Rorec9

Q: does my time capsule have to be connected with a cable for backups, after initial setup?

does my time capsule have to be connected with a cable for backups, after initial setup?

Posted on Jul 25, 2016 3:17 PM

Close

Q: does my time capsule have to be connected with a cable for backups, after initial setup?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Jul 25, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Rorec9
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 25, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Rorec9

    If you mean do you have to keep your Mac connected to a Time Capsule via Ethernet for future backups, then the answer is no. Time Machine and the Time Capsule were designed to work over wireless so your Mac would just need to be connected to the Wi-Fi network provided by the Time Capsule.

  • by Rorec9,

    Rorec9 Rorec9 Jul 25, 2016 3:32 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 25, 2016 3:32 PM in response to Tesserax

    Thank you. I have a router for my internet, but the time capsule is not connected to it. Do I have hard wire connect my time machine to the wireless router?

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Jul 25, 2016 3:47 PM in response to Rorec9
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    Jul 25, 2016 3:47 PM in response to Rorec9

    The key is that your Mac and the Time Capsule (TC) have to be on the same network in order for Time Machine to be able to back up to the TC.

     

    Since the router that is providing a wireless network is not another Apple product, there are still a few ways you can go about this, but it will require that you connect the TC to this other wireless router by Ethernet:

    1. Reconfigure both the wireless router and the TC into a roaming network. When properly set up, wireless clients will just see a single Wi-Fi network to connect to. You can then connect your Mac to this network for Time Machine backups to the TC. The only issue with this approach is that the TC should not be in the same room as the other router as this would cause Wi-Fi interference between them.
    2. With the TC connected by Ethernet to the other router, reconfigure the TC as a bridge and disable its wireless radios. In this configuration, only other router will continue to provide the Wi-Fi network for your Mac to connect to, but since the TC is connected to this router by Ethernet it will be on the same network subnet. Your Mac can still use it for Time Machine backups. In this set up, the TC can be in the same room as the other router.