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User profile for user: dr.joe.dds
dr.joe.dds Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Is there a way to use Time Machine to backup network systems that run Big Sur?

Is there a way to back up my network using Time Machine on systems running Big Sur? I know that a APFS formatted drive creates some issues. I use to be able to use Time Machine to backup multiple systems on a hard drive attached to an Airport Extreme that was in a central location connected to an ethernet switch. Now I have to have a separate hard drive connected to each individual system to back up. I felt more comfortable having a second back up in the central location in case an original backup failed.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Sep 21, 2021 12:27 PM

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User profile for user: Barney-15E
Barney-15E
User level: Level 10
113,172 points

Posted on Sep 21, 2021 4:56 PM

I back up two Big Sur laptops to one drive connected to my M1 Mini.

No issues.

I use to be able to use Time Machine to backup multiple systems on a hard drive attached to an Airport Extreme that was in a central location connected to an ethernet switch.

You can still do that, assuming you still have the AEBS.

Or, you can connect a drive to a desktop Mac and do the same as I noted above.


Direct-connect TM vs Network TM has always been different. No, direct-connect to Big Sure requires it have its own Container on a drive for each Mac. Network backups do not require separated space as each backup creates its own Sparse Bundle Disk Image as it had always done in the past.


If you have a NAS that supports the Time Machine over SMB specification, then you can do as you did with the AirPort Extreme. Since almost all NAS use some version of Samba for SMB, you need one that has Samba version 4.8 or later to support Time Machine over SMB.

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User profile for user: Barney-15E
Barney-15E
User level: Level 10
113,172 points

Sep 21, 2021 4:56 PM in response to dr.joe.dds

I back up two Big Sur laptops to one drive connected to my M1 Mini.

No issues.

I use to be able to use Time Machine to backup multiple systems on a hard drive attached to an Airport Extreme that was in a central location connected to an ethernet switch.

You can still do that, assuming you still have the AEBS.

Or, you can connect a drive to a desktop Mac and do the same as I noted above.


Direct-connect TM vs Network TM has always been different. No, direct-connect to Big Sure requires it have its own Container on a drive for each Mac. Network backups do not require separated space as each backup creates its own Sparse Bundle Disk Image as it had always done in the past.


If you have a NAS that supports the Time Machine over SMB specification, then you can do as you did with the AirPort Extreme. Since almost all NAS use some version of Samba for SMB, you need one that has Samba version 4.8 or later to support Time Machine over SMB.

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User profile for user: dr.joe.dds
dr.joe.dds Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Oct 4, 2021 6:42 PM in response to Barney-15E

I'm sorry it took so long to get my act together. I was able to set up a QNAP NAS to back up my entire house network. The QNAP is a little difficult to set up - it is not very Mac friendly, and I'm not a network specialist. I have roughly 10 TB of space to back up 5 Macs. Thank you for your advice and help. I can sleep better knowing that our systems are backed up. I'm going to set up my AEBS next to create a redundant back up. The only thing I have lacking is a off site back up, but one step at a time.

Thanks again.

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Is there a way to use Time Machine to backup network systems that run Big Sur?

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