Time Machine uses 77 MB every hour?

My home network consists of a Mac Mini webserver, a MacBook and a MacBook Pro. I've successfully made a backup of each to a Seagate Free Agent 320 GB USB 2.0 drive which is now attached to the Mini. Time Machine is turned off on the two notebooks at present.
I've let Time Machine run on the Mini and I've noticed that each hourly backup is apparently consuming 77 MB! This is alarming because there's little happening on that machine except for it serving up web pages. I'm concerned that if I let Time Machine start doing hourly backups on the two notebooks, the entire 320 GB will be filled up within days.
Any comments on why Time Machine seems so voracious in its use of hard drive space?
Here's the first day's results from the Mini:
bodhisattva2:bodhisattva2 midtoad$ sudo du -d 174838712 ./2007-12-17-004047
74775864 ./2007-12-17-083731
74776048 ./2007-12-17-093944
74775840 ./2007-12-17-103858
74776016 ./2007-12-17-113852
74775840 ./2007-12-17-123859
74776048 ./2007-12-17-133926
74700992 ./2007-12-17-143916
74701240 ./2007-12-17-153854
74775920 ./2007-12-17-163847
74701168 ./2007-12-17-173737
74703032 ./2007-12-17-183725
74776112 ./2007-12-17-193848
74775864 ./2007-12-17-203735
74776096 ./2007-12-17-214020
74776000 ./2007-12-17-223749
74701168 ./2007-12-17-233725
74777528 ./2007-12-18-003724
74701160 ./2007-12-18-013727
74775888 ./2007-12-18-023722
74701168 ./2007-12-18-033722
74775928 ./2007-12-18-043725
74703208 ./2007-12-18-053722
74776008 ./2007-12-18-063726
74776104 ./2007-12-18-073729
74775984 ./2007-12-18-083730
1943644944
bodhisattva2:bodhisattva2 midtoad$ df
Filesystem 512-blocks Used Available Capacity Mounted on
/dev/disk2s1 625142384 373745816 251396568 60% /Volumes/FreeAgent320

If you are looking at the individual hourly or daily folders on your Time Machine destination drive the folder size will be deceptively large and not correct.
The more accurate way to see how much space is being used is to select the TM destination drive in the Sidebar and Get Info or look at the bottom of the Finder window to see how much space is available on the disk.
This is because Time Machine uses "hard links" (technically, "multi-links"), which are similar to aliases, but different. In the TM backups each link will show a size equal to the size of the data to which it links, but although there may be many links to the same data, the data exists only once on the backup drive. See http://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/mac-os-x-10-5.ars/14
Ken

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Time machine dont start every hour on Lion

Hello,
We just installed Lion Server on a 2008 xserve.
Everything work fine, but when it's time for TM to make a new backup (every hour) it just don't start.
We need to start it mannualy. TM keeps the scheduling for the next hour but when it's come again it doesn't want to start!
Whats the problem?

