exception.Type: System.FormatException, Exception Error Code: 0x80131537, Exception.Message: Input string was not in a correct format.
[13:48:16]:
Error:     :StackTrace:
at System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)
   at System.Number.ParseInt32(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info)
   at System.Convert.ChangeType(Object value, Type conversionType, IFormatProvider provider)
   at Microsoft.SystemCenter.Essentials.SetupFramework.PropertyBagDictionary.GetProperty[T](String property)
   at Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Setup.Common.SetupHelpers.ValidateBureaucraticSwitches()
   at Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Setup.Common.RationalizeCommandLineArguments.ValidateSilentInstallCommandLineOptions()
   at Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Setup.Common.RationalizeCommandLineArguments.Rationalize()
   at Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Setup.Common.SetupHelpers.RationalizeGeneralInstall()
   at Microsoft.SystemCenter.Essentials.SetupFramework.Program.RationalizeInstall()
   at Microsoft.SystemCenter.Essentials.SetupFramework.Program.Main()
Any ideas? I feel like I’m just going in circles…Bob

Copy Time Machine Data to Portable Drive?

Hi there,
I just purchased my first iMac. It's running Lion OS. I'm coming from a Windows background so apologies if this is a stupid question.
I purchased a Time Capsule with my iMac. The Time Machine app seems to be working as advertised, backing up my data at regular intervals. I want to copy the last full Time Machine backup to a portable USB drive. My goal here is to make a once-per-week copy of the latest full Time Machine backup and stick it on a portable drive which then will be transported to a safe deposit box. That way, in case of theft or fire where both my iMac and Time Capsule perish, I'll still have the previous week's backup sitting safely at my bank on a cheap 1TB portable.
How shall I go about doing this? I imagine the first step will be to temporarily disable Time Machine so as to ensure that it doesn't try to backup while I'm making the copy. Then I'll open Finder [which appears to be the Apple equivalent of Windows Explorer] and find the time machine drive. But what file(s) shall I copy in order to get the last full backup? Or shall I just copy the complete Time Machine image file?
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Lester GrimeNose

The easiest and fastest way to do that would be to use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone your current system onto the external drive. You can do that using only the Finder and Time Capsule, but it will be very slow and a bit of a hassle.

Time machine fails

Time machine works for a while and then fails. I've replaced external drives, gotten larger ones, but it still seems to fail. The latest message:
Time Machine could not complete the backup.
Files can’t be copied onto the backup disk because it appears to be read-only.
You may need to repair or reformat the disk using Disk Utility. If the disk can’t be repaired, you must use a different disk for backups. Open Time Machine preferences to select a different backup disk.
I ran repair disk under disk utility and it says there appears to be no problem with the disk. I had not used this 1 TB backup for 6 months, however it worked fine for 3 backups and then came up with the above. Same problem prior to this with a 250 GB drive. My macbook pro (mid 2010) has only 250GB on the hard drive. It is partitioned with parallels.
Any ideas why time machine keeps failing?

See C6.
Time Machine Troubleshooting

Not enough space on my new SSD drive to import my data from time machine backup, how can I import my latest backup minus some big files?

I just got a new 256GB SSD drive for my mac, I want to import my data from time machine backup, but its larger than 256GB since it used to be on my old optical drive. How can I import my latest backup keeping out some big files on the external drive?

Hello Salemr,
When you restore from a Time Machine back up, you can tell it to not transfer folders like Desktop, Documents. Downloads, Movies, Music, Pictures and Public. Take a look at the article below for the steps to restore from your back up.
Move your data to a new Mac
http://support.apple.com/en-us/ht5872
Regards,
-Norm G.

How can I force Time Machine to make a complete backup of my Hard Drive. I just installed a new external drive for Backup since my previous one failed. Now when I back up, Time Machine only backs up my data folder and the Users folder.

How can I force Time Machine to make a complete backup of my Hard Drive. I just installed a new external drive for Backup since my previous one failed. Now when I back up, Time Machine only backs up my data folder and the Users folder.
When I start a backup. Time Machine says "Oldest Backup: None; Latest Backup: None", so it seems like it should do a complete backup, but it only does a partial.

Hi I'd like to jump in here. Your app showed me this:
Time Machine:
          Skip System Files: NO
          Mobile backups: OFF
          Auto backup: YES
          Volumes being backed up:
                    Macintosh HD: Disk size: 749.3 GB Disk used: 453.81 GB
          Destinations:
                    Plastic Wrapper [Local] (Last used)
                    Total size: 999.86 GB
                    Total number of backups: 64
                    Oldest backup: 2013-07-24 23:25:11 +0000
                    Last backup: 2013-11-17 01:40:47 +0000
                    Size of backup disk: Too small
                              Backup size 999.86 GB < (Disk used 453.81 GB X 3)
          Time Machine details may not be accurate.
          All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
          /sbin excluded from backup!
          /usr excluded from backup!
          /System excluded from backup!
          /bin excluded from backup!
          /private excluded from backup!
          /Library excluded from backup!
          /Applications excluded from backup!
Aside from the size of my backup drive, which I will increase at some point, I'd really like to have time machine backing up all system folders, especially Applications. How to I reset this hidden exclusions?
Thanks,
Darcy

