HT201712: Uses for the USB port of AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express
Learn about Uses for the USB port of AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express
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Helpful answers
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Nov 22, 2014 9:56 AM in response to avinashaminby Bob Timmons,★HelpfulThe simplest way is to connect a hard drive to the USB port on the Time Capsule and use the Archive Disk function in AirPort Utility. This will make a copy of all of the data that is on the Time Capsule on the USB drive.
Depending on how much data you have on the Time Capsule, this operation might take 6-8 hours, so a good time to do this might be overnight. The Time Capsule light will blink amber during the process and you can watch the progress bar in AirPort Utility if you wish. Time Machine backups will not occur during the operation, but the Time Capsule can still be used as a wireless access point.
Another way to do this is use a commercial application like Carbon Copy Cloner to copy the data on the Time Capsule disk over to another hard drive.
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Nov 22, 2014 12:07 PM in response to avinashaminby LaPastenague,★HelpfulIf you want another layer of protection which is very good idea.
I also strongly recommend the software CCC Bob mentioned.. and getting a USB disk..
Then backup using CCC instead of Time Machine.. directly to the USB disk plugged into the computer.. choose bootable clone for backup..
A bootable clone is terrific because you can then boot a computer with a failed or corrupted hard disk.. simply by booting with option key and choosing the backup disk instead.. 3min and you have a working computer again. Not something TM can manage.
It is also better even if you stick to TM to do the backup direct to the USB plugged into the computer..
That way you have two independent backups.. the problem with backup of the TC, is that if the TM backup is corrupted so will the backup be.. without your knowing it.
I am feeling less than cheerful today after my brand new 3TB Time Capsule died.. it has been in service less than a week.. so finding a better means of backup is a great idea.
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Feb 22, 2015 9:51 AM in response to Bob Timmonsby Marion Dobbs,I've had advice on how to do this from LaPastenague, but have encountered a problem. Nothing new for me. I finally, after three tries, found a hard drive that would be recognized by Airport Utility when connected to Time Machine. I started the archive process about 14 hours ago. Amber light is blinking; activity light on the external drive is flashing. When I started out, I could observe the slow progress in the progress bar, but the bar itself disappeared at some point while the machine was asleep. Now it has come back, but is blank - no bar, no estimated time to completion. I do see that backup to Time Machine is delayed, and that clicking on Time Machine in Airport Utility offers the option to cancel archive so I guess something is going on. I'm just wondering if there's any way to restore progress information?
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Feb 22, 2015 10:13 AM in response to Marion Dobbsby Bob Timmons,I'm just wondering if there's any way to restore progress information?
Not that I am aware of. Let the Archive continue, and hopefully it will not take too much longer.
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Feb 22, 2015 12:08 PM in response to Bob Timmonsby Marion Dobbs,Thanks very much, Bob. I was afraid of that, but just hoping I could have a clue about whether I'm looking at hours, days, or years until completion!
