Update: Time Machine Backup to Windows Home Server

[...] UPDATE: I have created a new post with directions that currently work. You can find the new version here. [...]

[...] The good news is that he has documented a easy process to get your Mac Time Machine working with Windows Home Server again, and posted a video as well which you can find here. [...]

Hi,

I get Command exited with non-zero status when dropping mounted drive on top of file

Dean,

Did you make sure to unzip the applescript out? Also which version of OS X are you using? I tested everything with Snow Leopard. I’m not seeing anything in the AppleScript that would cause problems between 10.5 and 10.6 though.

Hi,

Will this permit a bare-metal restore (e.g. using the Snow Leopard install disk utilities to open time machine and restore the entire HDD?)

Thanks

Jonathan,

Yes and No. You can’t just put the install disks in and restore from time machine. Time machine won’t know about the network volume.

What you can do is enter terminal during install and re-enable network support. You wouldn’t be able to use the applescript so you would have to do it manually in terminal.

The other option is to install Snow Leopard completely. Once snow leopard is installed you enable Time Machine over the network. Then open Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder. From there you can restore your files back.

I haven’t tested it but I did open Migration Assistant and it sees my Time Machine backup.

Thanks for that Jeremy, I’ll give it a go then, at the moment I have a separate USB HDD setup and it’s a pain to remember to hook up to it every so often.

excited to try until… I unzipped the script onto desktop and dragged my mounted network volume onto it – it gives me error “hdiutil: create failed – error -5344″ – running SL 10.6.2 on MacPro 1,1, any ideas?

The error is when it’s trying to create the sparse image in your home directory. I would browse to the home directory and see if there is a sparse image in there. If there is check size? If it’s not in the 100s of MB I would delete it and run the applescript again.

If that doesn’t work let me know and I can give you the command to run in terminal to create the sparse image file.

I think I see the problem – I have 2 nics bonded. I manually created the sparse as “hdiutil create -library SPUD -size 1000g -fs “Case-sensitive Journaled HFS+” -type SPARSEBUNDLE -volname “TimeMachine for OZONE” “OZONE_0017f204bf9d.sparsebundle”", put in the TM network folder and started TM. TM tries to create a new sparse called OZONE.sparsebundle and ignores the one I created – it fails trying to create this sparse… I think my nic bonding is the cause of the problem as it can’t decipher the right MAC address… I’d hate to break my bond but I might have to try that – more later…

Let us know. I’m sure most people don’t have a bond but it will be good information to have. I have been trying to solve a completely different issue on a server that has a bonded connection. The MAC address seems to be the culprit.

Jeremy,

Along the lines of your response to Jonathan; I need to update a macBook with a new HDD (more space) and the most recent OS. I have an HP EX470 & so this was the sequence I was considering.
1. Update macbook from tiger to snow leopard
2. Use your method to create a time machine back-up of macbook onto HP EX470
3. Replace existing macBook HDD with new HDD
4. Install Snow Leopard onto new HDD
5. Use (what parts?) of your method to re-establish time machine connection to HP EX470.
6. Restore all applications & files from the earlier time machine back-up.
My concern is related to accidentally overwriting the earlier back-up or the new OS install not recognizing the earlier backup as belonging to it? Any advice?

Jason,

The EX470 has time machine support through HP. HP released the installers for time machine and Amazon s3 backup. It took some looking but the link below will take you to both exe files. So there is no need to do my steps above. The steps above are for people that build their servers.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=1005&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3548165

You shouldn’t have a problem upgrading the macbook to snow leopard. Once upgraded run time machine to your HP EX470. Pull out your old HD and put in the new one and install Snow Leopard. After install, point to your HP to restore your files and applications from time machine. Since you’re pulling out your old HD you shouldn’t have to worry about losing files. If something does go wrong you still have your old HD with all your files on it. Don’t format it until you get everything working on the new drive.

I always enjoy learning how other people employ Windows Home Server. It is a great way to protect your data. However you are still vulnerable to physical disk failures and inadvertent deletions. I am wondering if you can check out a new CloudBerry Backup for Windows Home Server which provides you with another level of protection by copying your data to secure online storage powered by Amazon S3. You can download your copy at http://www.cloudberrylab.com/default.aspx?page=backup-whs

Nadya,
CloudBerry Lab team

[...] Time Machine to WHS [...]

[...] Time Machine to WHS [...]

Thanks for this tip. I am curious how a full restore would work in the event of a hard disk crash. Will the mac see the TM backup on WHS while booting from the install disc?

PS. I see the wife is a cards fan!

Sorry about my question earlier. I see it was asked previously. I am having problems copying the sparse image file to my WHS. It says I do not have the proper rights. I believe this is a known bug in Snow Leopard. I occasionally see it. Also, maybe I am missing it but when do you install iTimeMachine that you downloaded in step 2?

[...] about my update to getting time machine to work with Windows Home Server. You can find that post here. The show is in it’s 69th episode and they share a lot of good [...]

