Q: External backup disk drops out regularly
Hello
I am using a networked and wifi Time Capsule to backup 4 separate home computers. Some connect to the internal TC drive, some to an external 4 TB drive connected by USB to the TC. Once the drives have been chosen through the Time Machine preferences panel, everything works fine. I have exactly the same setup for our office machines.
Here is the problem: after a while, Time Machine stops finding the external disk. You can still mount it via the Finder, but TM just won't be able to access it, just as if it had been unmounted. Previous discussions with Apple have revealed that the power side of the Time Capsule may be a bit lightweight to drive an external drive continuously. As a result, I have replaced the external drives by powered 3.5 inch units. The result is much better stability, but I still have the issue that every couple of weeks the problem will reoccur. The only cure is to physically pull the power chord on the TC and to restart it. After that you're safe for a while...
Any suggestions/fixes/prevention steps?
PS: the TC is an old model (1TB square model) but works well. Same thing in the office.
Posted on Dec 7, 2015 1:40 AM
- So a Synology NAS, eh? Would be nice to add a 1U unit and then forget about it. I have a few obsolete 2.5 inch SATA drives lying around. Would this work or does it need 3.5 inchers? As you say I could start small then add more...
I would buy decent quality new drives.. HGST, Toshiba, WD Reds..
The 2.5" drives are too small.. you can fit them with adapters but don't bother... buy 4TB 3.5" as that is still the sweet point $$/GB but some of the bigger drives are becoming competitive. And buy NAS drives or even enterprise level drives.. longer warranty and better reliability.
Use the 2.5" drives (with a USB to sata cable.. about $5 on ebay) to do bootable clones.. No power supply is needed.. all the macs I have are able to charge phones on USB so have plenty of power on the USB..
- However, the apps and prefs are a pain to restore so if a machine goes dead or is stolen, it's nice to have a Time Machine backup
Even nicer to have a bootable clone.. as I said, if you have never tried it give it a go.. it is really something to boot a machine straight off the backup.
I hope you've seen Luc Besson's Atlantis. The best scene is here (just a teaser I'm afraid):
No.. looks like a Manta Ray.. but thanks for the clip.. Where I live (Melbourne Australia) we have a bay full of stingrays and I have seen them 2M across under a pier gobbling up guts from people cleaning fish.. They are actually fairly tame.. but the sting is still in the tail.
Posted on Dec 7, 2015 2:42 PM
