Why does Time Machine wants to start all over all the time?

[mortenjensen]

Hi,
I use a ethernet-connected MyBook Live at work to do time machine backups. At home, I have a regular time capsule. While this one never asks to start all over with a new backup, time machine asks every few weeks to start all over. It says that it has come to the end of this backup and wants to restart. Since an ethernet-connection is rather slow, this process takes several days. A real pain in the ...

Why this difference?
Can it be avoided?

Morten

 

[JTToft]

Because you're using an unsupported (low-end) networked device for your Time Machine. That will give you nothing but headaches.

To the Time Machine software, unsupported networked devices look just like any other hard drive, so it treats it the same. Meaning that when there's a glitch in the network connection (which will happen), the backup will get corrupted and it'll have to start a new one.
Time Capsules, AirPort Extremes, and OS X Server has protocols implemented to prevent this, which is why they work.

 

[mortenjensen]

Thanks,

Unfortunately, it is not possible, I guess, to hook up a time capsule on a large network, is it?

The advantage with the Live Book is that it shows as a network device and does not produce wifi signals. I can password-protect it and so on.

Is it possible to do the same with a time capsule?

And also: is it really not possible to do anything that will stop the Live Book from starting all over every so often?

Morten

 

[JTToft]

Unfortunately, it is not possible, I guess, to hook up a time capsule on a large network, is it?

- I can't see a reason it wouldn't be possible. If you can do it with your My Book...

The advantage with the Live Book is that it shows as a network device and does not produce wifi signals. I can password-protect it and so on.

Is it possible to do the same with a time capsule?

- I'd estimate so, yes. Just disable its Wi-Fi component in AirPort Utility.
Take your home TC to work and test it.

And also: is it really not possible to do anything that will stop the Live Book from starting all over every so often?

- Don't think so, no. Either use a Time Capsule, an AirPort Extreme with an external hard drive connected, or a locally connected external hard drive.

 

[priitv8]

If you refer to this message:
Time Machine completed a verification of your backups on “AirPort Extreme”. To improve reliability, Time Machine must create a new backup for you.
then this means just that your backup is corrupt and failed the fsck test.
As you probably can see from the thread I referred above, I had similar problems with all my AirPort Extremes prior to current 4th gen.
APX 4th Gen, TimeCapsule 4th Gen and OS X Server have yet to fail on me.

 

[steve62388]

And also: is it really not possible to do anything that will stop the Live Book from starting all over every so often?

This helps with my Synology NAS, although I have had fewer problems recently.

http://www.garth.org/archives/2011,...ine-sparsebundle-nas-based-backup-errors.html

 

[ColdCase]

Thanks,

Unfortunately, it is not possible, I guess, to hook up a time capsule on a large network, is it?

The advantage with the Live Book is that it shows as a network device and does not produce wifi signals. I can password-protect it and so on.

Is it possible to do the same with a time capsule?

And also: is it really not possible to do anything that will stop the Live Book from starting all over every so often?

Morten

Short answer is yes, it shows up just like the Live Book. Turn the TC wireless and router off. Some companies won't let wireless capable devices like a TC on their network.

You can also backup to a Mac running the OS Server app ($30). This will turn any Mac into a time machine destination, so if there are any spare macs around at work, for $30 and perhaps a external drive, you have a dependable TC destination.