Time Machine backup fails over AFP from 10.8 to 10.6

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Level 1

53 points

Time Machine backup fails over AFP from 10.8 to 10.6

I've got a 2009 Mac mini running as a file/media server happily running 10.6, to which I've just hooked up a dedicated USB disk to use for a Time Machine backup for a 2012 MacBook Air running 10.8. I was able to successfully connect to the shared disk on the MBA and achieve a full backup. However today I noticed it had failed to do a second backup and is giving me the "does not support AFP features" error.

Is this because 10.6 is running an older version of AFP than 10.8? If so, why would it work the first time and not the second?

If I upgrade the mini to 10.8, will that fix the issue?

Posted on Dec 7, 2012 6:42 PM

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Answer 1

alkhater

Level 2

208 points

Dec 7, 2012 6:54 PM in response to fastasleep

Here is TM-Trouble shooting link that you might find helpful for this problem and other TM troubles.

http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

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Answer 2

fastasleep Author

Level 1

53 points

Dec 7, 2012 7:24 PM in response to alkhater

Thanks, but I already read that. The answer on the "The network backup disk does not support the required AFP features." page suggests upgrading your NAS's firmware (n/a to me) or to see this kb article http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4700 regarding connecting to older legacy AFP servers — which I'm not having trouble with per se... unless the authentication method problem is what's causing TIme Machine to fail (though again, it did work for an entire backup yesterday, but is not working today).

There's a wealth of discussion on the NAS side of this issue but not specific to crossing OSX versions and shared drives. AFP seems to otherwise work perfectly fine from the mini/10.6 to my MBP/10.8 which I use frequently for file sharing access (but not Time Machine, I use Synk Pro to a local drive instead for this machine).

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Answer 3

alkhater

Level 2

208 points

Dec 7, 2012 7:29 PM in response to fastasleep

If you are getting the above message then there are possibilities that the your 3rd-party NAS does not support the version of OSX your Mac and you will have to contact the manufacturer of the NAS, I have found that Western Digital , LaCie NAS, Iomega do not work well with Lion.

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Answer 4

fastasleep Author

Level 1

53 points

Dec 7, 2012 7:47 PM in response to alkhater

You are missing the part about me not having a NAS, 3rd party or otherwise.

Repeat: NO NAS.

10.8/Time Machine --> AFP --> 10.6/USB

🙂

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Answer 5

alkhater

Level 2

208 points

Dec 7, 2012 8:06 PM in response to fastasleep

There is a long discussion about this here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3982687?start=0&tstart=0

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Answer 6

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Dec 7, 2012 10:03 PM in response to fastasleep

If I upgrade the mini to 10.8, will that fix the issue?

It should, though I can't guarantee that it will. The AFP specification was updated in 10.7.

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Answer 7

fastasleep Author

Level 1

53 points

Dec 7, 2012 10:25 PM in response to alkhater

How at ALL does that discussion answer anything I was talking about. Please stop helping, alkhater. Thanks.

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Answer 8

OCB_1970

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2013 1:34 PM in response to fastasleep

Hi,

I have a very similar problem. When I upgraded my iMac to ML, Time Machine stopped backing up to the external disk attached to my mac mini running 10.5.8.

When I back up via the network from my MBP running 10.6.8,no problem. Prior to ML upgrade on the iMac - no problem.

The error I always get is "The network backup disk does not support the required AFP features.Open Time Machine preferences to select a different backup disk."

Is there something I can do? I don't want to ditch my trusty PowerPC Mac Mini with external disks as my backup solution 😟

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Answer 9

fastasleep Author

Level 1

53 points

Jan 21, 2013 1:38 PM in response to OCB_1970

I was only able to solve it by upgrading my mini from 10.6 to 10.8 (I'm sure 10.7 would've worked as well). Sorry that's not an option for you, not sure if there's anything else you can do. I didn't see any other good solutions on my search.

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