‘Time Machine couldn't back up to "ArcherA20.local"’
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Hi there,
Just set up my new TP-Link AC4000 (Archer A20).
(In case it matters, It is set up as an access point for an EdgeRouter X which is on a 1Gig fiber connection.)
I was easily able to use the TP-Link control panel to add a USB storage drive, enable Time Machine, and designate the correct disk partition for backups ("BackupTM").
In my macOS Time Machine preferences (macOS Catalina) the BackupTM was visible and I was able to add it as a backup disk.
However when I try to actually complete a backup, it says "Looking for backup disk…" for a minute or two, and then says "Backup Failed. Time Machine couldn't back up to "Archer A20.local"."
Clicking the "Details" button on the error message adds "Time Machine couldn't complete the backup. The backup disk image could not be created."
The Archer A20 volume is visible as a device on the network throughout.
Anyone have any insight as to what could be preventing Time Machine from finding the disk to complete the backup, even though it is able to find it to add it as a Time Machine disk in the first place?
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When you mentioned the A20 is set up as an AP, did that involve changing the operation mode to an AP? If so, switch the A20 to router mode and test the back up again.
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Hi Tony Are you saying that TP-Link doesn't work at Time Machine Backup in Access Point mode? One of its two standard modes?! Very disappointing if true.
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wesd wrote
I was easily able to use the TP-Link control panel to add a USB storage drive, enable Time Machine, and designate the correct disk partition for backups ("BackupTM").
In my macOS Time Machine preferences (macOS Catalina) the BackupTM was visible and I was able to add it as a backup disk.
OK, I don't use a Mac, and I have an A20 v1, so I can be off-base here.
As far as I know from 'experience' on some routers, they do not like multi-partitioned external drives. They usually only see the first one. Not sure if this applies here or not? I have only used single partition hard drives in my A20. I did on other routers that had 2 USB ports use 2 different external drives and that allowed 2 drive letters to be assigned.
I'll assume you followed these instructions?
=====================
7. 3. Time Machine
Time Machine backs up all files on your Mac computer to a USB storage device
connected to your router.
1. Visit http://tplinkwifi.net, and log in with your TP-Link ID or the password you set for
the router.
2. Go to Advanced > USB Sharing > Time Machine.
3. Tick the checkbox to enable Time Machine.
4. Click Select to select a location for Time Machine backups. <-- do you see a different drive letter here?
5. Set the Size Limit for Backups.
Note: 0 means no limit for the space.
6. Click Save
======================
Can you create backup folder on the first Primary Partition of the drive and does that work? This would 'prove' you can do it to the drive.
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My original post was to test to see if that was the case. The documentation or FAQs that I have seen don't mention the router needs to be in the routing mode.
The more information that is readily available I can forward which makes finding a solution more efficient.
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Same issue on Archer AX11000. Cannot create backup. Currently partitioned as NTSF, which is the format Ive gotten furthest with. Router can't see APFS and Mac would never even connect to HFS
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What finally fixed it for me was enabling encrypted backups in the Mac's Time Machine options when adding the disk. Without that on, it would fail to create the sparsebundle with a resource busy error in the console for backupd.
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@hyprskwerl This was super helpful — thanks for the suggestion. For anyone checking the thread later, reformatting the drive from scratch (Mac Extended Journaled, as usual for Time Machine) and then adding it to the Archer, enabling Access Authentication and Time Machine on the router, then adding as a Time Machine drive with eyncryption enabled did the trick.
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