Extremely slow Time Machine backup (10.15.3)...

[nebukadnezar2508]

Hi,
I have issues getting an initial backup on Time Machine.

Several attempts have been made using APFS, APFS encrypted, as well as the MacOS FS.
In all cases, the drive is found, properly added to Time Machine for backup.

The amount is ~ 400GB, after ~14 hours only 8GB has been backed up sofar.
This clearly does not makes sense.

I was hoping somebody might have a suggestion how to improve this.
(Note `sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=0` did not help)

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
OSX Catalina 10.15.3
The external USB drive is a WD 5TB drive.

Thanks

 

[CoastalOR]

Your Time Machine drive must be Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. I also recommend using GUID partition type instead of MBR.

Types of disks you can use with Time Machine on Mac

Use Time Machine on your Mac with a Time Capsule and with USB, FireWire, and Thunderbolt disks.

support.apple.com

Time Machine troubleshooting on Mac

If you have trouble backing up your Mac with Time Machine, try these suggestions.

support.apple.com

 

[Jack Neill]

I usually turn off throttling before I run a backup.

sudo sysctl debug.lowpri\_throttle_enabled=0

Maybe try CCC instead? Whats your Mac?

 

[LuisN]

Post deleted

 

[me55]

Are you using some antivirus program?

 

[nebukadnezar2508]

Thanks for the suggestion, but no I do not have antivirus program currently running.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Maybe open the Console app and look for backupd entries. It might give you a clue on the reason why it is stalled.

 

[satcomer]

The way Time Machine works it initial backup of your hole startup drive! Then after that full backup it goes once a hour to only to change files sense the initial backup!

Read the blog post for Time Machine Editor with a note on how to get it work on latest Mac OS!

 

[nebukadnezar2508]

@TazMangus:
Thanks for the suggestion; that got me at least to find the blog, detailing the very similar issues I am seeing, but sadly not with a clear solution...

@satcomer:
Thanks, but I am not sure this is relevant for the issue at hand.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Try this: Stop the Time Machine backup. Boot into safe mode, login to your user account and wait for your Desktop to completely load. Then reboot back to normal mode. Now try the TimeMachine backup again.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

To help determine whether an issue is caused by software that loads as your Mac starts up, you can start up your Mac in safe mode.

support.apple.com

The other thing is if the safe mode does not help then when you do the TimeMachine backup and it seems to be stalled, open Activity Monitor app and look at the CPU percentage of all processes. Maybe there is process running that is interfering with TineMachine. This one is more or less a last resort effort.

And if all else fails give Apple support a call.

 

[nebukadnezar2508]

Ok, well I gave up on the setup with the WD disk for now.
I will revisit this later, but maybe it is a drive-specific issue (even though the drive is brand new).

To at least have a backup available, I managed to get the setup going with a SSD drive.
In the latter case, it does do the expected thing, and is currently backing up at the expected speed.

To be continued. Thanks for all the suggestions sofar.