OS X Server TM backup, backup as folders?

[jgATL]

I'm contemplating changing my existing server solution to OSX Lion Server. I am using Time Machine across 3 other macs in my home (wireless and wired) and backing up via sparse bundles. However, my cloud backup solution, Crashplan, won't backup a sparsebundle.

Does OS X Lion Server TM backup use a folder structure (backup name > date > contents) when backing up Mac clients? Or does it create a sparse bundle?

Thanks in advance
james-

 

[Foogoofish]

I understand the love of Time Machine from using it at home, but to be completely honest, I really wanted to stay away from it in my most recent business setup. The problem for me is the GUI. It is nice for home use, when things are generally in a logical place, but when it comes to easy access then for me there is no alternative to a Finder window and columns view!

What I am using at the moment is Carbon Copy Cloner. It is by no means the most simple backup solution, but you can do almost anything with it - I haven't run into any limitations...yet!

You can also do complete backups to create bootable drives which is an amazing solution for fail proof working if that is what you need.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, it can all be backed up to one - normal - folder, wherever you like.

Sorry if I missed the point

 

[jgATL]

I installed OS X Lion Server and found out that the time machine does indeed use a sparsebundle for backup (a big disappointment, I expected it to work like a timecapsule and simply expose the backups directory within the sparesbundle). Thanks @foogoofish. I will try cccloner, I have used it numerous times to clone/resize hard drives and it works flawlessly.