It is indeed possible to get Time Machine working with NFS, SMB and AFP. The fix was mentioned in Digg here.
defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1
Note: Do not do this as root, or prefix the command with “sudo” or anything else.
As a test, I created the following shares on my ReadyNas system.
- An AFP Share called AFPTEST and shared it out using AFP
- A SMB Share called SMBTEST and shared it out using SMB
- An NFS Share called NFSTEST and shared it out using NFS
After mounting these shares using Finder, I verified that they are all mounted using the correct protocols.
sh-3.2# mount | grep NFSTEST
192.168.1.5:/c/NFSTEST on /Volumes/192.168.1.5-1 (nfs, nodev, nosuid, mounted by ******)
sh-3.2# mount | grep AFPTEST
afp_35Bf8d35Bf8d35Bf8d35Bf8d-1.2d000084 on /Volumes/AFPTEST (afpfs, nodev, nosuid, mounted by ******)
sh-3.2# mount | grep SMBTEST
//192.168.1.5/SMBTEST on /Volumes/SMBTEST (smbfs, nodev, nosuid, mounted by ******)
Control-Click on Time Machine in the Dock and select “Time Machine Preferences”. Click “Choose Backup Disk” and voila!
[...] the occasional blog | Time Machine with SMB and NFS Shares – [...]
Interesting alternative to time machine:
http://www.crashplan.com/features/timeMachine.vtl
It’s cross platform, and has many more features while remaining quite easy to use.
That does look very interesting! This could be a very cool combination if I can get crashplan to install on my NAS box (ReadyNAS). That is technically another computer :)
I was looking for a Crashplan free vs CrashPlan paid version differences. Is there such a thing ?
[...] the occasional blog | Time Machine with SMB and NFS Shares – [...]
I wonder what happens if you have a HD crash. Will you be able to do a system restore from the SMB drive?
Once you get the new HD, you must install the OS and perform the trick again to allow the new OS to see the backup drive. You can restore your applications/data from the backup then.
In other words, it does not create a bootable volume.
Do not used TM on an SMB partition.
See my post on this thread…
http://discussions.apple.com/thread….918065#5918065
You have been warned.
Felix’s comment has an invalid link.. Here‘s the actual link where he found out how he was unable to get the space reclaimed using SMB file share.
[...] backups or force an immediate backup, nor does it backup NFS or SMB mounted drives, at least not easily.In addition to the above options all centrally located in Time Machine preferences, I want several [...]
[...] First and foremost, props to Rajeev for posting this. Well done, sir. Check the original post here. [...]
Hi there,
Following your instructions, my SMB drive/share appears in Backup Disk list. Unfortunately Time Machine still doesn’t work. A message appears on my screen (translated from Dutch language): “The Backupdisk cannot be activated”.
Any ideas about how to solve this problem?
Some details:
- I have a MacBook;
- My network is wireless;
- And the network attached storage is an Iomega Home Network Drive.
Thanks,
Emile
PS. I am fairly new to the Mac OS. I just bought my first MacBook four weeks ago.
In Leopard 1.5.2 not work smb volumes. . .
The unit is show in time machine, but still “preparing copy”, and “error”. . .
[...] 3) Windows Home Server Ook met bijvoorbeeld de Windows Home Server kun je bestanden op een eenvoudige manier? bereikbaar maken voor zowel Windows als Mac-machines. Net zo gebruiksvriendelijk, en met extra mogelijkheden dankzij slimme plugins. Het nadeel van zo’n server is wel dat de backup-mogelijkheden van TimeMachine dan niet zo makkelijk via het netwerk verlopen. Lees dit epistel. [...]
[...] Nie tylko po AFP. Prosz?: Time Machine with SMB and NFS Shares Time Machine Over the Network with iTimeMachine MBP 13" c2d 2.53, 4gb, 250gb, Snow [...]
The only safe way to use TM over NFS or SMB shares, is to create a large enough .dmg partion-image on the share, mount the image locally and use that as your Time Machine drive.
Be warned….
Do NOT use any other partitions than native OSX hfs or hfsplus for TM backups.