Time Machine + Link Aggregation ??

Question

Time Machine + Link Aggregation ??

Hi all

I've been using AFP file Sharing on, OSX server 10.5.x as a Time Machine server, and it's been working fine for the last year.
I was using external firewire drives, software stripped at a Raid 1 level.
Running on a Xserve 2,1 Quad Core 2.8.
Now I'm trying the same thing, but using an Xserve 3,1 QuadCore 2.26.
The big difference, is that I'm using Link Aggregation to connect to my network.
I have 4 ethernet connectors, of wich 3 are Linked as a Bond.
I can't get Time Machine share points to work... 😟

Is anybody experiencing the same issues, is there a work around?

Thanks for any help, and I hope I was clear and that it makes sens.... 🙂

Leigh

Xserve 3,1 2.26 Ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Xsan, DNS, OpenDir, Mobile Users

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 9:57 AM

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Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

54,333 points

Aug 28, 2009 10:07 AM in response to Leigh Hatwell

I can't see there's any correlation between link aggregation and Time Machine not working. I would think it's more likely to be a sharing setup.

Do other sharepoints work? Can clients connect to other shared directories and transfer files?
What happens when someone tries to use Time Machine? Do you get any kind of error message - either on the server or the client?

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Answer 2

Sep 10, 2009 11:04 AM in response to Camelot

Hi, thanks for your reply, and sorry I didn't check in before... :-/

I also found that weired, but evrtything else works just fine.
I'm using AFP, SMB, FTP and NFS and everything is doing great.

I have a second identical server, only difference is that there is no Link aggregation
setup. And Time Machine Sharepoints work fine.

Aswering you question about what happens when someone tries to use Time Machine, the answer is Nothing. They can't even see the Time Machine Sharepoint.

My other Time Machine server propagates it's services with no problems.

Thanks for your help

Kind regards

Leigh

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Answer 3

JLG89

Level 1

104 points

Oct 29, 2009 10:23 AM in response to Leigh Hatwell

Same problem here...running Server 10.5.8 on an Xserve G5, with link aggregation, and clients can't see the Time Machine share.

I'm running 10.5.8 (not Server) on a second identical Xserve, also with link aggregation, and I was able to create a Time Machine share that works just fine.

So, perhaps it's an issue with Server and link aggregation?

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Answer 4

JLG89

Level 1

104 points

Oct 29, 2009 11:37 AM in response to JLG89

More info...neither 10.5.x nor 10.6.x clients can "see" the server's Time Machine share.

If I use the "defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1" trick on a Time Machine client, then the server's Time Machine share does appear; however, I seriously doubt that this would be Apple's recommended workaround.

I've tried disabling the Spotlight indexing and Time Machine function of the share in question, then re-enabling them. Didn't help. I even tried disabling the functions, manually deleting the invisible Time Machine-related files in the shared directory, then re-enabling the options.

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Answer 5

Nov 13, 2009 10:30 AM in response to JLG89

I am also having the same problem. On an OS X Leopard Server with latest updates, when using link aggregation, the clients will not see the Time Machine server. They can mount the share just fine if I do it manually, but it does not show up in the Time Machine preferences and thus won't actually work for the TM backup.

As soon as I remove the link aggregation, it works without a problem.

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