Restricting Time Machine size with LaCie NAS Share

I have a question regarding quotas for my LaCie 2big NAS. I am using Time Machine on my MAC OSX. I had no issues in the Time Machine setup and initial backup so far. I wanted to limit the amount of disk used by Time Machine. I created a separate Share for Backup on the NAS. However, I am not able to set a quota based on the Share. I can only set the quota based on the user. I tried to create a user named "backup" which had a quota but the Time Machine sparse bundle has my own username (i.e., "my_username") as the file owner (it seemed like I needed to have the backup and my_username for the NAS with permissions on the Backup share). Time Machine identifies the disk as "Backup - My_NAS_Name" with the 500 GB limit which I established. This seems like it is working but I am not sure about the best approach.
Why doesn't the 2big NAS support Share quotas? It seems to be supported on other LaCie products. Is this the best way to configure or use the NAS to restrict the TIme Machine available size?

Brian Smale wrote:
Thanks, Pondini, you make a good point about using a USB drive with my Airport Extreme. The snag is, the Airport Extreme is in the same room as my computer, so it doesn't get over the co-location/fire problem. I suppose I could plug the Airport Extreme into my ethernet in another room, but this might compromise its coverage.
To protect yourself against fire, flood, theft, and direct lightning strike on your power lines, you need secondary, off-site backups. Get a portable external drive (or a pair, to alternate). Periodically do separate backups to it, and take it to your safe deposit box, workplace, relative's house, etc. CarbonCopyCloner (which I use in addition to TM), SuperDuper!, or the like would be fine for this, although you could use TM by just doing a +Change Disk+ each time.
Frankly, looking back 20 pages through this thread, I am astonished by the number of problems that people seem to be having with Time Machine. It rather looks like a flakey piece of software that's best avoided.
Don't be misled by what you see here. TM works just fine for most people. They only post here when there's a question or problem. Many of the questions wouldn't be necessary if Apple's documentation was better, and most of the problems are either things people did without knowing they shouldn't, or hardware problems. You'll find similar threads on the CCC and SD forums, too.

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Time Machine problem with Qnap NAS

I use Time Machine on my QNAP NAS TS 119. I backup from an iMac (connected to the network by ethernet) and a laptop (MacBook Pro) connected wirelessly. It was working fine until I upgraded the OS to Mountain Lion on both computers. Time Machine on the iMac works fine but it stopped working on the laptop. Qnap has a setting for Time Machine. It creates a mount TMBackup to which you can connect with user name TimeMachine and a password zou can set (this is done under the settings of the Qnap, accessing it with safari). In the Time Machine preferences, when I select the disk "TMBackup on Qnap(TimeMachine)" it asks me the name and password for the server Qnap-2.local. I don't understand why it asks for Qnap-2. My TS 119 NAS is named simply Qnap. I choose "registered user" and give the username TimeMachine (default, as setup) and the password I have setup. It accepts them, but when Time Machine attempts to start backing up, it gives me the error message ' "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup to "Qnap-2". The backup disk is not available '. I don't understand where this Qnap-2 comes from. On the iMac I have no problem, it makes backups on Qnap. Please help!

Thank you very much!
That solved my problem.
I have seen a lot of posts with the MD0_DATA folder, and I had no such folder.
As my QNAP is 4 disk NAS, I tried your command "rm -r /share/HDA_DATA/.timemachine" in the four first folders in the /share folder: HDA_DATA, HDB_DATA, HDC_DATA and HDD_DATA.
In the third one, it was OK.
And after that, Time Machine could mount again the TMBacup volume and acces it.
Now I'm doing again the Backup!!

Does Time Machine work with a NAS?

Does Time Machine work with a network attached storage drive?
Thanks!
John

the only supported NAS for TM backups is Time Capsule. it also works with drives connected to an Airport Extreme Base Station. al other NASes are unsupported. there are hacks to make TM work with them but you are on your own if you use them
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080420211034137&query=time%2Bmach ine%2BNAS

Time machine fails with Synology NAS

Help...
I can't get Time Machine Back-ups to work with my synology NAS.
I can see shared folders in finder.
Have tried with a shared folder on drive in NAS (get error message: cannot create sparsebundle...)
Also tried with USB drive connected to NAS (process get started and get to around 10M backed up and then fails with error message: )
Tried with Mac and NAS on same switch - and got same results.
Appreciate any advice you can offer.

