Time Capsule back-ups from different networks?

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Level 2

358 points

Time Capsule back-ups from different networks?

I have a Time Capsule that is serving ONLY to extend my present network but also serves as the backup of a single computer through Time Machine. If I take that Time capsule to a new place, that has a different network, can I configure it to join the new network and continue Time Machine back-ups of that same one computer (that is moving with it ) without losing any old back-ups? If so, how do I tell it to join the network at the new place.

thanks

roger

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Sep 10, 2016 5:27 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

187,868 points

Sep 10, 2016 6:01 PM in response to rrodby

The Time Capsule cannot "join" a wireless network provided by a third party router, if that is what you are asking.

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Answer 2

rrodby Author

Level 2

358 points

Sep 10, 2016 7:17 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I'll be more specific of what I am trying to do, ignore my previous post.

I have a network at home that comes from a TC: it gets the internet through a Comcast cable modem which is attached to MY Time Capsule via an ethernet cord. All my home computers are on that wi fi network and back up to that Time Capsule through Time machine.

Now, I have an extra TC, and I want to do exactly the same thing at my daughters apartment. I will attach the TC to the Comcast cable modem through an ethernet cord, set up a new network and also have her computer do TM backups to that TC over that wifi network.

The thing is this: it takes FOREVER to do the a first TM back-up. I'd like to do that backup while we are still here at my home, and then when we get to her apartment, I just attach the TC to her comcast modem, create a network, and then backups from that point on will be serial ones and she won't have to leave it backing up for a couple days...

Can I do that?

thanks!

roger

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

187,868 points

Sep 11, 2016 5:05 AM in response to rrodby

Can I do that?

Sorry, but no.

Connect the Mac to the Time Capsule using a wired Ethernet cable connection for the first backup, and it will go 4-5 times faster, on average, than trying to back up over wireless.

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Answer 4

Sep 11, 2016 5:05 AM in response to rrodby

Now, I have an extra TC, and I want to do exactly the same thing at my daughters apartment. I will attach the TC to the Comcast cable modem through an ethernet cord, set up a new network and also have her computer do TM backups to that TC over that wifi network.

If the computer has ethernet port (or thunderbolt and you buy a thunderbolt to ethernet adapter) then backup the first time over ethernet it will be fast. And then you can continue to do backups over wireless.

Setting up the TC in one place and doing backup then moving the TC and computer to another place and reconfigure it is certainly possible.. but is messy. The TC needs to be reset so it works as a full router in the daughters' place.

If this is still the best route then make sure you setup the TC with simple names.. eg TCgen5 and the wireless TCwifi so that you can easily reproduce the names and passwords in the new configuration. Otherwise you need to reconfigure Time Machine so it can find the TC and continue the backup.. which does lead to various issues.

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