Error message from Time Machine: "Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while linking files on the backup volume." Using Time Machine Buddy, I got the following log entries: "Event store UUIDs don't match for volume: data" ror occured while l

More from the Time Machine Buddy: "Node requires deep traversal:/Volumes/Data" and "reason: kFSEDBEventFlagMustScanSibDirs"
I am using a Mac G5 with Leopard. My LaCie data drive failed and I replaced it with a WD MyPassport drive, at which time the failed backups began. The recent file updates do appear in Time Machine, but it appears to back up everything since the last completed backup.

Hi Norm,
Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
*Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
(Repair both Drives)
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
(Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

HT201250 I had to replace the hard drive in my old MacBook. I replaced it. Installed OSX10.6. Then using the system software I reinstalled data from my Time Machine backup. On completion it asked for my password. It is not accepted. I am locked out how I

I had to replace the hard drive in my old MacBook. I replaced it. Installed OSX10.6. Then using the system software I reinstalled data from my Time Machine backup. On completion it asked for my password. It is not accepted. I am locked out how I overcome this?
I was already using 10.7. But only had the disc for 10.6.

Sorry I am new to this. Am I in the right area? I am using my iPhone to make contact. I am worried.

How do you access data on a Time Machine backup for a different computer?

The hard disk on my daughter's computer is having problems - it may be broken. If so, it may take a while to get the computer working again.
The information on the disk has been backed up to our Time Capsule using Time Machine. I can see the backup file sitting on the server.
How can I get access to the information in the file from my computer?
I have read that it is possible to browse other user's backup files from Time Machine by holding the Option key when clicking on the Time Machine icon in the status bar. This produces the menu choice "Browse other backup discs ...". When I select that option, I am given a choice of backup files, including my own file and my daughter's file. When I select my daughter's file, I go into Time Machine.
However, there is no data available to me. There is no timeline, and the windows behind the current finder window are all black. The same thing happens if I select my own backup file. (Entering Time Machine the normal way works fine.)
So, as far as I can tell, the "Browse other backup discs..." option is non-functional.
Is there some other way to access the data in that file?
I'm also concerned that when I finally get her computer working again, which may involve erasing the disk and re-installing the OS, or perhaps even replacing the disk entirely, that the repaired computer won't be able to access her backup file because I might not be able to recreate here username/uid with the same credentials as originally setup.

Hi,
Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, following the directions on that page does not help.
As I interpret it, I should be following the steps in the green box. I can get to the point where I am asked to select a backup file, and my daughter's backup file is one of the options. When I select that file, I am taken to the Star Wars interface.
In that interface, I can see a finder window in front. Behind that finder window are a series of other finder windows, as one would expect in the interface, but instead of being normal finder windows, they are simply black rectanges of the same size. I can browse within the front finder window, but that browsing is limited to the contents of my computer.
However, I did discover something interesting. If I follow the instructions in the pink box, which tells how to mount the disk image of the backup file, I am able to browse within the mounted backup file using a Finder window without entering TimeMachine at all. (Which to me is a big plus, since I think that the "Star Wars" interface is very bad.)
Of course, my daughter's file system is a mess. I'm going to have to give her some organizing advice. I'll also have to sit down with her after school to see if we can access the files that she needs.
Bottom line - I don't know at this point whether this is going to work, but mounting the backup file seems to have produced some progress.
Thanks,
Geoff

Mavericks install failed on my late 2008 MBP. Says I should contact the software provider. Want to do a system restore, using Time Machine, but latest date to use is from last year - even tho did a backup before the download?

I downloaded the free Mavericks upgrade to my late 2008 MBP on Friday. I made sure to plug in my external hard drive so that Time Machine could back up beforehand. (I should say I'm not clear about the different kinds of backups that Time Machine does - I just plug it in and let it go.).
So have tried several times over the weekend to install, it takes 46 minutes each time - only to tell me it can't do it. There was an error message of needing to contact the software provider (or something similar). After searching the internet (on my husband's computer - since my MBP is rendered useless right now) I decided maybe I should wait on Mavericks and just do a system restore. However, when I plugged in the Hard Drive and proceed to System Restore, the latest date available is one from September of 2012 (14 months ago)... I've wondered if the date might be wrong? But I'm afraid to choose it because I'm not sure what I would lose. It might take me back to Snow Leopard rather than Lion... (however, the version on Restore was 10.8.1 which is Mtn Lion, right? Even tho it was last year...)
Some sources online say that I should go into applications and delete the install -- but I can't get to anything on my computer.
I tried to do a reboot in safe mode - but not sure if it worked...
I did look on the installer log error and the latest error is:
Local Host Report crash [378]
Can anyone help me? (Using simpleton, non-techie language?
Thanks

