Time Machine on a NFS network

reference: MacBookPro + 10.5.2

so i turned on the TimeMachine app and it came up w/ a blank screen i assume to be populated with a backup location. TimeMachine is not finding anything.

my backup location of choice is a microsoft NFS home network server. this location comes up in finder but not in the TimeMachine.

-can TimeMachine be adjusted to this network location?
-will the app only see a external USB drive?
-will TimeMachine backup everyting on the hard drive including installed applications like Safari but minus the actual os?

thanks everyone!

You have to set up Time Machine in system preferences. If the server shows up in finder than I don't think there should be any problem using it with time machine.

In system preferences>time machine click on options... and you can exclude whatever folders and apps you want. By default it will back up everything, including the os. If something goes wrong with your computer you can restore the whole thing with time machine.

AlyciaAnimation said:

In system preferences>time machine click on options... and you can exclude whatever folders and apps you want. By default it will back up everything, including the os.

Click to expand...

appreciate the reply
in my os there are no such screens... whatever

Well we have the exact same os, so it should be the same. You do not need to click on the time machine app. Under the apple menu click system preferences.

AlyciaAnimation said:

Well we have the exact same os, so it should be the same. You do not need to click on the time machine app. Under the apple menu click system preferences.

Click to expand...

when i goto the sys preferences -> timemachine i get the following screen:


as you can see there is not alot to do here
again i am not using the application but at the system preferences thingy.

I see. The Options.. will be available once you set up you drive.

What format is the drive in? You might have to partition a section as HFS+. I don't have personal experience with a network drive. Maybe someone else will be able to help with that.

Do a search - there are instructions here.

this linky has you enter in the terminal:
defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1

this is all too easy and...

it did not work, must be for another version of osx
my timemachine setup screen was still blank

keep in mind the finder and other applications work well with my NFS network.

jah said:

this is all too easy and... it did not work

Click to expand...

i missed an important step, you are to access the drive in question after you type the text in the terminal secession and before you setup the timemachine preferences.

so i now see ntfs options in the timemachine setup window
but
when i attempt a backup i get the error prompt:
"Time Machine Error, the backup disk image could not be created"

the the timemachine backup dosnt work!
while i can use the Finder to delete or move files to/from the network backup location timemachine cant create an image.

Did you do the step about creating the disk image using Disk Utility? You have to do that manually.

knightlie said:

Did you do the step about creating the disk image using Disk Utility? You have to do that manually.

Click to expand...

no i did not
thats likely my problemo, ill try it when i get home tonight
THANKS!

knightlie said:

Did you do the step about creating the disk image using Disk Utility? You have to do that manually.

Click to expand...

i re read through the posts. unable to find the part to do this third step.
in review of what i have and have done:
-i created a NFS directory on a server inside a local network. it has full read/write premissions. i am able to access this directory via the Finder and have copied deleted files to/from the NFS directory.
-i have mounted the directory (on the macbook) with success. in Termianal i did the "special command string"
-in SysPropteries->TimeMachine i was able to find the NFS directory and designate as the repository destination. then i started a backup and it failed

-i tried to use the DiskUtility thingy, w/o knowing what to expect so need more hints if you guys have the time:
i went to Applications->Utilities->DiskUtility and attempted to do a disk image. dont really know what i am creating here but dont think it could do bad. size 100G, location = the NFS directory. the disk utility came back asking for a source and i pointed it to the drive local to the macbook. it came back "if you are having problems w/ the selected drive..." options at that point = verify permissions, verify drive, etc

sorry need more hints/ thanks