Jeremy,

Sorry for the delay in my attempt and reply.
I was able to upgrade the MacBook to Snow leopard (no problem). I was downloaded both EXE files you linked, created the add-in & installed on the EX470; also created the HP MSS Client.dmg, transferred it to the Mac, ran & installed the “HP Media Smart Server Software” onto the Mac. Supplied the EX470 name & password (no problems). Then a dialog asks for a backup disk size (default 150GB value) with an “APPLY” button. I accept the default value and “apply”, but after “Creating the backup Disk” dialog is about 7% complete, I get a “Backup disk creation failed” dialog with a “make more backup space available on the server then start the backup disk creation again” instruction. My EX470 has 1.9Tb of free space? Do you know where I am to make this adjustment?
Thanks for your reply.

Hey! I also am looking to do this backup method. I am running 10.5 though however I am getting an error when dragging and dropping the mounted drive onto the script. Again, I’m not running snow leopard, just regular leopard. Could this be the problem? and do you have any ideas to get around this? I’m using a PowerPC mac for this as well if that information helps.

I’m also seeing the Error 5344 issue that Mark was reporting, my NICs arent bonded. Not sure what the issue is, looking forward to any help as this solution looks great, if I can get it to work.

Jason,

The default size has to be as big as your Mac HD. 150GB is probably not enough. Plus you will want to keep more than just one backup with Time Machine. If you have the space I would give at least 500 if not more. I don’t have a MediaSmart so I have never walked through the setup process.

Mike,

What error are you getting? That might help with figuring out the problem.

Matt,

The 5344 is error creating the sparse image file. I would try to remove the admin password. Just leave it blank. It could be failing on admin rights. Also make sure that it didn’t create a partial sparse image file in your home directory.

Jeremy,

Thanks for the advice, but I’m not sure which admin password I should leave blank. I’m also on a Mac Pro, 10.6.2, no partial sparse image file. I feel as if I’m missing a step, yet I’ve been over the instructions several times so forgive me.

I’ve logged into WHS as admin and as another user with rights to the backup folder, and tried several things on the osx permission side with no luck.

Matt,

Even though you don’t have the NICs bonded there are still two. The applescript is trying to get the Mac Address automatically to use but since there are two it’s confused and failing. I would try disabling Ethernet two, restart, and then try to run it again. Once everything is setup it should be fine to re-enable ethernet two. I didn’t realize so many people had Mac Pros. I would love to have one at home, especially since I use one at work.

[...] Time machine to Windows Home Server – This post or few posts have been top for awhile now. The latest update is listed as top 15 [...]

Hi

When I try to create the sparse with your applescript, i get this popup window message:

hostname: illegal option –f
usage: hostname [-s] [name-of-host]

appreciate your help here. Thanks!

Thanks for this great post, Jeremy. Following your instructions I was able to start using Time Machine with my WHS in a matter of minutes, and have been backing up successfully for about a week now.

when I drop the share onto the apple script it says hostname: illigal option — f
usage: hostname [-s] [name-of-host]
I have the option to edit or ok.
sorry not sure whats wrong.

Running 10.5.x here and getting the “hostname: illegal option -f” error as well. After fixing that I get a similar error on the “mv” command. While I’m familiar with the command, I got a little lost with all the string cat going on and so didn’t mess with it. Anyone have a working version yet? Thx

Hi, I also have ““hostname: illegal option -f” error as well”.. any idea? Thanks a lot. (I run 10.5.8)

After the initial backup, can future backups be done over the internet remotely?

Hi and thanks for this unique how-to!! I have been trying to get Time Machine backup to work with my WHS for so long now, but this is the first time it works! Perfect result and an easy read!! Thank you!

Greatly appreciate the work done here, Jeremy. My MACs were the only computers left in my network that I have not been backing up to WHS.

Having a problem with my MBP, however. Have followed your instructions and I drag my share to the script and I see it creating the sparse image in my home directory and it grows and grows – getting up to 600+MB and then, boom: the script stops, my mount on the desktop disappears (along with the other shares in the network) and the sparse image file disappears.

Running 10.6.2 networked over Wifi-N. Wondering whether this file is getting to big and choking something?

Hi, I haven’t tried the steps but am curious how do you prevent TimeMachine from filling the entire disk once it is setup since neither TimeMachine nor WHS seemed to have a way to restrict the max backup size.

So, to me it seems the time machine backup folder will keep on growing till it fills my entire storage before it starts deleting older backups.

An update on my problem…

I switched from Wifi-N to Wifi-G and was able to get it to create the sparse image. Then I had a problem copying the image over to the WHS share. I tried switching from N to G and back to N and rebooted the MBPro and still had problems… it would start copying and then it would give me an error.

I rebooted the WHS, reconnected and then I was able to move the image file over to the share and now I am off and running… Time Machine is backing up about 150GB as I type.

Rhettt,
Seems that the script is having trouble getting the mac address of either wireless card or ethernet port. I’m glad you got it to work.

