John Kitchen
Level 3 (649 points)

Q: Time Machine no longer automatic under El Capitan

My symptoms are that the automatic backups just don't happen under El Capitan on either my iMac or my MacBook Pro.  Manual backups are successful.  The iMac backs up to an alternating pair of drives, one of which is via USB and the other via FireWire.  The MBP is backing up one the home network to a USB drive on my iMac.

 

I tried the SMC reset on my iMac which was recommended elsewhere in these forums.

 

After leaving the iMac powered off and disconnected from power for five minutes, I restarted it.  I noticed that Time Machine does not provide an expected time of next backup, so I checked the logs.

 

Does this log make sense to anyone?

 

The key line seems to be this one:-

 

10/23/15 9:27:58.615 AM UserEventAgent[53]: com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job disabled


Any suggestions as to how to get Time Machine running automatically again?

 

------------------------------------------

 

10/23/15 9:26:26.649 AM storeaccountd[475]: XPC error for connection com.apple.backupd.sandbox.xpc: Connection invalid

10/23/15 9:26:26.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: storeaccountd(475) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.backupd.sandbox.xpc

---above two lines repeated three times ---

 

10/23/15 9:26:27.283 AM sandboxd[151]: ([475]) storeaccountd(475) deny mach-lookup com.apple.backupd.sandbox.xpc

--- line above repeated twice ---

 

10/23/15 9:27:58.615 AM UserEventAgent[53]: com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job disabled

10/23/15 9:28:06.425 AM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.backupd-auto) Unknown key for Boolean: ForceEnableHack

10/23/15 9:28:06.426 AM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.backupd-helper.status) The HideUntilCheckIn property is an architectural performance issue. Please transition away from it.

10/23/15 9:28:06.426 AM com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.backupd-auto) This service is defined to be constantly running and is inherently inefficient.

10/23/15 9:28:06.426 AM UserEventAgent[53]: com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job enabled

10/23/15 9:30:56.000 AM kernel[0]: Sandbox: storeaccountd(475) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.backupd.sandbox.xpc

10/23/15 9:30:56.114 AM storeaccountd[475]: XPC error for connection com.apple.backupd.sandbox.xpc: Connection invalid

--- two lines above repeated three times ---

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2011 - 27" SSD + HDD 32GB

Posted on Oct 24, 2015 9:54 AM

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John Kitchen

Q: Time Machine no longer automatic under El Capitan

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  • by stuartfletcheruk,

    stuartfletcheruk stuartfletcheruk Oct 28, 2015 5:15 AM in response to roncarfl
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 28, 2015 5:15 AM in response to roncarfl

    I can also confirm that unplugging the USB cable to my UPS (an APC) and restarting my MacPro has fixed my Time Machine backups.

     

    My backups alternate between a Timecapsule and Synology NAS so this is not directly related to backing up USB attached drives. My backups have been running fine now for over 24 hours

     

    This is on 10.11.1

     

    Stuart

  • by Richard West,

    Richard West Richard West Oct 28, 2015 5:41 AM in response to roncarfl
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 5:41 AM in response to roncarfl

    I am also running 10.11.1. I did much the same as roncarfl but did not shut down before re-plugging in the UPS USB cable. When doing this the Time Machine backups continue to run automatically. Perhaps this will change when I have to reboot again.

     

    Since this is getting complicated here is a summary of what I did:

    1. TM backups not running automatically with 10.11 (not sure which subversion)

    2. Unplugged SPS USB cable and rebooted iMac.

    3. TM backups now running automatically.

    4. Plugged UPS USB cable back in.

    5. TM backups continue to run automatically (10.11.1 running now).

  • by bettyfrommonticello,

    bettyfrommonticello bettyfrommonticello Oct 28, 2015 1:49 PM in response to John Kitchen
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 1:49 PM in response to John Kitchen

    I have 6 Macs upgraded from Yosemite to El Capitian 11.11.1  (Mac Pro / 3 iMacs / MacBook Air / MacBook Pro)

     

    I have had TM issues on 5 of these Macs from the beginning. 3 are on a APC UPS. All were set not to sleep but only have screen saver enabled. All along I could do a manual TM backup but not a scheduled backup. Each time a backup was scheduled to occur it would not but would simply increment the next backup time by an hour. I unplugged the USB cable from each UPS and I set each Mac to sleep after 15 min.

     

    Thus far, all are doing their scheduled backups. If this goes on for several days, I will try reconnecting each USB cable on the three.  Enabling sleep seems to have fixed the MB Pro and MB Air.

  • by bettyfrommonticello,

    bettyfrommonticello bettyfrommonticello Oct 28, 2015 2:08 PM in response to bettyfrommonticello
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 2:08 PM in response to bettyfrommonticello

    I have 3 Time Capsules where the 5 problematic TM reside. The iMac which has a TM which has worked from the start has an external drive it uses as a TM.

  • by John Kitchen,

    John Kitchen John Kitchen Oct 28, 2015 6:10 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 3 (649 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 6:10 PM in response to John Galt

    John Galt wrote:

     

    <snip>

     

    According to Apple, if a Mac is to be used to host a Time Machine backup, that Mac must be running OS X Server. <snip>

    John

     

    I suspect you are quite correct.  Here is why.

