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Forum Discussion
Migrating TM backup from USB drive to ReadyNAS
I'm a new owner of a ReadyNAS NV+ and what I'm trying to do is move an existing TimeMachine backup from an external drive to the ReadyNAS.
I've searched the forum and seen the page at http://www.readynas.com/?p=1097 where it says how to "migrate an existing Time Machine sparsebundle that was created with the original 15 steps to the new location," and I've also seen the page at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US where it says how to move a TimeMachine backup from one drive to another.
Neither of these methods work - I didn't create the backup originally on a ReadyNAS unit, and when I follow Apple's directions it says that "The volume has wrong the wrong case sensitivity for a backup." I've also tried a method with rsync but it took 10 hours so far to "build file list" on 200GB worth of data [somehow that seems wrong to me - not the 200GB, but the 10 hours to index it] and I had to bail to use that computer for real work somewhere else.
So I'm asking here now - from what I see in the forums through searching people are helpful and knowledgable, a pretty good combination - what do you all think? Have you ever successfully done this WITHOUT resorting to the "build the .sparseimage on the local drive" method. I could do it, but it would require attaching a SECOND external drive, and I'm afraid that would take a VERY LONG TIME. On the other hand, I'd rather not lose my backup.
Thanks in advance
CubsFanRon
PS: I wanted the URLs to be links but I couldn't get that to work here...
I've searched the forum and seen the page at http://www.readynas.com/?p=1097 where it says how to "migrate an existing Time Machine sparsebundle that was created with the original 15 steps to the new location," and I've also seen the page at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US where it says how to move a TimeMachine backup from one drive to another.
Neither of these methods work - I didn't create the backup originally on a ReadyNAS unit, and when I follow Apple's directions it says that "The volume has wrong the wrong case sensitivity for a backup." I've also tried a method with rsync but it took 10 hours so far to "build file list" on 200GB worth of data [somehow that seems wrong to me - not the 200GB, but the 10 hours to index it] and I had to bail to use that computer for real work somewhere else.
So I'm asking here now - from what I see in the forums through searching people are helpful and knowledgable, a pretty good combination - what do you all think? Have you ever successfully done this WITHOUT resorting to the "build the .sparseimage on the local drive" method. I could do it, but it would require attaching a SECOND external drive, and I'm afraid that would take a VERY LONG TIME. On the other hand, I'd rather not lose my backup.
Thanks in advance
CubsFanRon
PS: I wanted the URLs to be links but I couldn't get that to work here...
16 Replies
- So you moved the sparsebundle to the .timemachine location?
What do you see if you run this add-on?: Time Machine Log
Welcome to the forum! - Is it really worth the effort to do this? The much simpler option may be to create a new full TM backup on the NV+ using the built-in support and keep the USB drive as is for now. You can always mount backups in TM from the USB drive should you need it.
- That is a good point. I don't even know if migrating from the USB disk will work, but it'd probably require some shell commands to get ownership and permission correct.
mdgm wrote: it'd probably require some shell commands to get ownership and permission correct.
Why?- Perhaps I don't understand the way permissions work correctly but the sparsebundle on the USB disk is not going to come up as being set to have the user ReadyNAS as the owner (though I guess you could use Advanced Options to change this before moving it to the Time Machine share).
mdgm wrote: So you moved the sparsebundle to the .timemachine location?
I don't see a sparsebundle on the external drive - I only see the drive itself. I was under the impression that there isn't a one on a regular drive, but there is one on a Time Capsule drive.mdgm wrote: What do you see if you run this add-on?:Time Machine Log
I'll do that when I get in front of the ReadyNas again...mdgm wrote: Welcome to the forum!
Thank you.
(PS: WTF - you can use the URL tag but I can't. Is there some magic that I don't yet understand on how to enable that feature?)Perhaps I don't understand the way permissions work correctly but the sparsebundle on the USB disk is not going to come up as being set to have the user ReadyNAS as the owner (though I guess you could use Advanced Options to change this before moving it to the Time Machine share).
Let me clarify:
First, if a restore of a small number of files is needed, you could simply browse the USB disk (attached to the mac) - the TM backup is not encrypted or obfuscated in anyway. It is not stored as a sparsebundle either - that only happens on network volumes like the ReadyNAS or an Apple TimeCapsule
Alternatively, any disk with a TM backup can be accessed through the TM interface as follows:
- Plug in the disk to the mac; Once mounted, Option-Click on the TM icon in the menu bar
- Select the option "Browse Other TM Disks" and then select the USB disk in the dialog that appears
The TM "Hyperspace" interface will then let you browse the backups on that disk and restore from it if needed in the standard manner
There is no need to involve the ReadyNAS in this at any point - so no issues regarding permissions or the ReadyNAS user.CubsFanRon wrote:
I don't see a sparsebundle on the external drive - I only see the drive itself. I was under the impression that there isn't a one on a regular drive, but there is one on a Time Capsule drive.
Ah, then I definitely agree with sphardy it's more trouble than what it's worth trying to move your existing TM backup onto the NAS.CubsFanRon wrote:
you can use the URL tag but I can't. Is there some magic that I don't yet understand on how to enable that feature?
It's disabled for new members due to the occasional spammer. Contribute to the forum and it will be enabled for you automatically given time.sphardy wrote:
Alternatively, any disk with a TM backup can be accessed through the TM interface as follows:
- Plug in the disk to the mac; Once mounted, Option-Click on the TM icon in the menu bar
- Select the option "Browse Other TM Disks" and then select the USB disk in the dialog that appears
Thanks for the reminder. And thanks everyone for all the help and ideas.
It's likely that I'm going to end up with 2 backup drives - the old one and the new one. Over time, the old one becomes less valuable. But I'm a wee bit stubborn, so I'll give one more thing a whirl - I'll do the "create and copy a sparsebundle" method and see if I can persuade it to work that way. If that doesn't work, well, then I guess my wife will have to learn to live with it. (See, it's not even for ME! :wink: At least she's better than my kids - she would plug in the drive, but they are too lazy to even connect their backup drives. That's why I went with the NAS - I can configure it to do the backups "over the air" and they won't have to remember. It would be one thing if they were 10, but my oldest is 24 and the next one is 20, and the older one has already toasted about 5 drives but hasn't learned the lesson yet...)- With that justification - I have to help... :D
Here's the basic procedure that *should* work - you may have done some of these steps already:
1. Enable the TM service on the NV+ in Frontview
2. Configure the mac to backup to the NV+ and allow a backup to start. This will cause the TM to create the required diskimage on the ReadyNAS that we will replace with the data from your USB disk
3. Stop the backup job and ensure your mac is disconnected from the NAS
4. Reconnect over AFP to the NAS with the username "ReadyNAS" and the TM password you setup in step 1
5. You should then have access to a share called "ReadyNAS", in there is a diskimage that will be named after your mac. Double click on that to mount the image
6. Start Disk Utility and then use the Restore function in there to copy the contents of the USB drive to the diskimage you just mounted - this will take a while.
7. Dismount the USB drive and diskimage, disconnect from the NV+, and then launch a TM job. If all went well you hvae an image that is the same as your USB drive and the TM job will add a new incremental backup to it
Good luck - I may have missed some details, but hopefully this is enough to get you going
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