Yeegs

Q: Separate Time Machine drives for multiple users on single computer

Hi all,

 

I have a 2011 iMac that I use as my main machine - web, e-mail, word processing, …everyday use.  I also have an old 2008 iMac that is being used strictly as my Media Server (i.e. all I do is run iTunes/iPhoto on it for Home Sharing).

 

Each computer as 2 external drives connected to it:

(1) for storage of working files - either documents/data (2011 iMac) or media files (2008 iMac)

(1) for time machine

 

As the 2008 iMac (media server) has been giving me problems lately and is probably on its way to "retirement", I have migrated its user profile to my 2011 iMac.

 

Summary:

My 2011 iMac now has 2 user profiles:

- my main "everyday" one, let's call it User A

- the "media" one, let's call it User B

 

It also now has 4 external drives:

(1) with documents/data - Drive A

(1) with 2011 iMac time machine - Drive B

(1) with media files (used to be connected to 2008 iMac) - Drive C

(1) with 2008 iMac time machine - Drive D

 

Question:

Is there a way I can set up time machine to write to the 2 drives separately for each user, essentially making it seem as though I am still using 2 different computers, each with their own time machine?

 

i.e.

Drive B would be "Time Machine for User A", and would include internal HDD, User A profile and Drive A

Drive D would be "Time Machine for User B", and would include User B profile and Drive C

 

I'm guessing that the answer is "no", since Time Machine backs up the entire system and ALL users to one drive (or multiple drives in rotation), but I thought I'd ask in case someone has done what I'm asking or knows how it could be accomplished.

 

Thanks in advance!  I hope my question isn't too confusing!

 

P.S.: I am planning on upgrading to El Capitan shortly, so the solution (if it exists) needs to work there too.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Dec 8, 2015 6:04 PM