Time Machine: Macbook can't find external network hdd

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Time Machine: Macbook can't find external network hdd

Hi,

I'm want to backup BOTH my Macbook Pro (Retina) and my Mac Mini (Late 2012) to an external hard drive (Western Digital My Passport) USB-connected to the Mac Mini.

Alas, this doesn't work. I can't figure out why. The Mac mini finds the disk with no problems and can backup to it via Time Machine. But when I open Time Machine on the Macbook Pro, it can only backup to the Mac Mini. That's the only location it finds; it can't find the external disk.

I've enabled file sharing and shared the external disk, and set it to be available for guests to read/write. I've even bought OS X Server and used the same configuration there (although it seems to sync it from the Mountain Lion config anyway). Still nothing, the macbook can't find the external disk, only the Mac mini itself.

What could be the problem? All guides I find is about backing up to the Mac Mini over wifi. I don't want the backups on the Mini, but on the external disk connected to it.

Thanks!

Posted on Apr 16, 2013 1:04 AM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

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Apr 16, 2013 6:38 AM in response to danielwerner

Do you see the external drive as a network volume in the Finder on the MBP?

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Answer 2

danielwerner Author

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Apr 16, 2013 6:45 AM in response to Linc Davis

Nope, but I see the Mac Mini as a network volume. And from it I can access the external drive (and everything else on the Mini).

So I can only see the "first step" (the Mini) but not the second (the external drive). And from Time Machine I can't specify where to save my backups, OS X will create that automatically.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Apr 16, 2013 7:55 AM in response to danielwerner

Is the external drive listed as an AFP sharepoint in the Server application on the mini? Is it listed as a backup destination for the Time Machine service?

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