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Products => Solved Storage Threads => : edp March 28, 2009, 08:54:27 PM

: Why can't we set the USB device as the target/destination for the time machine option?
: edp March 28, 2009, 08:54:27 PM

   it's a shared folder, and I'd prefer to not have an open ended use of the raid array for the time machine use.  An alternate to this would be to allow folder quotas.  Without either of these options Time Machine will suck up every single usable byte.

: Re: Why can't we set the USB device as the target/destination for the time machine option?
: Dustrega March 30, 2009, 01:06:12 PM

You are correct in your assertion. Try this site:

 

In this solution when creating a sparsebundle you'll need to specify a file size so when entering in the information in your console you'll need to enter this:

 

hdiutil create -fs HFS+J -size [Size_in_GB]g -volname "Backup of [Your_Computer_Name]" [Your_Computer_Name]_[Your_ethernet_MAC_Address].sparsebundle

 

The following is the legend for variables in that command line DO NOT ENTER IT IN CONSOLE:

 

[Size_in_GB] = Limit of sparsebundle created in GB

 

[Your_Computer_Name] = Found by clicking on the Gray Apple (dependent on your OS version) and going to "About This Mac"->More Info... (The computer name should be in the title bar)

 

[Your_ethernet_MAC_Address] = Found by going into System Preferences->Network->Ethernet controller->Advanced...->Ethernet (Make sure you use your LAN not your WLAN address)

 

The sparsebundle will be created on your Desktop or User folder at which point you should copy it to the area on your NAS you wish to use for Time Machine.

: Re: Why can't we set the USB device as the target/destination for the time machine option?
: edp March 30, 2009, 02:55:36 PM

   The problem with this is the size of the bundle is limited by what I can create locally. I would rather simply be able to select the USB folder on the time machine setup which is more sensical.

: Re: Why can't we set the USB device as the target/destination for the time machine option?
: Dustrega March 30, 2009, 03:24:22 PM

Not when you specify the size. This is just a flag to let Time Machine know "I've reached my maximum allowed disk space...please delete old files" The sparsebundle itself is not going to be 250GB if that's what you're specifying.

: Re: Why can't we set the USB device as the target/destination for the time machine option?
: edp March 30, 2009, 03:34:02 PM

   Ah that would work then. Thank you for the tip.