Hello,
Thank you for your kind reply.
The backup is controlled by the server. I mean that we have a Workdisk that our staff access via AFP.
And this disk is backuped by TM to the other one. (3 disk on the xserve 1.System / 2. Workdisk / 3.TM)
No 3rd party apps is used by now.
Nothing is writed on the log until i launch myself the backup.
It's like Time machine is deactived...
Here te copy. backup launched at 10h23 and 12h31 manualy :
10/02/12 10:23:27,321 com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
10/02/12 10:23:27,553 com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/TM_BACKUP/Backups.backupdb
10/02/12 10:23:34,700 com.apple.backupd: 3.27 GB required (including padding), 220.31 GB available
10/02/12 10:23:58,246 com.apple.backupd: Copied 6631 files (482.5 MB) from volume Server HD.
10/02/12 10:24:38,404 com.apple.backupd: Copied 8720 files (1.8 GB) from volume Data.
10/02/12 10:24:38,775 com.apple.backupd: 1.10 GB required (including padding), 218.48 GB available
10/02/12 10:24:41,708 com.apple.backupd: Copied 965 files (2.5 MB) from volume Server HD.
10/02/12 10:24:43,232 com.apple.backupd: Copied 1177 files (2.5 MB) from volume Data.
10/02/12 10:24:44,417 com.apple.backupd: Starting post-backup thinning
10/02/12 10:24:50,315 com.apple.backupd: Deleted /Volumes/TM_BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/vous'xserve/2012-02-08-175034 (36.6 MB)
10/02/12 10:24:59,253 com.apple.backupd: Deleted /Volumes/TM_BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/vous'xserve/2012-02-08-171057 (655.9 MB)
10/02/12 10:24:59,253 com.apple.backupd: Post-back up thinning complete: 2 expired backups removed
10/02/12 10:24:59,293 com.apple.backupd: Backup completed successfully.
10/02/12 12:31:45,605 com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
10/02/12 12:31:45,719 com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/TM_BACKUP/Backups.backupdb
10/02/12 12:31:53,672 com.apple.backupd: 1.78 GB required (including padding), 219.17 GB available
10/02/12 12:32:09,073 com.apple.backupd: Copied 5185 files (165.1 MB) from volume Server HD.
10/02/12 12:32:27,880 com.apple.backupd: Copied 6683 files (582.1 MB) from volume Data.
10/02/12 12:32:28,098 com.apple.backupd: 1.10 GB required (including padding), 218.59 GB available
10/02/12 12:32:30,355 com.apple.backupd: Copied 471 files (558 KB) from volume Server HD.
10/02/12 12:32:32,120 com.apple.backupd: Copied 587 files (774 KB) from volume Data.
10/02/12 12:32:32,876 com.apple.backupd: Starting post-backup thinning
10/02/12 12:32:40,038 com.apple.backupd: Deleted /Volumes/TM_BACKUP/Backups.backupdb/vous'xserve/2012-02-09-102938 (21.1 MB)
10/02/12 12:32:40,038 com.apple.backupd: Post-back up thinning complete: 1 expired backups removed
10/02/12 12:32:40,081 com.apple.backupd: Backup completed successfully.

Time Machine window appears every hour

Every hour a pop-up window appears on my iMac as follows:
<Time Machine couldn’t complete the backup to “Time Machine - 2 TB”.
<The backup disk ran out of space unexpectedly. Time Machine will try to make <more space available by removing expired backups during the next scheduled <backup.
<Open Time Machine preferences to select a larger backup disk or make the backup <smaller by excluding files.
However, Time Machine does not remove expired backups. It repeats this message every hour.
This did not happen before I upgraded to Mountain Lion from Safari.
How do I fix this?

Please read this whole message before doing anything. This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it. The purpose of this exercise is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click Log in.
*Note: If FileVault is enabled under OS X 10.7 or later, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode. Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs. The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin. Test while in safe mode. Same problem(s)? After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

HT3275 How can I program the Time Machine to backup every 4-6 hours instead of hourly?

My Time Machine backs up every hour and when it occurs my Mac operating speed slows down to a crawl. Is there a way to change the settings so that Time Machine backs up every 4-6 hours or at specific times of the day, e.g. 6AM, Noon and 6PM?
Many thanks,
Time Machine Novice

Sawtooth Prop wrote:
My Time Machine backs up every hour and when it occurs my Mac operating speed slows down to a crawl.
That shouldn't happen, unless you've made lots of changes and have your Mac already pretty well maxed-out. Changing the backup interval is just addressing the symptoms, not the cause.
Check the size of your backups; if they seem much too large considering what you've done since the last backup, see #D4 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting for some common culprits, and ways to find out what's actually getting backed-up.
If the sizes seem reasonable, see #2 there for things that may be slowing your backups down.

How can I make Time Machine use the ethernet cable to Time Capsule instead of the wireless connection? Wireless is too slow; has been taking 40 hours to create an initial 142 GB backup.

