Marrvark
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Time Machine - External Hardrive on top of Time Machine

Hi,

 

I have 2 Macs and update both of them to an external Time-Capsule via Time Machine. Problem is that the time capsule is always near the Mac and I want to have a back up of all my data somewhere else (e.g. at my mom's house).

 

Is it possible to buy an external hard drive and back up both my macs to that one? And then, how would it be with the current time capsule? Would that have any impact?

 

How do I do this?

 

Thanks

MacBook Pro, iOS 8.2

Posted on Aug 12, 2016 3:50 AM

by LaPastenague,Apple recommended
LaPastenague LaPastenague
Level 9 (53,016 points)
Wireless
A:

One way that I would recommend is to buy two USB drives. Buy what suits but 2TB at least.. in 2.5" drives makes sense as they can be self powered. Or buy a couple of 3-4TB USB 3.5" drives which will need power supply.

 

Partition them and use Carbon Copy Cloner (fairly cheap backup software that can create a bootable clone). Backup both computers to the different partitions. CCC can only create a bootable clone on the first partition so make each disk a bootable clone of the other computer. Put one disk with your mum.. and do a weekly swap of disks.. so you always have one doing the job at your house and one with you mum.. swapped regularly. You can also use cloud storage for any files in your current directories.

 

I am assuming you didn't want to backup directly to the USB in your mum's house over internet??

 

This will have no effect on TM backup.

 

TM can backup to multiple targets.. so you don't have to buy CCC.. but the limitations of TM mean I think the bootable clone is better way to do it.

Posted on Aug 12, 2016 2:27 PM

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Marrvark

Q: Time Machine - External Hardrive on top of Time Machine

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  • by LaPastenague,Apple recommended

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Aug 12, 2016 2:27 PM in response to Marrvark
    Level 9 (53,016 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 12, 2016 2:27 PM in response to Marrvark

    One way that I would recommend is to buy two USB drives. Buy what suits but 2TB at least.. in 2.5" drives makes sense as they can be self powered. Or buy a couple of 3-4TB USB 3.5" drives which will need power supply.

     

    Partition them and use Carbon Copy Cloner (fairly cheap backup software that can create a bootable clone). Backup both computers to the different partitions. CCC can only create a bootable clone on the first partition so make each disk a bootable clone of the other computer. Put one disk with your mum.. and do a weekly swap of disks.. so you always have one doing the job at your house and one with you mum.. swapped regularly. You can also use cloud storage for any files in your current directories.

     

    I am assuming you didn't want to backup directly to the USB in your mum's house over internet??

     

    This will have no effect on TM backup.

     

    TM can backup to multiple targets.. so you don't have to buy CCC.. but the limitations of TM mean I think the bootable clone is better way to do it.