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Q: Why is Time machine so slow on an iMac running OS yosemite?

I am using Time Machine for the first time. I am using an iMac i7, with OS 10.10.5. I have 344gb's to back-up. I timed the backup speed as 3.6mb/hr. This would result in a duration of 95 hours. I am using an ethernet cable to connect to a new external hard drive. I have restarted the iMac in safe-mode and then restarted in normal mode and it did not fix the problem. Why is this so slow, and can anything else be done to speed up the backup?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), Using Time Machine

Posted on Aug 22, 2015 4:58 AM

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Q: Why is Time machine so slow on an iMac running OS yosemite?

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  • by loïcfernandezcastrillon,

    loïcfernandezcastrillon loïcfernandezcastrillon Aug 22, 2015 6:01 AM in response to dbarch01
    Level 1 (93 points)
    Aug 22, 2015 6:01 AM in response to dbarch01

    Hello dbarch01, the time to back up depends of your external hard drive speed.

    I guess at the beginning it is backing up a bunch of little files from the system, so it calculates 95 hours based on that.

    Wait for a while, it will probably drop to 3 hours or so...

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 22, 2015 8:03 AM in response to dbarch01
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Aug 22, 2015 8:03 AM in response to dbarch01
    I am using an ethernet cable to connect to a new external hard drive.

    If you really mean Ethernet and not something else, see below.

    A third-party network-attached storage device (NAS) is unsuitable for use with Time Machine, especially if it's your only backup. I know this isn't what you want to hear. I know that 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.

    Apple does not endorse any third-party NAS device for use with Time Machine. See this support article.

    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.)

  • by dbarch01,

    dbarch01 dbarch01 Sep 3, 2015 9:25 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2015 9:25 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I've never heard of a NAS drive as being unsuitable for use with Time Machine. This is after 10 days of back and forth with level 2 Tech support with apple. And thank you for the TM Spec on network devices. You would think that one of the apple tech guys would have said 'o by the way you need....(etc.)'. I have resisted TM for years, but a recent mishap on one of my Macs, pointed me in the direction of TM. I have purchased a WD-MyCloud 4T drive which I have been working on for 2 1/2 weeks to get to operate with TM, so far marginal luck. All of the back-ups are very slow, as noted by the apple tech support, but none of them know why. I've checked with West Digital, and their diagnostics show the MyCloud to be working properly. However it is a NAS drive. Not sure what my next move should be. Any thoughts?

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 3, 2015 10:52 AM in response to dbarch01
    Level 9 (71,210 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 3, 2015 10:52 AM in response to dbarch01

    You can try a clone instead of Time Machine. The best thing to do would be to get another hard drive so that you have 2 separate backups as hard drives do fail..

     

    Clone  - Carbon Copy Cloner          (Often recommended as it has more features than some others)

     

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    Clone - Synk

     

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