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What causes TimeMachine backups to fail on NAS devices?

The newest fun part: with the latest update the network connections with enabled Firewall are stable, but if you backup your Mac with TimeMachine to a NAS device, the backup is no longer working. Stops between 200 and 400MB.




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.0

Posted on Oct 4, 2024 4:35 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 6, 2024 4:39 AM

Tl;dr. This tip also worked for me. Thanks!

Waiting fix from Apple.


Details:

I have Synology NAS and use Time Machine service (all device in same local network). It's working fine for years.

After successful update to Sonoma 15.0.1 i received error message:


The backup disk image was ejected or disconnected from your Mac while backing up.


I tried restart my devices. Also I checked wifi connection. All working fine, but backup not work.

After reading comment I just turn off firewall, and backup ended successfully.





90 replies

Oct 7, 2024 5:49 AM in response to matthias260

I've had the same problem too. Time Machine backups started to fail after upgrade to OS 15.0.1. Both on a network attached storage (NAS) device AND on a Mac Mini as backup destination.


On the Mac to be backed up (MacBook Pro M3, source), I went to Settings, then Time Machine, and removed the destination that was failing. But I could not add it again until I did the following.


Backup disks you can use with Time Machine - Apple Support


For backing up that Mac (source) to another Mac computer (destination): I went to Settings on the destination Mac, selected General, File sharing, added the destination device/folder, and then right clicked on the added device/folder, and selected “Share as a Time Machine backup destination,” then clicked OK.


Then on the Mac I wanted to backup from (source), I saw the external Mac destination for doing the backup. Add the new destination, choose to use the same backup device/folder as before, and let it do the next backup.


However, it failed again on the Mini as destination: "The network disk disconnected from your Mac while backing up".


The NAS I'm using is on an AirPort Extreme (old Apple device with USB connection to a 6TB hard drive). It very recently started failing backups too with the same error message as for the Mini as a destination.


Finally, I am running Bitdefender on both the M3 MacBook Pro and M1 Mini, BUT I have disabled its protection for Time Machine backups since that previously interfered with doing backups over the LAN (several years ago now).


I have not disabled the MacOS firewall in network settings on either the MBP or Mini.

Oct 19, 2024 1:35 AM in response to Nick-UK

To be clear, this is a problem with non-Apple firewalls, introduced by new code in 15.0.1. 


It’s not specific to a particular target system for a time machine network backup. 


It doesn’t matter what your target system is, or what your third-party firewall is. If you put 15.0.1 onto a machine that backs up to a target elsewhere on your network, then there is a very high likelihood that it will fail. 


If you turn off the firewall (or open specific ports) there is a very high likelihood that it will work again. 


There is a very high likelihood* that this has been caused by inadequate pre-release testing of 15.0.1. 


If you want to make the strength of your feelings known to Apple, do it here:


Feedback - macOS - Apple


*¿am I repeating myself?


Oct 18, 2024 3:23 PM in response to matthias260

I was having the same problems – TM backups to my Synology NAS failing midway (via samba and afps). I did as people suggested and disabled Lulu and macOS built-in firewall and the backup functionality did work, but I kept testing. I found that after permitting smbd AND Lulu as a process/application in the firewall settings, I was able then able to enable the firewall AND Lulu AND successfully perform a TM backup. I'll see how it stands over time, but I wanted to share in case others would like to try this solution and report back if it works for them, too.


On a separate issue, TM backups tend to fail if you lock the screen. Presumably, Apple's security autocrats decided this was dereliction of duty. The commandants insist we remain handcuffed to us computers during backups. Of course, anyone with an iota of understanding of human nature knows that people will do what is easiest – leave their computers unlocked and insecure. Self-defeating!



Oct 12, 2024 12:06 PM in response to nuclidefuse

So for the second day, after getting TM to work with the FW off, I tried to backup without turning it off. And it failed. I even added the TM app to the rules of FW to accept incoming connections. But that didn't work either, it said the external disc had disconnected. So I turned off FW off again just for TM and it worked perfectly. This is an error introduced by Apple in 15 or 15.0.1. I will have to turn on and off FW just to get TM to work - how annoying.

Oct 12, 2024 12:53 PM in response to matthias260

It appears it is not just TimeMachine backups to SMB shares. VPN's, RDP connections, DNS lookup requests, 3rd party network security products etc.


Suggest everyone uses the feedback tool on their Mac's and report the issue, that is what that tool is for.


Lets us hope an update fixes this quickly, I can imagine quite a few systems will be affected.


Adrian.

What causes TimeMachine backups to fail on NAS devices?

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