Time Capsule with files other than backups

Question

Time Capsule with files other than backups

I have installed a 3 TB Time Capsule. I use it for Time Machine backups from an iMac and a Macbook Air. The Time Capsule has a sparsebundle for each of the Time Machines.

Question 1. If the Time Capsule runs out of space due to backups from the two computers what will happen? Will the iMac Time Machine delete files from the laptop sparsebundle if it is the first to do a backup after the TC is full?

Question 2. If I store files other than the sparsebundle on the TC will they be deleted to make space for the sparsebundles to increase in size? If so, is there anyway to prevent the non-Time Machine files from being deleted?

Thank you.

Mike

Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Gen)

Posted on May 29, 2012 8:24 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,226 points

May 29, 2012 8:45 PM in response to Mike V's Nano

Question 1. If the Time Capsule runs out of space due to backups from the two computers what will happen? Will the iMac Time Machine delete files from the laptop sparsebundle if it is the first to do a backup after the TC is full?

No, it will only delete files from its own sparsebundle.

Question 2. If I store files other than the sparsebundle on the TC will they be deleted to make space for the sparsebundles to increase in size? If so, is there anyway to prevent the non-Time Machine files from being deleted?

Again No.. the TM has no ability to do anything outside its own sparsebundle.. it will not affect your files.. mixing up data and TM backups is not necessarily a great idea though.

http://pondini.org/TM/TCQ3.html

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Answer 2

May 29, 2012 9:14 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thank you. That clears up a lot of confusion. The FAQ you point to is very helpful. I need to give some more thought to the issues of mixing data and backups. The two options mentioned in the FAQ offer some ideas.

Regards,

Mike

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Answer 3

May 29, 2012 9:20 PM in response to LaPastenague

I hit the wrong item -- meant to do a "This solved my question."

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Answer 4

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

May 30, 2012 3:47 PM in response to Mike V's Nano

I think LaPastenague covered it, but you might want to review Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question#33, especially the pink box there.

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Answer 5

May 30, 2012 5:19 PM in response to Pondini

Thank you for the response. I had pretty well scanned all the questions in the FAQ. A lot of information there. Limiting the size of each sparsebundle looks like a very useful approach (assuming it works correctly).

Mike

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