Can I use 2tb time capsule as main hard drive / base device for icloud?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Can I use 2tb time capsule as main hard drive / base device for icloud?

I had a lot of pictures on my macbook pro and iphone 6. So I started using a 200GB icloud subscription, however now I still have a lot of data, less (optimize size function on) but still a lot.. Ideally what I want is to NOT have any data on my macbook or iphone but everything in the cloud. I understand it is actually more a mirroring function than a hardrive in the sky.. I want a hardrive in the sky through which I can see all my pictures and videos on my macbook/iphone/apple tv/ipad. For the moment the pictures need to be on a device somewhere, ok fine. I was thinking that I could use my 2tb airport time capsule as the entity where I put all my pictures and data, it is always connected, always on, is a device with hardrive and has plenty of space. Any idea of this is possible and how? Or is there another wifi connected external hardrive that I can connect to icloud and attach to my macbook pro (when needed)?

Thanks in advance.

Time Capsule 1TB-OTHER

Posted on Jul 25, 2017 4:05 AM

Reply

Answer 1

PvdM@Sthlm Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 7, 2017 2:05 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Ok, after many discussions with Apple and non-Apple retailers it seems I might be closing in on a solution. Either I use a NAS external hard drive to store my pictures (which is then the drive for the pics library) or I use a non-NAS external hard drive in combination with Icloud Drive.. Icloud drive would then be the drive for iCloud. So what would be the best solution to use as external hard drive for my Macbook in combination with iCloud (not drive)? It seems if I have all my pics in icloud drive and then icloud as well, that would be double storage.. So maybe better to use a NAS hard drive..that is the base for iCloud?

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 9, 2017 8:50 AM in response to PvdM@Sthlm

You can - sort of. Using iCloud as you are, but click the "Optimize Storage" option under iCloud preferences.

Second option: get a hard disc (pref usb 3.0 or firewire or thunderbolt if you have it on your time capsule) and you can connect it as a HD to your time capsule and hence make it available over your WiFi.

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 25, 2017 4:18 AM in response to PvdM@Sthlm

Sorry, that's not possible.

Reply

Answer 4

PvdM@Sthlm Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 29, 2017 7:07 AM in response to PvdM@Sthlm

Maybe via a Mac mini? Anybody experience with that: https://9to5mac.com/2015/12/15/how-to-setup-photos-icloud-photo-library-external -storage-time-machine-backups/

Thanks

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 29, 2017 7:30 AM in response to PvdM@Sthlm

If you use it as a start up disk that's fine, but otherwise no.

Reply

Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

684,027 points

Jul 29, 2017 11:54 AM in response to PvdM@Sthlm

Reference the article, are you still trying to use the Time Capsule or are you asking about an attached external hard drive? The article will work for a hard drive attached directly to the mini.

Reply