Hello everyone.
I'm performing a backup with my MacBook Pro (late 2012) and OS X High Sierra through an Airport Time Machine. It's pretty long and it's taking a very long time through wi-fi. Is it possible to connect the MacBook with the Airport with an ethernet cable in order to have a faster backup?
I tried to connect the two machines with the cable but nothing happens.
Thanks
Matteo
MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)
Is it possible to connect the MacBook with the Airport with an ethernet cable in order to have a faster backup?
Yes, on average, the backup will be 3-5 times faster than using wireless. I am assuming that you have the Time Capsule configured to provide a wireless network at this time.
If you want to back up using Ethernet, you must first stop the current backup over WiFi
Make sure that you have the WiFi turned off on your Mac by clicking the WiFi menu at the top of the Mac's screen, then click on Turn WiFi Off.
Connect the Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the three LAN <--> ports on the Time Capsule
Start the backup again
Once the backup has completed, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable and turn the WiFi back on at the Mac.
Is it possible to connect the MacBook with the Airport with an ethernet cable in order to have a faster backup?
Yes, on average, the backup will be 3-5 times faster than using wireless. I am assuming that you have the Time Capsule configured to provide a wireless network at this time.
If you want to back up using Ethernet, you must first stop the current backup over WiFi
Make sure that you have the WiFi turned off on your Mac by clicking the WiFi menu at the top of the Mac's screen, then click on Turn WiFi Off.
Connect the Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the three LAN <--> ports on the Time Capsule
Start the backup again
Once the backup has completed, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable and turn the WiFi back on at the Mac.
Hi Bob-
Wondering if the Time Capsule has to *also* be plugged into my modem/router for this to work? Or will the computer find/recognize the TC if it's plugged into the Mac via ethernet cable and backup just fine? Finally, if it will work that way, will it continue to work as a backup disk if I later plug TC back into router and attempt to use as a traditional wifi backup?
Thanks!
Wondering if the Time Capsule has to *also* be plugged into my modem/router for this to work?
No, but if the Time Capsule is normally connected to your modem/router, things will be tons easier, and there will be much less chance of errors, if you leave the Time Capsule connected to the modem/router.
Or will the computer find/recognize the TC if it's plugged into the Mac via ethernet cable and backup just fine?
No, if the Time Capsule has been previously connected to the modem/router. If you disconnect the Time Capsule from the modem/router, then you'll have to totally reset the backup path from your Mac to the Time Capsule using Time Machine Preferences.
And...your Mac will not be available for anything else during the entire time that it is backing up to the Time Capsule.
will it continue to work as a backup disk if I later plug TC back into router and attempt to use as a traditional wifi backup?
No, not unless you go back into Time Machine Preferences and reset the backup path from your Mac to the Time Capsule.
Hi Bob,
yeah! It works. It was easy and logic. I encountered issues because I've tried to switch from wi-fi to ethernet meanwhile the backup was performing.
Thank you very much for your help!
Matteo
Backup with ethernet