How can I make Time Machine use the ethernet cable to Time Capsule instead of the wireless connection? Wireless is too slow; has been taking 40 hours to create an initial 142 GB backup.

Plug in ethernet .. in the computer.. turn off wireless.

I have 2 auxillary disk drives for my MacBokk Pro. Time Machine uses one for backup and I use the other for storage, but I am unable to create a new folder or drag and drop files or folders to the aux drive.

I am unable to create a new folder on either of my auxillary disk drives. I can access the files and folders that were there when I transferred one of the drives from a PC. Time machine uses one for backup and I want to use the other to store photos which are large files. An help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the reply. If I reformat the drive will I be able to access the files on it from the MAC. I do not share the drive with a PC. The files were originally created on a PC which I no longer use. I do want to continue to access the files put there by the PC. I would like to not have to copy them over to the MAC hard drive just to use them. The second aux drive is new and works fine because it was formatted by the MAC. I can drag and drop files there and work with just as if they were on the internal drive.

I am running my first backup on Time Machine using a Seagate external hard drive with a thunderbolt adapter and cable. I have a MacBook Pro 2011. It is backing up 11GB, and is telling me it will take approx two days. Is this normal?

I am running my first backup on Time Machine using a Seagate external hard drive with a thunderbolt adapter and cable. I have a MacBook Pro 2011. It is backing up 11GB, and is telling me it will take approx two days. Is this normal?

Download the supplemental fix to 10.7.5
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1599

I used a partitioned HDD for time machine, using a partition already containing other data files. I am now no longer able to view that partition in Finder. Disk Utility shows it in grey and "not mounted". Any suggestions of how to access the files?

I used a partitioned HDD for time machine, using a partition already containing other data files. I am now no longer able to view that partition in Finder. Disk Utility shows it in grey and "not mounted". Any suggestions of how to access the files? Does using time machine mean that that partition is no longer able to be used as it used to be?
HDD is a Toshiba 1TB, partitioned into two 500GB partitions.
OS X version 10.9.2

Yes, sharing a TM disk is a bad idea, and disks are cheap enough so that you don't need to.
Now
Have you tried to repair the disk yet

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I have a very particular situation. For several years I used a 500GB Time Machine as a wi-fi broadcaster, a back up, and also as external storage for iTunes - I 'partitioned' it to allow for it's use as an external drive.
Fast forward, and I've replaced the Time Machine with a new 3 TB Time Machine, as well as purchased a separate external drive (3 TB Western Digital) to store my iTunes files (so I no longer need to partition). The new Time Machine is my wi-fu hub.
The problem: I need to retrieve the 300 gb of audio files that are on my old partitioned Time Machine, and move them to my new WD external drive. I've already set up the new Time Machine as my wi-fi broadcaster, and de-activated the old Time Machine.
(I had tried to move the files previous to setting up the new Time Machine, but I realized after de-activating it that I wasn't as thorough as I thought, so I need to go back and move them again.)
I've tried to re-connect to the old Time Machine using an ethernet cable, but when I do, it recognizes it as my wi-fi hub, and it screws up my network - it suddenly allows me access to the old Time Machine, but blocks access to the new WD external drive.
So in a nutshell - I need to be able to connect the old Time Machine to my laptop (a Macbook running OS X 10.7.5) and have my new network see it as just an external drive - so I can then move the 300 GB of audio files directly on to my new WD external drive.
Any thoughts on how I can do this?

Why not connect both drives to the computer, turn off the wi-fi, and then copy the files over. Or you can use Disk Utility/Restore to move the files. See the note - it will erase the WD drive.
You can then set things back to the way you want them. You should have more than one back up as hard drives do fail. In this case, you could use a clone and keep it on the WD drive.
Clone - Carbon Copy Cloner (Often recommended as it has more features than some others)
Clone – Data Backup
Clone – Deja Vu
Clone - SuperDuper
Clone - Synk
Clone Software – 6 Applications Tested
Commonly Used Backup Methods

Does Time Machine use a differential/delta file compression when copying files ?

