Can external disk added to time capsule be used with time machine?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Can external disk added to time capsule be used with time machine?

I have a 2011 Apple Time Capsule with 2 TB of storage, which I use for Time Machine backups. I would like to add storage, or alternately just use a higher capacity hard drive for Time Machine backups. Can I attach a 3 TB external backup drive to the Time Capsule's USB port, for example, and use that for my backups instead of the internal hard drive? Apple says you can't do this with the Airport Extreme, but doesn't say whether it will work with the Time Capsule.

Posted on Feb 9, 2015 1:24 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 9, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Bill999

Yes, it is fine with the TC.. and is also fine with the latest AE.. but not the earlier models. Albeit many people do run it regardless.

Reply

Answer 2

Japib

Level 4

2,843 points

Feb 9, 2015 1:31 PM in response to Bill999

"OS X Time Machine supports compatible unencrypted USB disks connected to AirPort Time Capsule (802.11n and 802.11ac), and AirPort Extreme (802.11ac).": Meaning All Time Capsule Support it.

See the topic about Time Machine support for USB disks in this Apple Support document:

AirPort base stations: About USB disks - Apple Support

Time Machine backups are supported via USB hard drive connected to the AirPort Extreme"ac" version.

Time Machine backups were not supported via USB hard drive connected to earlier versions of the AirPort Extreme.

Some users who tried this on earlier version AirPort Extremes seemed to have some success with Time Machine backups....some had moderate success and some had no success with this.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 10, 2015 6:37 AM in response to LaPastenague

Do you have any researches that I can access to accomplish adding an external drive to increase Time Capsule back up memory ? Thanks

Reply

Answer 4

Feb 10, 2015 6:54 AM in response to davidg.brown

Adding an external drive will NOT increase the memory of the Time Capsule drive. If you add an external drive to the Time Capsule, you will have two hard drives.....a Time Capsule and another drive. These drives will be separate from each other.

Reply

Answer 5

Bill999 Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 10, 2015 7:07 AM in response to davidg.brown

If you use both the internal drive and an external drive, the Time Machine will alternate drives: OS X Mavericks: Use multiple backup disks Instead, you could buy a larger external USB drive--preferably with its own power supply--and plug it into the Time Capsule, then designate the external drive only as your backup drive. That way, you'll be all set if you ever want to replace the Time Capsule with a new AirPort Extreme 802.11ac router.

Reply