Bill999

Q: Can external disk added to time capsule be used with time machine?

I have a 2011 Apple Time Capsule with 2 TB of storage, which I use for Time Machine backups. I would like to add storage, or alternately just use a higher capacity hard drive for Time Machine backups. Can I attach a 3 TB external backup drive to the Time Capsule's USB port, for example, and use that for my backups instead of the internal hard drive? Apple says you can't do this with the Airport Extreme, but doesn't say whether it will work with the Time Capsule.

Posted on Feb 9, 2015 1:24 PM

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Q: Can external disk added to time capsule be used with time machine?

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  • by LaPastenague,Helpful

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Feb 9, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Bill999
    Level 9 (52,655 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 9, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Bill999

    Yes, it is fine with the TC.. and is also fine with the latest AE.. but not the earlier models. Albeit many people do run it regardless.

  • by Japib,Helpful

    Japib Japib Feb 9, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Bill999
    Level 4 (2,798 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 9, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Bill999

    "OS X Time Machine supports compatible unencrypted USB disks connected to AirPort Time Capsule (802.11n and 802.11ac), and AirPort Extreme (802.11ac).": Meaning All Time Capsule Support it.

     

    See the topic about Time Machine support for USB disks in this Apple Support document:

    AirPort base stations: About USB disks - Apple Support

     

     

    Time Machine backups are supported via USB hard drive connected to the AirPort Extreme"ac" version.

    Time Machine backups were not supported via USB hard drive connected to earlier versions of the AirPort Extreme.

    Some users who tried this on earlier version AirPort Extremes seemed to have some success with Time Machine backups....some had moderate success and some had no success with this.

  • by davidg.brown,

    davidg.brown davidg.brown Feb 10, 2015 6:37 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 10, 2015 6:37 AM in response to LaPastenague

    Do you have any researches that I can access to accomplish adding an external drive to increase Time Capsule back up memory ? Thanks

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Feb 10, 2015 6:54 AM in response to davidg.brown
    Level 10 (105,203 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 10, 2015 6:54 AM in response to davidg.brown

    Adding an external drive will NOT increase the memory of the Time Capsule drive.  If you add an external drive to the Time Capsule, you will have two hard drives.....a Time Capsule and another drive. These drives will be separate from each other.

  • by Bill999,

    Bill999 Bill999 Feb 10, 2015 7:07 AM in response to davidg.brown
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 10, 2015 7:07 AM in response to davidg.brown

    If you use both the internal drive and an external drive, the Time Machine will alternate drives: OS X Mavericks: Use multiple backup disks  Instead, you could buy a larger external USB drive--preferably with its own power supply--and plug it into the Time Capsule, then designate the external drive only as your backup drive. That way, you'll be all set if you ever want to replace the Time Capsule with a new AirPort Extreme 802.11ac router.