A full Time Machine backup over SMB analysed in detail. This reveals that some of the measures reported in the log are likely to be inaccurate and misleading, and gives suggestions for improving performance.
backup
Complete slides analysing the history of Time Machine from first release to backing up to APFS in Big Sur, with detailed diagrams.
Tackles decisions and problems, including whether to use APFS in the backup sparsebundle, AFP or SMB, and configuration.
Can you migrate your old backups from HFS+ to APFS format? What can slow your backups down? Can you still use AFP, and what about restoring the system?
Links to my presentation, and to a selection of useful articles about Time Machine backups to APFS, and more.
From Apple’s basic Backup to your iDisk, through the first version of Time Machine in 2007, to Time Machine to APFS in Big Sur.
Prior to 10.4, Mac OS X used cron, then scheduling became part of the job of launchd. Later Apple added a new subsystem, Duet Activity Scheduler, which continues to evolve.
Intended to be the last version to support macOS 10.12 to 12, and backing up to HFS+ volumes, this contains small improvements particularly for Monterey.
Lists the Standard Exclusions set by the system, explains custom ‘sticky’ exclusions, how iCloud Drive is handled, and oddities with Photos libraries.
Bridging the gap between Undo and backup, its a major productivity feature implemented using a hidden folder at the top level of each volume.
