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Using APFS Time Machine Backup with Big Sur

I recently upgraded to Big Sur and was trying to use APFS disks for Time Machine. I want to store other items, too, so I created separate APFS volumes.


First, I created a single volume, with three separate APFS volumes and Time Machine would not recognize the disks.


Then I partitioned the disk into two parts. One part has a separate volume I want to use for Time Machine. Time Machine does not recognize it either.


What am I doing wrong?

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 11.6

Posted on Jan 24, 2022 8:18 AM

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Posted on Jan 24, 2022 1:06 PM

I have had two physical drives formatted in Mac OS Extended (HFS+). Both of those have two partitions: one TimeMachine partition and one partition for files (not TM). They work fine. TM backs up to both of those two partitions that are located on two different drives.


I got a new drive (a third physical drive) and since I am now on Big Sur, I decided to try APFS and store Time Machine on one partition and misc files on the other partition.


At first, I created one 'container' and created two APFS System Volumes (sorry if the terminology is not exactly correct). When I went into Time Machine, I could not find the Volume I wanted to use for TM backup, nor any volume from that drive.


On reading some comments, I figured I might need a partition of a defined size (rather than the APFS volume which can change size. I think?). So I partitioned the hard drive into two APFS 'containers' of a fixed size, each one half the size of the drive. The Time Machine is on the second 'container' since the first container has files I had already backed up to this drive.


Now, suddenly, TM recognizes the second partition. It did not do so earlier today. Go figure.


So I am good to go!




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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 24, 2022 1:06 PM in response to Barney-15E

I have had two physical drives formatted in Mac OS Extended (HFS+). Both of those have two partitions: one TimeMachine partition and one partition for files (not TM). They work fine. TM backs up to both of those two partitions that are located on two different drives.


I got a new drive (a third physical drive) and since I am now on Big Sur, I decided to try APFS and store Time Machine on one partition and misc files on the other partition.


At first, I created one 'container' and created two APFS System Volumes (sorry if the terminology is not exactly correct). When I went into Time Machine, I could not find the Volume I wanted to use for TM backup, nor any volume from that drive.


On reading some comments, I figured I might need a partition of a defined size (rather than the APFS volume which can change size. I think?). So I partitioned the hard drive into two APFS 'containers' of a fixed size, each one half the size of the drive. The Time Machine is on the second 'container' since the first container has files I had already backed up to this drive.


Now, suddenly, TM recognizes the second partition. It did not do so earlier today. Go figure.


So I am good to go!




Jan 24, 2022 9:08 AM in response to Lawrence Hammer

I don't know why Time Machine doesn't recognize the partition. That's how I did it before finding BlueberryLover's post (linked below).


In order to use a Volume for Time Machine, you have to create it using diskutil in the command line. Creating one from the GUI doesn't seem to work. The syntax is:

diskutil ap addvolume <containerReference> APFSX "volName" -role T -quota <sizeSpec> -passphrase "passPhrase" -passphrasehint "hint" 

See BlueberryLover's thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253305876?answerId=256195547022#256195547022


containerReference can be found using,

diskutil ap list 

sizeSpec is in the form, 350g, 1t, etc.

You do not need to specify a quota, passphrase, or hint.

Jan 24, 2022 9:47 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks.


I try to avoid using the command line, but I will try it.


I created the partition using Disk Utility. It works for disks formatted in 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)'. I have two TimeMachine disks, each partitioned in half and those are recognized and work as backups.


But in this disk, I have two separate 'Container's' of a fixed size. The second one is the one I had hoped to use for a TimeMachine backup. That appears on my list of drives, but does not show up as an option in TimeMachine preferences.

Jan 24, 2022 9:59 AM in response to Barney-15E

I think we might be misunderstanding each other.


I have, physically, two drives. I want to partition each one. And use those two drives as a backup. I am not partitioning one drive and expecting to have two TM machines backups on one. I realize that would be silly.


If I take one of my two drives and make it a dedicated TM backup, that would work, but all my TimeMachine backup is on one drive. If that fails, I lose my TM backup.


But what I want to do is take my two physical drives and partition them. That way I have two TM backups. And if one fails, I still have the other. I can do that with the older Mac format. But I have been unable to partition and use the second physical drive partitioned in APFS.

Jan 24, 2022 10:22 AM in response to Lawrence Hammer

But I have been unable to partition and use the second physical drive partitioned in APFS.

I don't know why it is failing. I did the same for one local and one network backup. Maybe it was the fact that I shared out the second and marked it as a Time Machine backup in the Sharing System Preferences.

Which one doesn't work, first or second partition?


I have since converted that drive over to two APFS Volumes based on BlueberryLover's post.

Using APFS Time Machine Backup with Big Sur

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