Backing up with Time Machine to network storage using a sparse bundle

Summary

This article will outline the process of sending Time Machine backups to a sparse bundle stored on a CIFS or NFS network storage location.

Environment

macOS
NFS or CIFS storage location

Directions

1. Open Disk Utility. In the menu bar, select Go → Utilities → Disk Utility.app.
2. Select File → New Image → Blank Image...
3. Name the disk image in the "Save As:" and "Name" fields, then change the Image Format to "sparse bundle disk image."
4. Set the Size.
5. Keep the default Format and Partitions, then click the "Save" button at the bottom right of the window.
6. The new sparse bundle will automount. You can unmount it from within Disk Utility.
7. Connect to the network storage share: In the menu bar, select Go → Connect to Server. Enter in the Server Address path, and click the Connect button.
8. Open a terminal window, and use the mv command to move the .sparsebundle file to the share.
9. Double click on the sparse bundle to mount it on the computer in /Volumes/.
10. Run the following command to set the sparse bundle as the Time Machine destination: sudo tmutil setdestination '/Volumes/VOLUME_NAME'
11. You can then turn Time Machine on in System Preferences and confirm that the location is set to the locally mounted sparse bundle.