A third-party NAS is unsuitable for use with Time Machine, especially if it's your only backup. I know this isn't the answer you want. I know Time Machine accepts the NAS as a backup destination. I know that the manufacturer says the device will work with Time Machine, and I also know that it usually seems to work. Except when you try to restore, and find that you can't.
Apple has published a specification for network devices that work with Time Machine. None of the third-party NAS vendors, as far as I know, meets that specification. They all use the incomplete, obsolete Netatalk implementation of Apple Filing Protocol.
If you want network backup, use as the destination either an Apple Time Capsule or an external storage device connected to another Mac or to an 802.11ac AirPort base station. Only the 802.11ac base stations support Time Machine, not any older model.
Otherwise, don't use Time Machine at all. There are other ways to back up, though none of them is anywhere near as efficient or as well integrated with OS X. I don't have a specific recommendation.
If you're determined to keep using the NAS with Time Machine, your only recourse for any problems that result is to the manufacturer (which will blame Apple, or you, or anyone but itself.)

How to move existent Time Machine backups to a NAS?

Hello everybody
I am not sure if I am posting this discussion in the correct community, so please move it to the right one in case you need.
Currently I am using a 1TB external hard drive to store all my time machine backups. This drive also contains other information (movies, photos etc). I bought a Western Digital MyBook World Edition II which is a NAS. I want it to move my Time Machine backups to my NAS. How can I do it? Just copy over the backups folder from the external hard drive to the NAS?
Thank you!
Gilson

That's just crazy slow.
It won't be fast, as the data can't go directly from the old disk to the new one. It must pass through your Mac, so is on the network twice, slowing the effective speed by roughly half. But that's awful.
There could be any number of causes, from bad ports or cables to problems with either drive or controller. I don't have any experience with modern RAID systems, but some of the older ones were extremely slow when there was a problem with one of the drives.
And it may get worse -- if the backups are damaged, the copy will fail and the result won't be useable.
About all I can recommend is the usual: it's always prudent to keep secondary backups. If you don't have any, I'd strongly recommend getting a (plain) external HD and making a "bootable clone" on it ASAP (that will probably slow the copy down somewhat). See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #27 for details and some suggestions.
It wouldn't have to be a 2 TB drive, just the same size as your internal HD (or at least 10% larger than the data on it). You might consider getting a portable drive, so you can take it to a secure off-site location once you get your TM backups working to the new WD box. Then update it periodically.

Time Machine backup on Lacie-CloudBox

I am doing backup via Time machine on a Lacie-CloudBox (network drive). The backup folder is empty but there is instead a .sparsebundle file (ca 900GB). Time Machine reports that backups are being done normally. Why is backup folder empty? Thx

Hi, I'm having the same problem. I have recently bought a Cloudbox 2TB. When TimeMachine has done the initial backup, it says that the backup was done succesfully, but when I take a look on the Cloudbox all I can find is a .sparsebundle file and TimeMachine prompting that the sparsebundle is already in use...
I'm guessing that there must be a compability problem since OSX Mavericks because the packaging of the Cloudbox states that it's TimeMachine compatible.
My Cloudbox came with no software, however the LaCie-website provides 2 back-up programs (Win and OSX). I already have tried the Windows one (Genie Timeline) and it works like a charm (who knew huh!). I guess I will trie the LaCie suggested software for OSX now to backup to the Cloudbox and keep TimeMachine do backups to my USB connected external hard drive.
Let's hope we get it working with OSX Yosemite...

I'm using Time Machine and a LaCie external drive to backup. I also have a 8 GB LaCie flash drive I want to use for small jobs. If I plug the LaCie flash drive in, is my Mac going to think it is the LaCie external drive and start trying to backup?

I'm using Time Machine and a LaCie external drive to backup. I also have a 8 GB LaCie flash drive I want to use for small jobs. If I plug the LaCie flash drive in, is my Mac going to think it is the LaCie external drive and start trying to backup?

no.

