Using FreeNAS AFP as Time Machine Server backup destination

[Vinxi]

Hi everybody,

I need your help and I'm sorry for my english.

I have a Mac Mini as a Time Machine/File sharing server and a relatively old PC with 3 HDDs inside.

Before buying an external enclosure for those HDDs I was trying to understand if I can reuse the "old" PC to serve its drives to the Mac Mini.

I was thinking about a FreeNAS + iSCSI since I could use the HDDs as "local drives" and format them as HFS+, but its support on Mac Os X isn't free. So I thought about sharing folders through FreeNAS + AFP but I don't know if they can be a reliable destination for the Time Machine Server.

What do you think?
Thanks!

 

[Weaselboy]

http://netatalk.sourceforge.net

I have not done it myself, but I have read forum posts here from others using Netatalk AFP under Linux to successfully do networked Time Machine backups.

 

[Vinxi]

Hi Weaselboy,

thanks for your answer. I know about Netatalk but I already use the Mac Mini as a (official) Time Machine Server and I'd like to keep it that official way.

I would use the "old" PC only to share its HDDs with the Mac Mini expanding its storage, it's like a NAS vs DAS

 

[Mago]

1st iScsi is the right way.
2 AFP don't enable timecapsule (that's why netatalk exist).
3. If you really want your time machine available and reliable, get an Thunderbolt enclosure for your disks, sure is cheaper (enclosure + raid 5 software) than iScsi + Nas

 

[ColdCase]

I'd skip the RAID5 software, but a 4 bay TB enclosure for your drives is the better approach.

 

[Vinxi]

Thank you guys.

Do you know how I can transform my case/motherboard/CPU/PSU in a DAS? I'd like to reuse it before buying an external enclosure.

Thanks!