AirPort Extreeme + ext USB hardrive = timemachine backup ?

Take a look at this KB article from apple

I believe the non-pancake version of Airport Extreme base station may work, but in other cases it won't.

I'd look to get a TimeCapsule (hard drive built in), or use an external disk connected to the Mac via USB.

jespervang said:

Hi,

I have a simple question ( I hope ) : If I buy an Airport extreme (or Express for that matter), can I add an external harddrive, that I use as Time machine backup, via the usb port, and will it work as wireless automated time machine backup still ?

Since the Airport extreme only have one usb port, can I add both the external hardrive and a printer, via an usb hub, and get both wireless print, and automated backup ?

Thanks

Click to expand...

As mentioned earlier, only the newer tower style Extremes and Time Capsules support USB hard drives as Time Machine volumes. Earlier Extremes and Time Capsules only support USB hard drive support as a volume and not a Time Machine drive. You may use a powered USB hub to hook the printer and hard drive to the USB port on the Extreme. The Express lacks support for USB hard drive sharing all together.

jespervang said:

Hi,

I have a simple question ( I hope ) : If I buy an Airport extreme (or Express for that matter), can I add an external harddrive, that I use as Time machine backup, via the usb port, and will it work as wireless automated time machine backup still ?

Thanks

Click to expand...

I have the newest Apple Express and I can not connect an external HD to it.

tibas92013 said:

I have the newest Apple Express and I can not connect an external HD to it.

Click to expand...

The USB port on the Express is used solely for printer sharing.

jespervang said:

Hi,

I have a simple question ( I hope ) : If I buy an Airport extreme (or Express for that matter), can I add an external harddrive, that I use as Time machine backup, via the usb port, and will it work as wireless automated time machine backup still ?

Since the Airport extreme only have one usb port, can I add both the external hardrive and a printer, via an usb hub, and get both wireless print, and automated backup ?

Thanks

Click to expand...

To the first question yes. I have a USB enclosure connected to the Airport Extreme and I use it for Time Machine backups through wireless.

Second not sure, never tried.

jespervang said:

Thanks for all the answers; one question I may have missed. Can I use a portable external hd, one that is normally powered by the computer, for use as backup via usb -> aiport extreme ?



Thanks

Click to expand...

Most likely yes. I have done it but some have issues with it.

Altemose said:

As mentioned earlier, only the newer tower style Extremes and Time Capsules support USB hard drives as Time Machine volumes. Earlier Extremes and Time Capsules only support USB hard drive support as a volume and not a Time Machine drive.

Click to expand...

When did this misconception become so widespread? I've been doing Time Machine backups to a USB HDD attached to a 2009 dual-band AirPort Extreme since, well, 2009!

killmoms said:

When did this misconception become so widespread? I've been doing Time Machine backups to a USB HDD attached to a 2009 dual-band AirPort Extreme since, well, 2009!

Click to expand...

It was not a supported feature and therefore it is buggy. Some say it works great and others say it requires workarounds. When I have to use workarounds with my backup solution I look for a different solution.

Altemose said:

It was not a supported feature and therefore it is buggy. Some say it works great and others say it requires workarounds.

Click to expand...

Although not officially supported, TM backup has yet to fail on me on 4th Gen Extreme (2009) as well.
I used to have constant problems with AP Extreme 1st and 2nd Gen basestations, since Lion came around.
Therefore I have the opinion, that 4th Gen firmware (probably also the HW spec) is on par with the TimeCapsule.
I am using this config purely out of curiosity, I have 2 more instances of my TM backup, should the things really become rough

backup to external hdd works fine via time machine

It's when you try to restore from the networked hdd that often doesn't work

Donfor39 said:

It's when you try to restore from the networked hdd that often doesn't work

Click to expand...

You may be correct. I've never specifically selected the target (out of my 3), just the latest backup, to restore.
Then again, I could:
1) verify the backups (always failed with previous AEB-s)
2) if verify passes, connect the drive to TC or Mini

Yeah, the extreme base stations and Time Capsules support external drives, its the time machine support that gets tricky. All the current generation are TM approved, however.

In previous generations, the Time Capsule firmware dealt with drives much better than the AEBS counterparts, especially multiple ones. For example, when using green type drives, all but one had a tendency to disappear from the network until the AEBS is restarted. Didn't seem to bother a Time Capsule, however.

I've been using it for years. 3rd gen, 5th gen most recently. never had an issue backing up or restoring, except i usually prevent my mac from sleeping before a restore.