Time Machine worked- with caveats- but worked

Ok, TIme Machine rocks!
I screwed with some applications, I tried to make the dock and desktop my own and F'd things up.
What I was trying to do was to create stacks in doc.
I wanted stacks for apple apps, stacks for business apps, stack for art, and stacks for personal.
Plus I wanted easy buttons for kids to pick out games as well.
Idea was good but I did not execute it well.
While I can do everything that I wanted to do, what I needed to do was create alias of apps and then put those into folders and drag them into doc. I did not I put apps in folders and tried to put those in dock. I screwed up the computer, BUT I had Time Machine.
With Time Machine you can rescue the whole drive. There are a few caveats here too.
One you have to do this reinstall with the OS-X install disk.
Information is not truly clear on line and I called apple.
When I was trying install the screen said it was going to reinstall system. This made me think that I was going to install system and applications but what about my docs. I was not sure. I called apple and the tech I got on line said no problem I would get all back, he was sure! Then he put me on hold, ask someone made sure, but came back saying I would get everything back. System, programs and docs.
When you do a restart from install disk it gives you choice of install, you have to choose from the above drop down menus- reinstall from time mach. NOT install from main instruction on screen. This is a little hidden but for those with some experience should be easy to find.
I then ran into another issue. I ran reinstall and it looked good till about 4% was completed and then failed. Message said try again or lose all. Not a great message. I did this over and over 5 time, each time same results. I at this point thought I maybe was losing battle. For anyone that has lost data, they know it is a battle to get back data.
I then thought that I have external drives in a dazzy chain over firewire configuration. How about taking the drive with Time Machine back up and making 1st and the solo drive- WORKED.
Took about 3 hours to back up. I have older iMac and others may go quicker.
I did get everything back and was very happy.
Interesting thing after reboot was that the computer had to reintroduce it self.
Programs came up like mail and had too find accounts, mail saved, trashed and still valid.
iphoto and iTunes needed to find their associated files. As when iTunes came up it 1st showed no music, no video, Tv shows, but quickly started to find items.
Lastly Time Machine had to rescan the computer as it does when you 1st install program.
So over all great program!
My one question would be if I am using time mach and computer dies and I tried this reinstall on a new computer would it work as well?

This looks like it was a TERRIBLE restore. The whole point of restoring from a backup is that everything should work as it did on the date of the backup. No missing files, no reconfiguration of applications...

Will Time Machine work with an external hard drive connected (via usb) to Airport Extreme?

Will Time Machine work with an external hard drive connected (via usb) to Airport Extreme?

Sorry, but this article is about 4 years old, and was printed based on preliminary information at the time.
The bottom line here is that Apple does not officially support Time Machine backups to a drive at the USB port of the AirPort Extreme.
If it works for you, great.
You might want to review the Apple Support documents below, which are far more recent than the article you reference:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2038
It is supported.....
This is NOT correct. Please do not post false information on the forums.

Unable to re establish Time Machine connection with Machine A

Hello,
Time Machine was working on machine A. I was able to go into time machine, look at the files in my backup and restore a file if I needed to.
My machine A was out of service due to a power supply and I used a Machine B to access my time machine files. Machine B had 2 userid's. Both users were ADMINISTRATORS. The 2nd user ID was able to SEE the files, I was NOT ABLE to RESTORE. (insufficient privileges). The 1st user ID. I was able to restore and discovered this by accident. I restored what I need to and was able to work off a laptop until Apple fixed my machine A (it took 7 days)
Problem:
When I got my workstation back I plugged in the hard drive that contains my backup and figured...I am off and away just as before.
1. I was not able to get TIME MACHINE started. ( I cannot recall the series of steps)
2. Now when I select time machine the menus offers me...
BROWSE OTHER TIME MACHINE DISKS
OPEN TIME MACHINE PREFERENCES.
When I select browse the 1st item, I am not even able to see the backup that was there.
When I select the Open Time machine preferences, I cannot figure out how to re - attach the time machine backup that I used to have connected to this workstation.
Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Hello Scott,
I tried a sudo cmd from the terminal application and wound up with the same error.
Prior to runnin this cmd, I managed to borrow an external hard drive and backed up all of the data I needed in case the sudo cmd did something to prevent me from seeing data on my hard drive.
Sudo cmd did not work. Time Machine was giving me the same access errors.
Since by now I had made a back up of my data to another hard drive,
I reformatted my original external hard drive.
I went back to time machine and selected the external drive I just reformatted
I received the same error again, but about 30 seconds later, Time Machine responded with ....the drive has been selected for back up and about 90 seconds later, Time Machine initiated and is starting a backup in the background.
To summarize
Prior to doing the sudo command (I am a little cautious about doing things I have no idea what the end result will be....)
I backed up the external drive A to external hard drive B
used Deja Vu to perform an entire system back up of my workstation as well as another one of everything in my USERID
I tried the sudo command...when it failed
Reformatted external drive A
Time Machine is now working again
Thanks for your comments and feeback. Between your comments and VK was enough for me to put together the pieces and decide on a course of action.
I would recommend to anyone reading this to always back up as the safest course of action

