3

I moved to using an external disk (a Drobo) on 1 machine as a Time Machine backup for all of my machines. I've got 2 of the machines backing up perfectly, but the problem is with the machine that the drive is connected to.

When I start the backup of the directly connected machine, Time Machine creates the folder structure /Backups.backupdb/[computer name]/ instead of just creating another sparsebundle file.

Should I care? If yes, then how do I make Time Machine create a sparsebundle?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

The sparsebundle is how Time Machine backs up using the network method. The Backups.backupdb method is how it backs up when the drive is hooked up locally therefore you can't make it create a sparse bundle if its connected locally because that's the way time machine works. If you want it to make a sparse bundle you have to backup through a network. It should not make a difference to you since you'll be accessing it through time machine without having to worry about files etc.

Improve this answer
11
  • This is what I thought, but how do I get the machine that's connected directly (FireWire atm) to create a .sparsebundle file?
    – Darryl Hein
    Jul 29, 2011 at 4:25
  • It is supposed to create it on its own when you first backup our machine on that particular disk
    – Samantha Catania
    Jul 29, 2011 at 5:11
  • Okay...so, now that it isn't, where should I look?
    – Darryl Hein
    Jul 29, 2011 at 7:06
  • make sure you don't have machines with same name, it should be in the device you selected to make the backup to.
    – Samantha Catania
    Jul 29, 2011 at 7:15
  • 1
    You can't make it create a sparse bundle if its connected locally because that's the way time machine works. If you want it to make a sparse bundle you have to backup through a network. It should not make a difference to you since you'll be accessing it through time machine without having to worry about files etc.
    – Samantha Catania
    Jul 29, 2011 at 8:12

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .