For many users, it’s essential to be able to check the integrity of the data which are in a backup. This feature has changed when backing up to APFS.
Time Machine
How to repair a snapshot with an error when it’s one of your backups on a hard disk? Currently this seems impossible, putting all those backups at risk.
When your backups are stored on hard disks, even though they may use APFS, it’s important to check they’re sound. How to do better than Disk Utility.
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.
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.
How to recover a deleted app or document without having to restore from your Time Machine backup. Simple steps and no use of Terminal.
An exploration of how Time Machine backs up to APFS, using Mints to make log access quick, simple, and easy to understand. And notes on changes in Monterey.
The Eclectic Light Company 