Using Time Capsule and an External Drive

Apple built the TC specifically for the role of Time Machine backup of laptops over wireless, so they don't have to be plugged into a disk or network. For Desktops you can of course use the TC but it is slower and less reliable than the poorest of external drives.. USB2.

Remote access is possible but difficult for several people to use.

Time Machine cannot work over networks. It is for local drives only. There is no built in backup in the TC.. and archive is a poor and slow full backup for occasional use only.

You are much better buying a real NAS.. Synology comes to mind as the best for Apple networks. But even the WD mycloud series will work OK.. even if you look at the reviews and they say it is slow.. it is still faster than a TC.

Any proper NAS has backup inbuilt. They also have remote access.. real remote access built in.

To get wireless, just plug the NAS into a wireless router. Eg Airport is fine.

If you are using it for business usage the TC is really not up to the task .. it is a domestic product.

I need clarification, if you please. I have moved my media files (music, movies, photos) to an external drive. I was keeping the external drive connected to my laptop for backups through TM, but would really like to make this a network accessible drive by plugging into the USB on the Time Capsule. But once I do this, I don't seem to have a way to include the content of the external drive in my backup. Is there a way to partition the Time Capsule drive and copy the media content to it? I have another Time Capsule on the network as well, that is currently serving no storage purpose. Can the networked "media" drive be backed up to that? Or am I to understand that the only way for me to automatically back up the "media" drive via TM is to have it directly connected to the laptop itself, and removing it from the excluded list under options in TM preferences?

Yes, the backup is inbuilt in the NAS to a USB drive plugged directly into it.

The disk can then be swapped.. You might have to go through the details of what it entails but that is a recommended method of backup.

But once I do this, I don't seem to have a way to include the content of the external drive in my backup.

Correct.. TM works only on locally connected drives.. it is not possible for TM to backup a drive over a network.. it can use a Network drive as a target for the backup.. but not source.

Is there a way to partition the Time Capsule drive and copy the media content to it?

No, you cannot partition a TC. It is designed for one thing.. to run TM backups which use sparsebundles, which is a form of virtual disk.. effectively TM has its own partitioning scheme.

You can swap the TM backups to a USB drive.. and use the main TC disk for your media. But be warned right now.. you still have a major issue in backups.. also if you have moved your iphoto library to the TC it is likely to end up corrupted.

Apple specifically says it should be on HFS+ drive only and not on network.

iphoto network no no.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1198

It's recommended that you store your iPhoto library on a locally mounted hard drive. Storing your iPhoto library on a network share can lead to poor performance, data corruption, or data loss.

I have another Time Capsule on the network as well, that is currently serving no storage purpose. Can the networked "media" drive be backed up to that? Or am I to understand that the only way for me to automatically back up the "media" drive via TM is to have it directly connected to the laptop itself, and removing it from the excluded list under options in TM preferences?

Time Machine cannot work across a network.. however TM is not the only backup software in the world. Carbon Copy Cloner is well worth a look. It can backup anything to anything basically, network drive to network drive.. sure. Other products can probably do the same.. I did test superduper and it could not do it.. but that was a couple of years ago.

LaPastenague, you seem so knowledgable about this issue - I'd like to ask you a question. I ran out of space on my computer due to the typical media (iTunes, iPhoto, etc.) and thought Time Machine would be a good router+drive solution. As you warned, it is too slow. What do you think is the ideal solution? I'm looking for a router + external drive with fast media accessibility. I'm not looking for remote access, just simply to offload stuff off of my hard drive yet keep it easily accessible. Thanks!

What do you think is the ideal solution?

Use a larger internal drive.. or use two drives as some Apple computers can take more than one drive.

That is the ideal.. I realise it is not always achievable.. but really having a local disk inside the machine is by far the best solution..

Now that is not possible on a Macbook Air for example.. and they have such small disks it is bound to run out of space.

Newer MBP are not much better.. but see if it can take a second drive.. look at OWC for dual drive kits.. and buy a 1TB fast hard disk plus SSD.. depending on what you now have.

Desktop Macs are less of a problem since you are not carting it around just use the fastest interface you can afford.

Thunderbolt is hugely superior to anything else.. and hugely expensive. USB3 is great.. cheap and fast.. rated speed of 5Gbps is fast enough for any hard disk. Older macs you are stuck on FW800 which is still a lot better than USB2.

Pick whatever size disk you want. In the best interface and brand you can afford.

Network solutions.. hmm.. since apple says network is problematic i think you are better purchasing a mini.. can be second hand 2010 or 2011.. the latest one is well out of date.. although it does have USB3 which is a big advantage. .and use it as a media computer.

You can then home share all your itunes and iphoto libraries from there.

See Understanding Home Sharing

Would using a router with a USB 3 connection to an external hard drive work any better than the Time Capsule?

No, things would be significantly worse as far as performance is concerned.....IF.....you are asking about a router like the AirPort Extreme.

There are other routers from other manufacturers that might have a USB port on the device, but very few of them will support a hard drive. Be sure to check on this first if you are considering another router.

There are very few routers with USB3 and mostly the speeds are still no where near the TC internal disk.. although the very latest products are close.

See http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/router-charts/bar/113-5-ghz-dn-c

They do not have a disk speed category.. so I cannot point to a simple chart.. but most of the reviews of the latest models will do some testing of the USB speed.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/32393-linksys-wrt1900ac -ac1900-dual-band-wireless-router-review?showall=&start=3

It compares the latest Linksys with its rivals like R7000 from Netgear.

Please note these devices are very PC orientated.. HFS+ drives will not be supported.. you will need FAT32 or NTFS. The Mac can use them via SMB but they will probably not work at all or work well for Time Machine. Even NAS that proclaim themselves to be TM compatible are seldom 100% reliable.

But if you want to store files on a network then buy the real thing.. Even a cheap NAS will beat the daylights out of any router + USB disk combo. And has a lot more chance of being reliable.