Q: How do I save data as well as backups on one Time Capsule
I have a 2Tb Time Capsule that is being used by Time Machine for wireless backups from an old MacBook and a new MacBook Pro. Now that one laptop is running out of storage I want to transfer my iTunes library and some other movie files across to the TC as it has spare capacity. Can I simply drag the files across or do I need to make any other changes to the TC e.g. to its file structure? I already have an external USB connected hard drive so want to make use of the TC internal memory.
Thanks in advance.
iPad Air, iOS 9.2.1, also iPad2
Posted on Feb 6, 2016 10:49 PM
It sounds like you want to copy the iTunes Library and other video files over to the Time Capsule drive.....and then delete the files from your Mac to save space on the Mac.
Is that correct? Are you OK with having only one copy of the iTunes Library and video files on the Time Capsule.......and no backup at all for those files?
A much safer plan, security wise, and also performance wise, would be to move the files over to a USB drive connected directly to your Mac. Then, Time Machine can back up both your Mac and the external USB drive to the Time Capsule. So, you have a basic backup plan of "original" files on one drive and "backups" on another drive.
Performance wise, access to the iTunes Library on the Time Capsule is going to be slow, and the library will tend to get "lost" on a regular basis, so you wind up having to manually point iTunes at the library on the Time Capsule on a regular basis.
All in all, this is one of those times when the fact that you can do something......(store "original" files on the Time Capsule)......does not mean to imply that it would be a wise thing to do.
Posted on Feb 7, 2016 8:25 AM