Timemachine backup over VPN

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Timemachine backup over VPN

I cannot backup over VPN. There are a few threads on this but the solutions presented there does not work for me.

When I launch TimeMachine it lists the timemachine server and says how much disk is available. But when I launch a backup it takes about 30 seconds and then it says "Backup Disk Not Available". This only happens via VPN, when I'm on the same subnet as the timemachine it works fine.

Most threads on this does not specify what type of VPN they are using, but a guess is they use RA-VPN with some sort of client installed locally. This is not my case, I use Site-2-Site VPN from my home router to a VPN terminator at a datacenter where the timemachine also lives. Traffic is SNATed at the DC since the time machine there has another gateway. The time machine is a FreeNAS server.

I can mount the timemachine share via AFP without any problems. It does not solve the backup issue though.

Thoughts?

MacBook Pro 15", 10.13

Posted on Jan 30, 2019 12:25 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 30, 2019 6:34 PM in response to eccevery

Time Machine is not recommended to be used over anything but local networks.. and even local networks have been problematic since Sierra due to increase in security.

Try the following.

Mount the share via AFP using IP address in Finder which you have indicated is possible. I presume you can then see the sparsebundle?

Now in Time Machine.. select the mounted share as new target disk.. TM should be able to accept it as TM available device.. it will say it is going to do a new backup which is fine.. and then ask if you wish to replace the current backup disk.. don't.. select to use both targets.. TM will discover the existing backup and should be able to continue with next incremental.

If it refuses to work.. check the console for the actual log messages.. just search backup. That might give you a hint about the reason for the failure.

If you have never tried Carbon Copy Cloner.. I would recommend it as substitute or ancillary to TM. It is free to use for a month.. is a lot less picky and a much more robust. Use a sparsebundle on the FreeNAS machine.

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Timemachine backup over VPN

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