Access my Time Machine backup with another Mac?

The HD on my 24" iMac just bit the dust and I am using my old eMac to try to get some work done while I wait for another. Fortunately, I have a Time Machine backup. Is it okay to access files off my Time Machine backup with my eMac, as long as I don't change anything? I don't want to mess up my backup before I can restore it to my new Mac.
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Should be, if the eMac is running 10.5.x be sure to turn off TM backups though.

Time Machine size configuration

How do I manage my time machine backup sizes?
I need to be able to limit/quota the time machine size. I can quota per user per system, but that would impact their home directories. I've tried to modify the sparsebundle size, but that just horks up TIme Machine.

Shame nobody cared to describe this working solution... I am running Mavericks and struggling to find this setup/config

Does time machine work with the trash folder?

Does time machine work with the trash folder? So if I have the entire aperture library backed up to the time machine. Is it safe to empty the trash folder in aperture? I am able to recover files from time machine later?

So make a top-level Project called "_Circular File". Put Images in there that you what to have out of your way but not discarded.
It really is good and proper to treat the Trash as trash. I instruct everyone to _empty_ the Aperture Trash at the end of _every_ session. The reason is this: it is the only time you will remember whether it is safe to delete the items in there. If you wait, you will then waste time trying to answer "Did I really mean to throw that out?" or, periodically, you'll give up trying to remember, and will empty the Trash without reviewing it. At the end of every session, examine the Trash, confirm that the items there are trash, and empty it.
Shocking, perhaps, but you should also empty your system trash every day. The real-life equivalents are good guides here. No-one in an office hoards their trash. If you mean to throw something out, throw it out. If you don't mean to throw it out, do not put it in the trash.
I don't know how TM handles the Aperture Trash. I do know, however, that I would not expect this behavior to remain consistent, and would absolutely recommend against a workflow based on it.

Time Machine for multiple macs - NAS or DAS attached to my iMac, which I then share?

Greetings
I currently have three macs - MBA, MBP and an iMac (newest generation). I'd like to use Time Machine for all of them.
Is it better to set up a NAS for Time Machine or can I use DAS that I woudl share (external HDD) attached to my iMac if they are all on the same network?
Also, is there any need for something like a Drobo or an external RAID array, if it's mostly for backing up and not for video editing? It would be used as a mnusic server to some degree. I've used a Drobo in the past (2nd gen) and find that I've spent a lot of time troubleshooting and fiddling with it over the years.
Thanks,
John

I am looking to add a Seagate NAS TM compatible to my network. I have 8 TB of storage w multiple Macs that I would like to backup to a NAS device.
Any advice would be welcome.
http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/network-storage/business/business-st orage-8-bay-rackmount-nas/

Why won't Time Machine work with my 3TB LaCie d2 Quadra v3

I just got a brand new iMac a couple of weeks ago and migrated everything from an older iMac. I also bought a bigger external HDD for Time Machine use. I've always had fine luck with LaCie. But every time I try to run a Time Machine backup (whether connected with USB 3.0 or 2.0) on the new HDD I get an error message:
"Time Machine couldn't complete teh backup to 'Time Machine (New)' Unable to complete the backup. An error occurred while creating the backup folder."
I reformatted the drive per LaCie tech instructions, same result.
LaCie says it's a Time Machine problem. Yet Time Machine is working right now with a smaller, older d2 connected via USB 2.0.
I can return the drive and get by with the older drive for now. But I'm sure to need a bigger drive soon.

What format did you format the drive in? It should be Mac OS Extended (Journaled). If it isn't, try that and see if it fixes the problem. If it's already in that format I don't have any other ideas.

Restricting Time Machine size with LaCie NAS Share

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