Ron,
Time machine can only grow to whatever your first disk in WHS is. That might be a issue as it could take a lot of space but knowing I have a backup is more important. You can always go into the time machine backup and delete old backups if you are concerned about space.

Steven,
Backups can’t be done off of your home network. With that said it is possible but would create a lot of work setting up a VPN network or mounting the WHS share by IP and setting your router to forward. I won’t be going over those steps. At least not at this time.

If you are running into issues you can always edit the applescript. It seems it is getting stuck on the mac address for network. The applescript tries to find it for you but you can set it manually in the applescript.

Jeremy,

It worked for the first backup, but now when Time Machine runs, it gives an error:
“The backup disk image “/Volumes/RHETTMACPRO-3/XXX.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error 109).”

XXX is just a long string for the name of the sparsebundle file.

The drive/volume is mounted fine – have tried restarting OS/X and still not sure what to do.

[...] =) I will be backing up the machine using a WHS so I'll probably use the script described here: Update: Time Machine Backup to Windows Home Server I'm still looking at covers, but it looks like the Speck Satin covers haven't come out yet, so [...]

[...] My Macs have no problem accessing or writing data do it thanks to Macfuse and NTFS-3G. Thanks to this post at Multimedia-Pc.com I’m able to use the server for Time Machine. My WHS is now my computer [...]

Hi – great how to – thanks.

I have a question… does your script create a limit on the size of the Time Machine backup or will it just keep growing?

Jon

Jon,

It will keep growing as long as you have disk space. If you set it up it’s something you will have to manage. If you get low on space on your WHS go in and delete the oldest monthly backup.

Jeremy i am at a loss i cannot for the life of me get this to work i am getting the same error as a few other,(“hdiutil: create failed – error -5344″)

i am running snow leopard on a new iMac i7 , i have also tried it on my macbook air 1.8 and my macbook pro 17″ 2.8 all running Snow leopard

i am pretty new to the mac world i am not very well versed in editing scrips yet… im not a newbee to cmd on windows so terminal doesnt scare me but as with editing scrips its a bit out of my mac knowledge

could you possibly run me through what u think i should do? maybe personalize it for me? because the general info i have obtained here is just not working and i have no idea why but i have over 21 TB of space sitting on my WHS that would make me very happy to be able to use to back up my mac’s

Configuration

2 iMac i7 2.8, 1TB HD ,16 GB Ram

1 MacBook pro 2.8, 500GB HD, 8GB Ram

1MscBook Ait 1.8, 120GB SSD, 2GB Ram

Custom built WHS i7 Black 3.2,Asus P6t6 WS,8 GB Ram

StorageWDC WD10EACS-00ZJB0 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EACS-00ZJB0 USB Device 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EACS-00ZJB0 USB Device 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EACS-00ZJB0 USB Device 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EADS-00L5B1 932 GB HEALTHY
ST320005 42AS USB Device 1,863 GB HEALTHY
ST3750640AS 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EACS-00ZJB0 USB Device 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EACS-00ZJB0 USB Device 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD20 EADS-00R6B0 USB Device 1,863 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD20 EADS-00R6B0 USB Device 1,863 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10 EADS-00L5B1 932 GB HEALTHY
ST320005 42AS USB Device 1,863 GB HEALTHY
Hitachi HDS721010KLA330 932 GB HEALTHY
Hitachi HDS721010KLA330 932 GB HEALTHY
WDC WD10EACS-00ZJB0 932 GB HEALTHY
Hitachi HDS721010KLA330 932 GB HEALTHY
Hitachi HDS721010KLA330 932 GB HEALTHY

thank you very much for any time help and consideration you can give me in this matter

Enigma,

First of all you have a sweet setup. The error that you are getting is because it is already seeing the sparse image file in the home directory. Check your home directory and make sure it’s not that. The file should be in the 100s of MBs. If it’s there transfer it to your WHS. If it’s there but the file size is only in 100s of kbs, delete it and run the script again.

The script just closes and some people think it didn’t go through. When it closes the sparse image file should be in your home directory.

Let me know what you find.

Hey Jeremy

Thanx the specs are what they are but its more impressive in pictures lol that’s just my mac side of things i have a 7 monitor setup on the windows side of things running

i7 960 3.2
Asus P6T6-ws(6PCI-x Slots)
16GB RAM
2TB WD Green

1 ATI 4870 X2 PCI-X
3 ATI 4850 PCI-X

1 50″ Samsung 9 series (touch of color)
2 30″ Samsung Sync Master
2 27″ Samsung Sync Master
2 21″ Samsung Sync Master

here are some photos

files.me.com/enigmatai/bofw91

files.me.com/enigmatai/bbak3y

ok back to business

i have confirmed that there is nothing in my home directory. just to be sure i opened the directory side by side with the script, upon initiation of the script i see the sparse file start to form in my home directory and then the error comes up, after i cancel the error message the sparse file that was being created disappears???

i have confirmed the above on all machines? what am i doing wrong?