     

    I periodically get Time Machine failures when backing up from my MBP to a share on my iMac (El Capitan non-Server) with a message about there being too many users logged into the iMac.  It's my understanding that the limit is 10, which should be more than ample since we only have three devices logging in in this household, two MBPs and an Apple TV.  Elsewhere, I read that "failed" log in attempts use up logon slots so that could be why 10 is not enough.

     

    That said, this MBP is successfully doing hourly backups (for now).

     

    Since I don't trust it, I'm thinking of upgrading El Capitan to El Capitan Server.  At least until I read the reviews of Server.  Now I'm nervous.

  • by John Galt,Helpful

    John Galt John Galt Oct 29, 2015 7:16 AM in response to John Kitchen
    Level 8 (49,507 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 29, 2015 7:16 AM in response to John Kitchen

    Elsewhere, I read that "failed" log in attempts use up logon slots so that could be why 10 is not enough.

     

    That makes sense to me also.

     

    I wouldn't be too concerned about reviews. It might not fix the problem, but $20 will eliminate any question regarding TM compatibility.

     

    Just back up your system first... of course.

  • by R C-R,

    R C-R R C-R Oct 28, 2015 7:01 PM in response to Richard West
    Level 6 (17,685 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 7:01 PM in response to Richard West

    Richard West wrote:

    I am also running 10.11.1. I did much the same as roncarfl but did not shut down before re-plugging in the UPS USB cable. When doing this the Time Machine backups continue to run automatically.

    I am seeing the same thing -- after starting up without the cable connected I plugged it back in & automatic backups continue to run on schedule, in my case alternating between a USB 3 drive plugged into my iMac & a Time Capsule connected to it by ethernet.

     

    From what others have reported, the problem probably would return if I restarted with the cable still plugged in, but since I normally just sleep my iMac that isn't much of an issue for me. So until Apple can fix this, I just need to remember to pull the cable if I do need to restart the Mac, which for me won't be much of a hardship.

  • by roncarfl,

    roncarfl roncarfl Oct 29, 2015 4:37 AM in response to R C-R
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 29, 2015 4:37 AM in response to R C-R

    I concur. I'll do the same workaround until Apple fixes it.

  • by John Kitchen,

    John Kitchen John Kitchen Oct 29, 2015 7:25 AM in response to roncarfl
    Level 3 (649 points)
    Oct 29, 2015 7:25 AM in response to roncarfl

    roncarfl wrote:

     

    I concur. I'll do the same workaround until Apple fixes it.

    For what it's worth,

     

    I have a Belkin APS

    It is connected to my iMac via USB

    El Capitan knows it's there (it shows up in the Energy Saver preferences item)

    I am not mucking around with the USB cable

    I'm on OS X 10.11.1 (15B42)

     

    Time Machine is now working hourly, switching between two external drives, one via FireWire, one via USB.

     

    I have no idea really what caused it to start working, although I suspected it was the update to 10.11.1 (15B42) until I saw that others still have the issue.

  • by glaurent,

    glaurent glaurent Nov 4, 2015 10:11 AM in response to John Kitchen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 10:11 AM in response to John Kitchen

    Like others I have a UPS (MGE Pulsar Ellipse) plugged on one of my Mac's USB ports. Unplugging the cable, rebooting, and replugging the cable solved the problem as well. Simply unplugging it didn't seem to be enough.

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Nov 4, 2015 11:07 AM in response to glaurent
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 4, 2015 11:07 AM in response to glaurent

    In a very positive - and extremely quick and efficient - series of exchanges with Apple support, it has been acknowledged that this is a bug, and that it does somehow seem to be connected with the Energy Saver Preference.

     

    The agent who was so helpful in dealing with my 'report' said that he expected a fix to appear shortly.

  • by roncarfl,

    roncarfl roncarfl Nov 4, 2015 11:18 AM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 11:18 AM in response to Mark Sealey

    Thanks for the update, Mark!

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Nov 4, 2015 7:47 PM in response to roncarfl
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 4, 2015 7:47 PM in response to roncarfl

    Welcome!

     

    Just floating this , in case anyone wants to prove me wrong: today, for the first time since upgrading to 10.11.1 last week, TM stared backing up… on sort of scheduled backups.

     

    Though - here's the odd thing - inserting a thumb drive into a USB 3 hub provoked it.

     

    I know; sounds extraordinary. But it's happened each time today.

     

    Anyone else?

  • by Boseon,

    Boseon Boseon Nov 7, 2015 7:32 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2015 7:32 AM in response to Linc Davis

    I am having the problem of automatic starts with Time Machine not working. I also have Backblaze installed. I have noticed the if I manually start Backblaze, Time Machine starts up at the same time, automatically. Just an FYI to add to the mix...

  • by Mark Sealey,

    Mark Sealey Mark Sealey Nov 7, 2015 2:56 PM in response to Mark Sealey
    Level 2 (362 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 7, 2015 2:56 PM in response to Mark Sealey

    I have just read a post by someone on another forum running 10.11.2 beta that the bug appears to have been fixed there.

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