I'm new to Leopard and Time Machine. Is it possible to set Time Machine to update less frequently than every hour? I'm working in an environment with multiple Adobe apps open at any given time, and I've noticed TM activity affecting my work (response slowdowns). It would be nice to be able to choose how often the iMac gets backed up. Right now, I'm running TM manually.
None that I know of. I suspect that your approach of turning it off and then on when you want a backup is the only way to do what you wish.
Another backup strategy is to make periodic bootable clones on an external HD. I use SuperDuper ($28 at www.shirt-pocket.com). I use both approaches (overkill probably).
Just a note. I am sure that the process that VK suggests does what it purports to do. I recommend, however, that people avoid (like the plague) anything non-Apple that changes Apple's operating system software. That is an opinion, but I have
NEVER had serious problems for many years. These forums are replete with stories of how add-ons or haxies or +"small changes"+ have caused grief.
Barry
Note to VK - This is not a personal criticism. I am raising the point that changes like this (even simple ones) work - until the next software update.
Barry,
the ability to control TM backups intervals is built into the system. It's controlled by one entry in the plist com.apple.backupd-auto.plist. You can change it by a simple *defaults write* command. they just didn't provide a GUI way to do it.
This particular program doesn't install anything and doesn't change anything in the system. It's simply a GUI wrapper for that defaults command. I consider it perfectly harmless.
Barry - this isn't a 'haxie', and is perfectly safe. All that little app does is change to something else the interval that Apple has already set as "60 minutes". Haxies and system 'tweaks' are more typically things that tweak the Menu Bar or Dock. You advise to be cautious is of course sensible, but too much caution can deprive one of some major workflow advantages.
Why don't you turn OFF the TM auto back-up switch and select Backup Now from the Time Machine option in the menu bar after any session that generates documents you don't want to lose? When I taught students to use the computer, it was very easy to get them to Save frequently after they suffered a loss due to a power failure.
It is possible to easily change the interval via the Terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app)
Enter this code (where nnnn is your desired interval, in seconds)
sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto StartInterval -int nnnn
You will be prompted for a password. Enter your password, hit return, and restart time machine (just turn it on and off). That should do it.
To reset it, do that command using the number 3600.