rellufs
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Q: first Time Capsule setup question(s)

Just purchased new 27" iMac (not yet turned on) and need to migrate data from old MacMini and external HD.  So, I purchased a Time Capsule.  Now for my questions:

 

1) With external HD connected to MacMini, if I perform a Time Machine backup to my NEW Time Capsule, will the backup include the external HD?

2) From here, would I simply connect Time Capsule to new iMac and start from Time Machine backup?

 

If there is a better way to do this, I am all ears!

 

Now for some Time Capsule specific questions.  My current leased Time Warner modem/router combo is in my living room (centralized location) and iMac is going into home office about 50 feet away through 2 walls.  I am concerned with performing wireless Time Machine backups over this distance.  Ideally, I'd prefer to hard wire the TC to my iMac, but then I'd need an Airport Extreme connected to current modem in the other room, correct?  But with that setup, a TC would be nothing more than a glorified backup disc and wifi extender.  Again, any help/suggestions/ideas greatly appreciated.  

Posted on Dec 28, 2015 12:48 PM

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rellufs

Q: first Time Capsule setup question(s)

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  • by Smokerz,

    Smokerz Smokerz Dec 28, 2015 1:01 PM in response to rellufs
    Level 6 (9,699 points)
    Dec 28, 2015 1:01 PM in response to rellufs

    Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Dec 28, 2015 2:30 PM in response to rellufs
    Level 9 (52,977 points)
    Wireless
    Dec 28, 2015 2:30 PM in response to rellufs
    1) With external HD connected to MacMini, if I perform a Time Machine backup to my NEW Time Capsule, will the backup include the external HD?

    By default no.. all external drives are treated as excluded by default.. you will have to unexclude (apple have this backwards way of looking at things.. instead of include you unexclude) it in the TM preferences.

     

    2) From here, would I simply connect Time Capsule to new iMac and start from Time Machine backup?

    That is one possible method. Good in that you do a backup.. however unnecessary.

     

    If there is a better way to do this, I am all ears!

    Run migrate on both computers.. one as source and one as target. This is the method in the article Smokerz quoted.

     

    My current leased Time Warner modem/router combo is in my living room (centralized location) and iMac is going into home office about 50 feet away through 2 walls.  I am concerned with performing wireless Time Machine backups over this distance.  Ideally, I'd prefer to hard wire the TC to my iMac, but then I'd need an Airport Extreme connected to current modem in the other room, correct?  But with that setup, a TC would be nothing more than a glorified backup disc and wifi extender.  Again, any help/suggestions/ideas greatly appreciated. 

    50' is a fair distance. But don't assume terrible speeds until you try it.

     

    What we recommend to most people is to do the initial backup by ethernet.. so place the TC next to your computer, and do not worry about internet.. you don't need it now.. do the backup. Once you have initial backup, plug the TC into your main router and see how the backups go.. it is usually fine doing incrementals over wireless.

     

    You can certainly use an Extreme and extend wireless.. if you already have one, but I would not buy one just to do this.

     

    An alternative to ethernet and wireless is EOP adapters.. using your existing power cabling.. it is not guaranteed to work.. like wireless it is suck and see.. but when it does work it is usually more reliable and consistent than wireless.