Backup OSX server using Time Machine

I think you need to choose eat drive the server uses or something like that...

How would one go and restore from a TM that is on a server, lets say when you boot from install media?

Time Machine works against a drive/partition, and is not designed to use a "folder" specified by the user. This is why you are seeing the drive only in the available locations list.

What you need to do is create a partition of your media drive to be used for time machine. OR - add another external drive to your server for this purpose - OR - use a time capsule server, (3 options, published from a MacOSX server, an actual time machine device, or a drive connected to an airport extreme)

Time machine is working great on my system.

My Setup
OS Mini Server with 6 External HDs. One #Tb HD is dedicated as a time machine drive. That drive backs up 2 MacBooks pro and the server. All working flawlessly.

I think the key is having a drive (or partition) dedicated to time machine.

keeper said:

Its interesting that another mac will work to a folder specified on an external drive, but the actual server mac won't....

Click to expand...

That has not been my experience for macs at any time. They have always created their own backup folders at the root of the device specified for time machine.

i just ran into the same issue as the op. i just picked up a mac mini yesterday for htpc duties (via plex) and then a few programs/services to run in the background. i went ahead and purchased osx server, mainly for the time machine functionality. i was able to set that up and backup my macbook air with no problems to a folder i designated on the internal drive of the mini. however, i was surprised to see that i couldn't backup the mini to its own internal hdd. i though i could do this on my mba, but perhaps i'm getting my os's mixed up and thinking of windows backup service. either way, kinda bummed, but then i'll probably just get a few usb drives and designate one for time machine as a previous poster mentioned. all in all though, i'm superbly happy with the mac ecosystem which i've recently adopted. no more windows for me if i can help it.