HT1281: Time Capsule: Using AirPort Utility 5.3.1 or later to make a copy of the Time Capsule disk

Learn about Time Capsule: Using AirPort Utility 5.3.1 or later to make a copy of the Time Capsule disk
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HelpfulDad
Level 1 (10 points)

Q: Can I move part of my shared folder on the time capsule to a USB disk?

I have primarily a Windows based network with a lot of iphones.  I've installed a 2 Tb Time Capsule as my Wireless Base and also using it as a NAS device.  It provides fantastic wireless networking with good range and power, although it would be nice to support WEP for some old stuff I have in the house.  I'm using the Time Capsule as the central repository for all of my ripped music, and family photos and video.  I've ran into a few concerns with this strategy, primarily because there is a file size limitation on a Time Capsule in a Windows environment so some of the longer movies won't work.  I've also got a folder that was mishandled by a MacBook air a while back and now I can't delete it or access it.

 

 

But my real need is to back up some of the items on this shared folder.  Can I do it to a USB connected drive to the Time Capsule that is smaller than the Time Capsule drive and select what I archive instead of just archiving the whole thing?  OR Can I mount the Time Capsule drive via the USB port to a Windows computer and get access to the shared folder over the USB link?

 

 

I have a wired connection to the folder from a network PC on a 100Mb/s Ethernet Network that has been running for 3 days and has only gotten about 20% through the copy.  It's too slow.  I've checked the network and it's behaving as I expect, so I ran a speedtest from multiple computers to the Time Capsule and the bottom line is that it's just too slow for this task.  So I'm looking for a faster way to back up this important data.  Any ideas that don't involve me buying a disc drive large enough to back up the entire Time Capsule?

 

 

Thanks

 

Message was edited by: HelpfulDad clarified that it is a wired connection

Time Capsule, Other OS, Time Capsule

Posted on May 6, 2013 7:18 AM

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HelpfulDad

Q: Can I move part of my shared folder on the time capsule to a USB disk?

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  • by LaPastenague,Helpful

    LaPastenague LaPastenague May 6, 2013 3:39 PM in response to HelpfulDad
    Level 9 (52,984 points)
    Wireless
    May 6, 2013 3:39 PM in response to HelpfulDad

    A USB drive hanging off the TC is super slow.. much slower than the identical drive plugged into your computer.

     

    Although 100mbit network is a bit slow, the major problem is the USB.

     

    All files are copied.. TC--PC.. PC--TC--USB Disk.

     

    Archive is also slow but it doesn't involve the network. ie TC--USB Disk direct.

     

    But it has to backup the whole TC.. and needs enough space to match the data in the TC.. it doesn't need to be 2TB.. unless you have 1.5TB of data on it.. if you have 800GB of data then the USB can be 1TB..

     

    But hey.. disks are cheap.. USB 2TB drive is peanuts.. go and buy one NOW!!

     

    Keeping your files on the TC only is super dangerous. It is a cheap green WD drive with no form of backup. None!!

     

    And I would advise you to setup the USB on your windows computer.. format it to native windows format. And copy the files TC to USB plugged into the computer.

     

    Fat32 is bad.. that might be where you have file size issues.. the USB should be formatted HFS+ which you need to do on the Mac if it is plugged into the TC.

     

    And buy a gigabit network card for the pc.. unless it is a laptop.. the card costs $10.. and you will get 3x faster speed. Once the USB is plugged into the PC your 100mbit ethernet is the downer.

     

    BTW the TC is entirely network device.. you cannot plug into it via USB.

     

    Your messed up directory.. hmmm make sure you have guest account turned on with read and write permissions in the TC.

  • by HelpfulDad,

    HelpfulDad HelpfulDad May 6, 2013 4:23 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 6, 2013 4:23 PM in response to LaPastenague

    Thank you for the reply.  You restated precisely what I had surmised, but glad to hear from somebody else who knows the innards of a TC.  Youare absolutely correct about FAT32 being the primary issue.  I'm going take the time to backup the whole bloody TC to various other drives then erase and reformat it to rid myself of the nasty persistent folder.  You also confirmed that I couldn't mount it via USB.

     

    But, since the bottle neck seems to to be the TC, a Gigabit PC network card isn't going to help my throughput so I'm just going to have to wait out the network backup I'm doing.  It's ok because even though its a cheap WD drive, it's still an easy repository, I just need to back it up.  It's a nice big single volume on which I'm storing all of my personal pictures, video clips, and music.  I already have two copies of my personal videos and pictures on two other separate spindles on two different computers, and now I'm backup up the ISO files of hi res DVD-A and SACD discs I've taken as backups to the originals, and my iTunes library of CD rips.  Once this music backup is completed, I can tolerate a TC failure.   If it fails, I'll probably go buy a 3TB hi quality Seagate CE 7200RPM drive and repopulated it, but at least I'll have everything.

     

    Thank you for the detailed response in complete sentences, LaPastenague.  I really appreciate it.

     

    Anybody who is reading this, please heed this warning:

     

    IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF YOUR DRIVE WILL FAIL, ITS A CERTAINTY.  SO YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE TWO BACKUPS OF IRREPLACEABLE DATA SUCH AS FAMILY PICTURES, MUSIC, VIDEOS, DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL DATA, ETC.  JUST DO IT