Time Capsule does not recognise external HDD via USB

Question

Level 1

40 points

Time Capsule does not recognise external HDD via USB

My old setup for Time Machine backups:

Mac -> ethernet -> Time Capsule.

It was very slow, but worked well. As the Time Capsule is getting old and the risk of failure is increasing, I decided to use a 2TB HDD plugged into the back of the Time Capsule USB as the backup disk. Still over ethernet.

First time I plugged it in, I could see it in Finder. It was formatted Mac OS Journaled. All good.

Then, to complete the first backup, I plugged the HDD in directly to the Mac Studio USB port. Time Machine recognised it, set it up as APFS volume, and successfully copied all the files across in about 3 hours.

However, now when I return it to the other end of the house and plug it into the Time Capsule USB, it no longer appears in Finder. Something about the Time Machine set up has changed it. I read somewhere that it might be because the old Time Capsule does not recognise APFS-formatted disks, which Time Machine automatically uses when it sets it up for a new backup.

I really want to keep the HDD at the other end of the house, so is there any way to connect it to the ethernet network so that Time Machine can see it?

Time Capsule

Posted on Mar 9, 2024 4:02 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 10, 2024 8:30 AM in response to Jamie Crain

Wow-- I haven't used my Time Capsule in at least a decade! I should look at it, but its 1/2 TB disk is pretty outdated! It was huge at the time.

I also agree that the Time Capsule probably can't recognize APFS. I know that I have Time Machine on a drive formatted in Mac OS Extended Journaled, so you could try that. Use Disk Utility to format the disk (sorry about losing 3 hours of backup! You may be able to Partition the drive so that you don't lose the original files.) Time Machine should accept this as an OK format if the disk is already set up that way.

Let us know-- I may have to try it, myself...

Reply

Answer 2

Jamie Crain Author

Level 1

40 points

Mar 10, 2024 9:29 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Nothing has been working so I tried to trick the system by formatting the HDD in OS Extended while connected to the Mac, then relocating the HDD to the back of the Time Capsule and commencing a first TM backup. I waited until it was off and running (expected to take 20+ hours), then stopped it, retrieved the HDD and plugged it directly into the Mac with the intent of re-starting the backup locally. I was hoping it would start the backup again and run it at normal pace (3 hours).

Nope. Time Machine doesn't recognise the HDD when it is connected locally, it continues to search for it at the end of the network and so can't find it.

So it looks like my choice is:

1) Keep the disk local via USB and let TM format it as APFS and do the usual TM backups, or

2) Return the HDD to the back of the TC at the end of the ethernet, format it Mac OS Extended and let it run slowly over ethernet.

Any other options?

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 11, 2024 1:36 PM in response to Jamie Crain

I think I'd pick option 2 if you like it with the Time Capsule. It will take a long time for the first copy, but after that it does incremental backups which are much faster. You just leave it on overnight-- should be through in the morning.

You know, this is really old technology, and you're having to sacrifice to keep using it. Even 3 years is old in computer years.

Reply

Answer 4

Jamie Crain Author

Level 1

40 points

Mar 12, 2024 12:24 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

I think maybe I'll do both.

I think TM allows multiple backup schedules and while I'd prefer the TC option (2), I just don't fully trust it given it's now 10 years old.

Reply