How can I use the same backup drive at multiple locations via AirPort Extreme / Time Capsule?

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How can I use the same backup drive at multiple locations via AirPort Extreme / Time Capsule?

I have multiple MacBook Pros that I use at multiple locations. Each location has AirPort Extreme WiFi, but the SSID and AirPorts have different names. What do I need to do to use the same USB drive plugged into each location when I'm there without having to create a new base backup at each location?

Do the APEx devices need to be named the same or do I need to move one physical APEx between locations along with the USB drive?

iMac Pro

Posted on Aug 8, 2020 9:15 AM

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Answer 1

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rdulkgdwo Author

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Aug 11, 2020 3:53 AM in response to rdulkgdwo

It turns out Time Machine doesn't really care about the share name, only that the backup sparsebundle is located in the same place on the external drive.

After having several incremental backups completed onto the external drive connected to my Airport Extreme, I took a spare Extreme and set it up as a Time Capsule (transparent bridge mode, no WiFi network) under a different name on the same network. After moving the USB drive over to the newly created Time Capsule, I reassigned the Time Machine disk to the new share on the network and manually started a backup. Time Machine recognized that there were already a backup set there and asked if I should continue to use the existing backup.

Once I said yes, it performed the next incremental backup as I had hoped, without having to perform another full backup.

The only reason it had to perform a full backup when I first moved the drive to the Airport Extreme is that the drive was originally hosted by a Mac Mini, which places the backup sparsebundle in a different location than the Airport Extreme.

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Answer 2

Aug 8, 2020 1:57 PM in response to rdulkgdwo

You cannot create a single base backup. Each Mac identifies the hard disk with UUID number. Plus Apple protects the backup with permissions connected to the root user on the computer. This means each computer cannot use the backup of another computer. All computers will need to backup their entire contents to a suitably sized hard drive.

It sounds like you are more wanting a syncing software.. which means needing a proper App to do that.

https://mac.eltima.com/best-mac-synchronization-software.html

The only one I know on the list is chronosync. It is used by some people as a backup alternative to Time Machine but can do a whole lot more. You will need to spend a fair bit of time configuring it.

The way it will sync to your mobile (sneaker net) USB drive should be fairly easy to do as the URL to the disk is not part of the backup on the disk itself but on the computer.

Note this is super slow.. as a backup device only the AC model Extreme was considered Time Machine enabled. This is relevant to any backup /sync app. But the speed of the backup if you are doing large files will be long and tedious. Especially for syncing purposes.

If you are only having small changes on a daily basis you would be better using Cloud or a proper NAS at one location and syncing each computer over internet.

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Answer 3

rdulkgdwo Author

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Aug 9, 2020 5:46 AM in response to LaPastenague

If the share name used by the local Extreme is all that matters, then the solution would be to name the Extremes that host the USB drive the same at each location. Since the share is created as <Airport Name>.local in the Bonjour world, then the MacBooks will see the same share name and Time Machine should just perform incremental backups, regardless of their location.

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

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Answer 4

Aug 8, 2020 4:06 PM in response to rdulkgdwo

Well ignoring the how of what you want to do..

The hard disk you carry around can be plugged into the local Airport and used for "whatever".

The URL used by the computer is totally independent of the hard disk. The SSID is totally independent of the hard disk. Even the name of the hard disk is irrelevant as it is the share name as used by the local Extreme is all that matters.

So every site can use a completely different configuration with no difference in outcome for "whatever".

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Answer 5

rdulkgdwo Author

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Aug 8, 2020 2:44 PM in response to LaPastenague

I'm not looking to use the same sparsebundle for the multiple Macs. I just want to use a single HDD/SSD connected to an AirPort or TimeCapsule that can be used in multiple locations. I know each Mac needs its own sparsebundle backup. I just don't want to have to create a new complete starting backup for any single computer at each location.

The HDD/SSD will be moved to the location with the MacBook(s). My question is do I have to have the same TimeCapsule name at each location or do I need the exact physical TimeCapsule at each location?

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How can I use the same backup drive at multiple locations via AirPort Extreme / Time Capsule?

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