Josh_nffc
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Split time machine migration over two volumes? Separating OS and user data across SSD & External HDD?

I've recently got a new to me iMac running El Capitan. I've upgraded the internal drive to a 250gb SSD and I'm using the old 1tb as an external drive.

 

I've got an external drive with a time machine backup of my old Macbook pro (running Snow Leopard), which I want to migrate and restore across the two drives.

 

I want to run the OS and apps from the SSD and keep all the user folders and files on the external 1tb drive.
I'd like to keep all my computer and network settings the same, but move them over onto the El Capitan OS. I understand i'll most likely need to re-install some of the apps again, due to compatibility with a later OS.

 

I know this is a common set up and I've found various articles on how to do this, however I've not found a comprehensive walk through when migrating specifically from a time machine back-up, to achieve this set up.

 

If someone could offer any advice or point me in the direction of any articles explaining the whole process, step by step, that would be great.

 

Thanks in advance.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Aug 13, 2016 10:42 PM

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Josh_nffc

Q: Split time machine migration over two volumes? Separating OS and user data across SSD & External HDD?

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  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Aug 13, 2016 10:59 PM in response to Josh_nffc
    Level 5 (5,900 points)
    Mac App Store
    Aug 13, 2016 10:59 PM in response to Josh_nffc

    FWIW, I don't know of any way to use Migration Assistant to achieve what you want.

    Here is a site that has just about any info you may want about Time Machine.

    http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html

  • by Josh_nffc,

    Josh_nffc Josh_nffc Aug 14, 2016 3:54 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2016 3:54 AM in response to dialabrain

    Thanks for the reply & Link.
    That's a great resource for anything TM related, unfortunately it doesn't quite cover the solution I'm looking for.

     

    After some research, I'm planning to take the following steps: for anyone else who may want to achieve the same thing I'm after:


    Step 1. Connect Time machine and use migration assistant to copy the: 'computer & network settings', 'Applications', 'Other files & folders' And the main user folder (but un-selecting all the large document folders such as music & video, as these will go onto the external drive).


    Step 2. Once you've logged back into the restored user account, Re-connect / access Time machine through the finder and find the missing folders, which were unselected in the previous step. Copy these folders onto the external 1tb HD.

     

    Step 3. Using the command terminal, manually re-link all missing folder destinations to the folders on the external drive: Itunes music, photos, videos etc. Following this article here: http://mattgemmell.com/using-os-x-with-an-ssd-plus-hdd-setup/


    Step 4. Re-set up Time Machine keeping the original back-ups, however this time making a seperate backup of the external drive, since this is where the bulk of the documents now sit.


    I'm only half way through this process at the moment; I'll reply if I encounter any stumbling blocks.

     

    Please feel free to suggest any alternatives to my methodology above.

     

    Cheers.

     

     

     

     

     

     


  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Aug 14, 2016 4:19 AM in response to Josh_nffc
    Level 6 (17,201 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 14, 2016 4:19 AM in response to Josh_nffc

    This was the article I followed when I replaced my optical drive with an SSD and kept the internal HDD for storage http://mattgemmell.com/using-os-x-with-an-ssd-plus-hdd-setup/

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Aug 14, 2016 4:34 AM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 5 (5,900 points)
    Mac App Store
    Aug 14, 2016 4:34 AM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Cool. You both have the same article.

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Aug 14, 2016 6:25 AM in response to Josh_nffc
    Level 7 (27,405 points)
    Aug 14, 2016 6:25 AM in response to Josh_nffc

    I ran a similar setup for over a year and while it worked great, I do not recommend it.

     

    One difference in my case, was that both the SSD and HDD were installed in the same computer on SATA connections.

    (which made accessing data on the HDD from the SSD very fast)

     

    The other difference was, that I kept OS X on the HDD, incase I ever had a problem and needed to fall back to one drive.

    (only down side was having to update OS X on both drives)

     

    Another difference was, that I made and kept up-to-date Clones of each Drive instead of using Time Machine.

    (I was cloning well before the invention of TM) (I do not require hourly backups) (TM bricked a couple of external drives)

     

    What I would recommend is,


    Installing a large enough SSD to hold everything.

     

    Or only moving your largest media library like iTunes, Movie and Photos to the External HDD.

    Manage and back up your iTunes media library - Apple Support

    iMovie '11: Copy or move a project to an external hard disk

    iPhoto '11: Move your iPhoto library to a new location

  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Aug 14, 2016 6:48 AM in response to den.thed
    Level 7 (27,405 points)
    Aug 14, 2016 6:48 AM in response to den.thed

    Sorry the last line should read,

     

    Or keeping everything on the External HDD and accessing your media libraries like iTunes, Movie and Photos from there.