Airport Extreme Disk Sharing Errors

I don't see anywhere where Apple says that they do not support it, but they don't mention it at all. However, Time Machine Preferences does not complain when I use an Airdisk, in fact, it has a custom window telling me to insert my Airdisk password.

Also, this forum has a tutorial on how to do it, and their instructions match what I did: http://lowendmac.com/zisman/09az/airdisk-time-machine.html

I have reformatted the disk about 3 times and repartitioned it. When I try to do a repair after the Airport stops working, it reports no problems. Also, I've been doing Time Machine on this for a while now with no issues.

I'll repartition it to 1 partition, but I doubt that will help.

Except for the fact that it worked a couple of months ago and before that. Also, the point of the Time Capsule is to make it simple and sleek, unlike my ugly setup that required us to buy two separate devices (for a better deal in the end). Apple does support Time Machine over AFP, so why not to an Airport?

I see. That's kind of a lame restriction considering it uses AFP like any other computer, but I'll have to deal with it 😐

It was working before, though. I wonder if it would work if I downgrade the firmware? I'll experiment with things.

I've never had my computer able to do Time Machine backups for a very long period of time. I'd say the longest I had it working was a few months, then something happened to my computer that required an OS reinstall (I had a corrupt system somehow for a while).

There are threads on other sites saying that firmware 7.5.2 and OS 10.5.3 worked with Time Machine, but as you said, this could be just an illusion that the firmware has anything to do with it.

Considering the fact that the difference between the time when it worked and the time when it didn't was only the location of the device, the Mac OS version, and the Airport firmware version, it's worth a try.

Thanks for the help, I wouldn't have known about this from just looking at the Airport Extreme specs. Apple didn't mention Time Machine on there.

Well, I think I found a workaround based on what you have on your site, Pondini. This seems fine, but tell me if I made any mistakes.

Connect early 2007 MacBook Pro (10.5.8) to disk with 2 partitions (TM and Scratch) in GUID table, each Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Enable AFP. Connect to MacBook Pro using my iMac and mount "TM" disk. Back up to TM disk with Time Machine to create the sparse bundle. Disconnect disk from MacBook Pro, connect it to AirPort Extreme, then back up to that later. Do you think this kind of AFP setup would work? I'm on gigabit ethernet by the way.

The reason I don't want to do what you suggested on your site, connect the disk to the Mac after one canceled attempt, is because my iMac is not easily or safely portable, and the disk is stuck in a highly bundled entertainment system connected to the Airport.

The idea is that the unstable USB on the Airport will hold long enough to complete a quick backup. It seems to work for around 30 minutes. By then, it should have copied everything besides the first backup. On the first backup, I have to do it without the Airport. Besides, it's really my only choice.

And I do have other backups in the form of clones by Carbon Copy Cloner. They are weekly to prevent a corrupt-then-backup situation, but I wanted Time Machine for more frequent backups at the cost of stability.