Time Capsule Questions

Tsac77 wrote:

I am considering getting a Time Capsule to do both Time Machine back-ups and to use as a NAS drive for multiple computers. Before I buy, I have a few questions that I've been seeing different answers on, so I figured I'd ask them all here in one thread and see what you experts have to say. 😉

1) Am I able to back-up data from a Mac and a PC on the same Time Capsule at the same time? (Mac via Time Machine, PC via some PC back-up program)

Yes, you can!!

But you can do that on any NAS with time machine extensions not just a TC.

At the same time btw means it will run at half the speed.

2) Am I able to use that same Time Capsule as a NAS for storing/accessing files from both the Mac and the PC?

3) Will the above things work if the PC is running the Windows 7 OS? I've been reading weird things about that.

Yes, and Yes.. although win7 might take a certain amount of setting up it does work.

Having said that.. TC is not a NAS. It is a sealed device unserviceable by Apple.. no fix available for dead power supplies or dead drives.. plus no backup internally .. it is a backup destination for files on the computer not a NAS. Using it as such will one day cause you a moment of extreme heart puplitations as your 2TB or 3TB of data is rendered useless. (mostly by Apple's desire to look nice and have zero cooling).

4) If I expand the Time Capsule with a USB connected hard drive does it expand Time Machine storage area or just add additional NAS storage? Will any brand USB hard drives work? Is a USB powered hub necessary as a go-between or can I hust use a self-powered USB drive?

It will add storage as a separate drive. And will go as fast as Treacle in Jan.. (definitely a northern hemisphere phrase as it is hot as **** in jan in Australia).

Speed on USB over network is half that direct to your computer which is still slow.

Read carefully this review.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/airport-extreme-5th-gen-and-time-capsule-4th- gen-review-faster-wifi-/7

There are disk and wireless tests.

5) My current cable modem set up has a coaxial cable running into a Netgear wireless router. The Time Capsule will be a better wireless router, so I'd like to get rid of the Netgear box, but the Time Capsule doesn't have a coaxial cable in like the Netgear does. How do I connect the two without the Netgear wireless router that I don't need anymore?

You still need the netgear.. it is the modem.. you need to plug the TC into the netgear which you can hopefully bridge.. otherwise ring your cable company and ask for a replacement pure modem.

Let me just pick up the bold rather than do the copy of the copy of the copy.

Will it always be running at half-speed or just when each computer happens to be backing up things?

No, only when they are running at the same time. remember though if this is doing your internet connection wireless is a shared medium.. so try and use 5ghz on one of the devices.. it is much faster.. or even better use ethernet.

What exactly is a NAS then? Perhaps I'm using the word wrong. I just want a wireless hard drive for accessing/storing files.

Time Capsule is a backup external hard drive and router.

A NAS is Network Accessible Storage. ie it is a place to store your files.. The TC is a place to backup your files stored on your computer.

A NAS is to access your files to use them.. store them work with them, share them.. it is designed to be fast.

The TC is a place to store changes you make to files, as the computer makes changes to files, so files can be restored easily if errors or accidental deletion is made on the computer.. using Time Machine.. it is specifically designed to work with Time Machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

One characteristic of network storage is an easy to use automated backup system.. TC does not have any automated backup of any type. Nor does it have any incremental backup. You can do one kind of backup. The whole drive to USB slowly.. like 15 hours worth if the drive is full.. and during that time no access to the accessible storage.. It is also sealed. without any abiltiy to fix or officially at least repair the hard disk or power supply. No professional NAS is made this way.

A NAS will generally have two drives or more to supply a mirror of your files.. so when a drive fails you don't lose your entire file store.. TC has no second disk.. and therefore no mirror.. it is for backing up files from your computer that are stored on your computer.

Read this and am confused by it. Don't know what SATA II is.

Sata2 is the type of hard drive interface it uses.. don't worry about the technical part. Worry about using it to store all your files and not back them up.. !!

Any wireless router will provide network access to your computer or devices.. an Apple Airport can do that.

If you plug a NAS into the wireless router it will then provide you with wireless accessible network storage.. but it can be cheaper than the TC with security of using mirrored drives.. and a proper backup.

Tsac77 wrote:

. . .

1) Am I able to back-up data from a Mac and a PC on the same Time Capsule at the same time? (Mac via Time Machine, PC via some PC back-up program)

2) Am I able to use that same Time Capsule as a NAS for storing/accessing files from both the Mac and the PC?

As LaPastenague says, yes, you can do that.

But keeping Time Machine backups and other things on the TC's internal hard drive can present conflicts. See #Q3 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule for details and some possible workarounds.