Backup of sparse image or sparse bundle image to TC

Question

Level 2

208 points

Backup of sparse image or sparse bundle image to TC

Apple's knowledge base article HT1198 ( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198) on sharing iphoto libraries among multiple users on the same Macintosh describes using a _sparse disk image_ in the /users/Shared/ directory. For a Mac that uses a *Time Capsule* for Time Machine backups won't this require the entire iPhoto library to be backed up anytime a picture is added or modified?

Would using a _sparse bundle disk image_ instead work better?

Also, HT1198 doesn't say anything about "Partitions" parameter setting in Disk Utility when creating a blank sparse image or sparse bundle disk image. Does it matter what setting is selected if the image is being kept on the Mac internal disk drive?

iMac 24" (Aluminum);iPod Touch 2G;Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.5.6), XP Pro via Fusion

Posted on Apr 10, 2009 4:02 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

V.K.

Level 9

56,174 points

Apr 10, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Larry Nolan

Larry Nolan wrote:
Apple's knowledge base article HT1198 ( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198) on sharing iphoto libraries among multiple users on the same Macintosh describes using a _sparse disk image_ in the /users/Shared/ directory. For a Mac that uses a *Time Capsule* for Time Machine backups won't this require the entire iPhoto library to be backed up anytime a picture is added or modified?

Would using a _sparse bundle disk image_ instead work better?

yes, it would work much better because a sparse bundle is split in a number of small bands (8MB each) and only the changed bands would be backed up afresh after changes to the iphoto library are made.

Also, HT1198 doesn't say anything about "Partitions" parameter setting in Disk Utility when creating a blank sparse image or sparse bundle disk image. Does it matter what setting is selected if the image is being kept on the Mac internal disk drive?

no, it doesn't matter.

another option to share the iphoto library which is not mentioned in that KB article is to put it in a folder in /Users/Shared/ and put inherited ACLs on that folder. see this link for details
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8863687&#8863687

Reply

Answer 2

Larry Nolan Author

Level 2

208 points

Apr 13, 2009 5:50 PM in response to Larry Nolan

thanks for confirmation of my understanding of sparse bundle disk images

Reply

Answer 3

May 15, 2009 3:29 AM in response to Larry Nolan

Hi Larry,

I found this shortly after realising that Time Machine was backing up the entire library (on a sparse disk image as per the KB article) after minor changes to the library.

Have you set yours up using a sparse bundle instead? If so, please let me know how you got on. I'm going to give this a try at some point – my brand new 1TB drive is nearly full after only a few weeks!

Thanks in advance.

James

Reply