Hello,
I would like to use Time Machine to backup to a MacBook Air but that computer is using a Virtual Machines store in a single file of 50 GBytes.
Once the initial backup will be done, does Time Machine will only copy the changes in this large file or will everyday copy the full 50 Bytes?
In other word does Time Machine use a differential/dela file compression algorithm (like un rsync)?
If it is not yet the case, can you please file for me an application request to the development team internally?
If others are also interested in such a feature, you’re welcome to vote for it.
Kind regards,
Olivier

Ok, it looks like the current version of Time Machine cannot handle efficiently in network terms large files like Virtual Machine files and this a real issue today.
Is anybody here able to file an official feature request to Apple to be able to use Time Machine efficiently also with large files (let's stay > 5 GBytes) ?
I should propably mean using a differential compression algorythm over the network like the examples below:
http://rsync.samba.org/tech_report/tech_report.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Differential_Compression

Mountain lion will not install because time machine uses hard drive for back up. What should I do?

I have downloaded Mountain Lion but it will not allow me to install because the time machine uses the hard drive to back up. How do I solve this problem?

Unless you are trying to install on an external hard drive that actually has been used for Time Machine backups, this is usually caused by having a folder named "Backups.backupd" on your hard drive somewhere. It may be at the root level of the hard drive, but may also be elsewhere. Try searching for it, and then delete it. (You shouldn't need it.)

My time capsule backs up every hour. how do I change this to daily backup, my time capsule backs up every hour. how do I change this to daily backup

My Time Capsule backs up every hour.. How do I change this to back up daily?

http://pondini.org/TM/13.html

Has anyone enabled time machine using a linksys router and external hard drive? And if so how?

Has anyone enabled time machine using a link sys router and external hard drive? And if so how? I have a Linksys E4200 wireless router with a usb port on it. I also have a Western Digital Elements 1TB external hard drive. I would like to be able to use this hard drive with time machine. Has anyone done so and if so how can I do so?

You might get some responses, but we don't see many Linksys users on an Apple forum so it may be awhile before you see an answer.
It might be useful to point out that Apple does not even support Time Machine backups to the USB port on their own AirPort Extreme wireless router, so we may be heading down a very slippery slope here.
I've tried Time Machine backups on an AirPort Extreme router a number of times in the past. It's just not reliable. Works for awhile, then has corruption problems. Or has corruption issues immediately. I once went a month or so and thought I had it nailed, then got smacked with a corrupted set of backups again.
But, I guess you never know. It might work on the Linksys. If you decide to try this, I would suggest that you have another backup plan in place for your important data.
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Can´t upgrade to mountain Lion because says that my HD is only for Time Machine use

Can´t upgrade to mountain Lion because says that my HD is only for Time Machine use, what can I do?

The installer is probably finding a file called backups.backupdb
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Allan

Can Time Machine use a local server as a back up location

We have this really nice D-Link NAS with 4 drives set to Raid 5....and would LOVE to let Time Machine use it as a backup location.
Will Time Machine allow a server to hold its back up files?
Many thanks.

Time Machine does not back up to network drives, except Time Capsules or USB drives connected to an Airport Extreme, or a drive on a Leopard server.
Here's the official word: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1733
You may find some "hacks" that might make it work, in some cases, to a degree. But use them at your own risk.
First, since this is *unsupported by Apple,* there's nowhere to go when there's trouble.
Second, you're risking a future update preventing it from working, and perhaps rendering your backups useless.
If you still think this is a good idea, do yourself a favor before you bet your backups on it: be sure it really works, at least for now:
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2. Let TM do it's first, full, initial backup.
3. Attempt a full system restore (like you'll need when, not if, your internal HD fails), via the instructions in item 14 of the +Frequently Asked Questions+ post at the top of this forum.
Again, even if it works now, tomorrow is another day . . .

Time Machine uses 77 MB every hour?

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