RichKennedy
Level 1
(4 points)
Q: time machine sees backup but will not connect new machine
Just did a MAC to MAC transfer using Thunderbolt cable - all good! Next, I wanted to make sure the new Mac can access the Time Machine backup file on the network file server.
Old MAC - running El Capitan 10.11.3 - full TM backup to Seagate Central Network Drive is successful.
New MAC - running El Capitan 10.11.4 - successful mounting of Time Machine file from Seagate Drive
. Name of new Mac is slightly different due to network collision of hostnames
Various attempts to select the drive appear to succeed but the backup information (Last Backup Date) are not displayed.
Entering Time Machine will show the stacked finders, but it will timeout in about 30 seconds saying it cannot connect to the backup file.
Unix command 'mount' shows the Time Machines mounted via afp: under /Volumes
(From Old Mac -- should be this )
//Rich@SeagateHomeDisk._afpovertcp._tcp.local./SeagateHomeDisk%20TM%20Backup on /Volumes/SeagateHomeDisk TM Backup (afpfs, nobrowse)
(But on new Mac -- mounts like this)
//Rich@10.0.0.2/SeagateHomeDisk%20TM%20Backup on /Volumes/SeagateHomeDisk TM Backup (afpfs, nodev, nosuid, mounted by rickenne)
To check the backup file access I started the old Mac and accessed it fine.
Note, I try not to have both machine up at the same time.
Do I need to clean up the keychain access permissions to the Seagate Server to get the file mounted correctly?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)
Linc Davis
Level 10
(207,926 points)
A third-party network-attached storage device (NAS) or router is unsuitable for use with Time Machine, especially if it's your only backup. I know this isn't what you want to hear. I know that the manufacturer says the device will work with Time Machine, and I also know that it may sometimes seem to work. Except when you try to restore, and find that you can't.
Apple has published a specification for network devices that work with Time Machine. No third-party vendor, as far as I know, meets that specification. They all use the incomplete, obsolete Netatalk implementation of Apple Filing Protocol.
Apple does not endorse any third-party network device for use with Time Machine. See this support article.
If you want network backup, use as the destination either an Apple Time Capsule or an external storage device connected to another Mac or to an 802.11ac AirPort base station. Only the 802.11ac base stations support Time Machine, not any older model.
Otherwise, don't use Time Machine at all. There are other ways to back up, though none of them is anywhere near as efficient or as well integrated with OS X. I don't have a specific recommendation.
If you're determined to keep using the device with Time Machine, your only recourse for any problems that result is to the manufacturer (which will blame Apple, or you, or anyone but itself.)