I downloaded the free Mavericks upgrade to my late 2008 MBP on Friday. I made sure to plug in my external hard drive so that Time Machine could back up beforehand. (I should say I'm not clear about the different kinds of backups that Time Machine does - I just plug it in and let it go.).
So have tried several times over the weekend to install, it takes 46 minutes each time - only to tell me it can't do it. There was an error message of needing to contact the software provider (or something similar). After searching the internet (on my husband's computer - since my MBP is rendered useless right now) I decided maybe I should wait on Mavericks and just do a system restore. However, when I plugged in the Hard Drive and proceed to System Restore, the latest date available is one from September of 2012 (14 months ago)... I've wondered if the date might be wrong? But I'm afraid to choose it because I'm not sure what I would lose. It might take me back to Snow Leopard rather than Lion... (however, the version on Restore was 10.8.1 which is Mtn Lion, right? Even tho it was last year...)
Some sources online say that I should go into applications and delete the install -- but I can't get to anything on my computer.
I tried to do a reboot in safe mode - but not sure if it worked...
I did look on the installer log error and the latest error is:
Local Host Report crash [378]
Can anyone help me? (Using simpleton, non-techie language?
Thanks

HT3275 For the past several days, I have been getting this message during backups: Time Machine could not complete the back up. The backup disk image "Volumes/Data/iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error-1).

For the past several days, I have been getting this message during backups:
Time Machine could not complete the back up. The backup disk image "Volumes/Data/bhoppy2's iMac.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error-1). When I click on the 'help' icon on the message, it reverts to a blank page, and I cannot find anything online regarding the term 'sparsebundle.' In addition, I cannot access previous backups any longer.
Help?

See C17 in Time Machine Troubleshooting by Time Machine guru Pondini:
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Library Update rqstd on Aperture 3.2; now won't open get msg "error opening data base for the library "~/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary" TIme machine won't load backup "error code -8003"

Aperture working on OS 10.6.8 then Library Update rqstd on Aperture 3.2; said yes;
now Aperture won't open, get msg "error opening data base for the library "~/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary"
TIme machine won't load backup "error code -8003"
Tried reloading Aperture 3.2 but get same result.

You’re running an outdated copy of Safari on your Desktop. That won’t work.
In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Applications
from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-A to open the Applications folder. Check that the Safari application is in that folder. If it is, use it, and delete the copy on your Desktop. Never move or copy built-in applications.
If you've deleted Safari from the Applications folder, back up all data, then reinstall OS X. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.

Incorrect dates in the side bar of time machine backups

Hi
*I have problem with my Time Machine history side bar dates display. When I select TM everything is OK up to "yesterday" backup then beyond that point history sidebar shows dates when TM was created (Monday 04. January 2010). If I select any "Monday 04. January 2001" from yesterday till beginning of the backups, backups seems to be correct. Backup history is stored on external HD connected to iMac by firewire.*
*How can I correct this problem and have correct dates for my backups ???*
Thanks
George
Message was edited by: gjzika

Do you mean all the backups prior to yesterday are all the same?
If so, that's likely a problem with your date format settings. Go to +System Preferences > Date & Time+ and click the +Open Language & Text+ button. On the next screen, select Formats.
In the Dates section, experiment with the Region and/or Customize settings. Something there is likely causing the problem.

Using a Time Capsule for Time Machine backups and as a data drive

Hi There....can I use my Apple Time Capsule for my Time Machine backups and as a drive I can put data on?

Yes, you can use your time capsule as a drive for data. If you create a disk image, you reserve a certain amount of space for that image. Time Machine will respect that space and leave the disk image alone even if there is a large amount of unused space on the image.
If you create a folder, it starts with zero space until you add data to it. The folder can be as large as you would like as long as the space is available on the TC.
So, each has an advantage. The disk image will reserve the space until you fill it up and the folder will not. But, the folder can be as large as you would like as long as the TC has space available.
Your next question might be can you change the size of a disk image after it has been created? I haven't tried this, but think you probably could.
For most users, I think the folder concept is probably simpler for them to use and easier to understand. But more advanced users may favor the disk image concept if they feel that space will be at a premium on the disk.

If I choose a hard drive ask my backup disk for time machine, will it clear out the data that was previously stored in my hard drive?

If I choose a hard drive ask my backup disk for time machine, will it clear out the data that was previously stored in my hard drive?

Hello edjhsu,
Unless the drive is in a format that isn't compatible with Time Machine, the files will not be overrwitten. However it is typically a better idea to keep your files and your backup separate, especially since files on the Time Machine drive will not be backed up by Time Machine.
Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
Cheers,
Allen

"Latest Backup" time/date is incorrect for OS X Server Time Machine backups

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