In this Instructable you will learn how to backup a mac to a Windows Home Server box or any other SAMBA share.

You will need:

Windows Home Server (Or an SMB network share) with free space as big as your mac's HDD used space

Apple computer running 10.4 or 10.5

Network Connection between the two

I have not tried this with 10.4 Tiger, but i know its much easier than Leopard.

Step 1: Enable SAMBA Backup on the Mac

In this step you will enable your Mac to backup to SAMBA shares

Step 1: Open Terminal

Step 2: Type the command:

"sudo defaults write com.apple.systempreferences TMShowUnsupportedNetworkVolumes 1"

with no quotes. Then type in your password.

You have enabled Time Machine SAMBA backup.

Goto Step 2 for Leopard, or skip step 2 if you have Tiger

Step 2: Create the Backup Image (Leopard Only)

Step 1: Open Disk Uitility

Step 2: goto File => New> => Blank DIsk Image...

Step 3: A Box will pop up. Fill it out with the following information

Replace #ComputerName# with your computer's full name with all Symbols and correct Capitalization (ex: Steve Job's Macbook)

Replace #MACAddress# with your computer's mac address, making sure that all letters are lowercase

Save As: #ComputerName#_#MACAddress#.sparsebundle

Location: Desktop

Volume Name: Backup of #ComputerName#

Volume Size: The maximum size you want the Mac Backup to ever get

Volume Format: Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled)

Encryption: none

Partitions: No partition map

Image Format: sparse bundle disk image

Step 4: Hit "Create"

Step 5: When it is done creating, copy the ".sparsebundle" file on your desktop to the root of the target SMB share

Move onto Step 3 =>

Step 3: Backing Up

In this step you will set up your Mac to backup to the SAMBA share

Step 1: Make sure the target SMB share is mounted on your Mac

Step 2: Open System Preferences and go to the Time Machine section

Step 3: Select "Change Disk..." and then select your SAMBA Share

Step 4: When your computer starts the initial backup (in about 5 mins. of you changing the disk) it will take a while, so let it sit overnight. every backup after that will be seamless and under 5 mins long, without you even noticing its backing up.

Enjoy!