Formating a Time Machine disk in a network.

Formating a Time Machine disk in a network.

I am setting up a M1 MBP (OS12.3.1) and have a SSD connected to my MM and want to use this for a TM backup.

Here https://www.macworld.com/article/343680/how-to-format-a-drive-for-networked-time-machine-access.html they state that “An APFS-formatted volume can’t be used for networked Time Machine backups.”

Now I did format it in APFS (was told in the shop that would work) and did not get any error massages.  However sometimes TM, when I enter it, seems unresponsive at times and once I could not get out of it without a forced restart.  As it is a new backup I have only 2 days on it.  I know from the past that if the file contains months and you go back months, it takes a while to respond.  

So, I have 3 questions:

1.     What format should the network SSD ideally be formatted to work with TM?  

2.     Or what does Apple recommend (could so far not find any info from Apple).

3.     Any other tricks or tips I should know to make it work smoothly?

Thanks.