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Q: how do I set up and add multiple computers to an ext HD I will use for time machine?

Hello, I am about to upgrade from a 1TB WD external drive to a WD 4TB My Cloud drive that has a USB 3 and a Gigabit eternal port. Also, I am using a 6 yr old airport extreme router to connect to. I have two MacBooks in the house I would like to connect to this for backups. I will only need 1TB for for one of them an 2TB for the other, leaving 1 TB free so I will need to partition the drive.

There doesn't seem to be instruction on this with WD, can anyone advise where to look for the answer of give me a solution?

 

Cheers

 

Chris

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5), Using WD my cloud for back up drive

Posted on Jul 8, 2016 11:53 AM

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Q: how do I set up and add multiple computers to an ext HD I will use for time machine?

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  • by Csound1,Helpful

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 8, 2016 12:13 PM in response to chapada
    Level 9 (50,202 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 8, 2016 12:13 PM in response to chapada

    Partition the drive into 4, plug it in to each computer in turn.

  • by chapada,

    chapada chapada Jul 8, 2016 3:19 PM in response to chapada
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 8, 2016 3:19 PM in response to chapada

    Thanks Chapada, I planned to partition the drive as you pointed out, although the connecting each computer to each partition I didn't know about. The issue is that on the new WD My Cloud drive I can see that it has three files, "Public" (with three sub folders), "SmartWare" and "TimeMachineBackup". If I were to partition the drive I will have to connect via cable (not supplied) the USB port on the drive to the same on the macbook, as whilst this is connected via the Gigabit it is not possible. 

    My concern is that these three files might not like being deleted or preferably moved to one of the partitions, I will try this out tomorrow once I have the USB to USB cable. Any comments would be useful.

     

    Thanks

     

    Chris