hi 🙂
i have recently started using time machine, now that i had the chance to set it up. Now i am wondering:
what if the external HD it runs on ever got corrupted? What would be the extra insurance against losing all my data?
Zipping all my files to a flash drive?
Or, maybe you can hook up 2 HDs running time machine at the same time?
iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)
I second Terence Devlin's recommendation of a bootable clone using either SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner. I use Time Machine and back up periodically using SuperDuper. Two backups is wise, but I wouldn't use the same technology for both. If your data is absolutely critical, a third backup, stored off site is recommended.
I second Terence Devlin's recommendation of a bootable clone using either SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner. I use Time Machine and back up periodically using SuperDuper. Two backups is wise, but I wouldn't use the same technology for both. If your data is absolutely critical, a third backup, stored off site is recommended.
I would definitely use two external drives but I wouldn't use TM twice. Why? In case TM malfunctions, and you have two damaged back ups. Instead, I use TM and another back up app - I use Carbon Copy Cloner, but apps like SuperDuper are as good - these have the added advantage that you can boot from them too...
thanks anonyme!
i read through it all, and i think i understand--
but would you please help me make sure?:
On disk rotation with Time Machine, can you be backing up both external disks simultaneously, so you can simply plug them in and forget about it? And they will record the exact copies?
Or, do you have to choose just one at a time, and manually switch them via Select Disk?
(Since the article said,
"Time Machine will now back up to each individual drive as they’re connected.", i wish to make sure i understand correctly, if it means "as they're connected" is to have both disks plugged in to the mac, and "use both" selected...
or,
if it means it is to to have both disks plugged in to the mac,
but you can "select disk" for one or the other only, at any given time.)
Thanks for clarifying for me! 🙂
hmmm, thanks terence! i will have to look into these apps...
do they both back up you entire Mac HD? including OS version? and system prefs, etc.?
and
why do you use carbon copy cloner, if superduper is the one that you can boot from?
I was Cloning to external drives with CCC, way before Time Machine was introduced. Today I run a Time Machine backup, but Cloning is still my Primary form of backup. In addition to 2 Clones and Time Machine, I also keep an extra copies of my Pictures and Music on portable hard drives for sharing.
Multiple local backups and bootable clones are great, but if your home or place of business is struck by a disaster, they may not do you much good. Syncing critical data to the cloud can help mitigate that risk. iCloud photo library and iCloud drive can handle things nicely. Then there are other cloud storage services like Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
I use a combination of iCloud Drive and OneDrive to both back up my data to the cloud as well as make it available when away from my primary machine.
ya, i use dropbox, which i love; and time machine on both my macs, and periodically backup all my files to a flash drive-- my goal is once a month, though lately it's been more like once a year...
thanks everyone for all the awesome info! 🙂
Just be aware that Dropbox is not a suitable location to store or back up iPhoto, Photos or Aperture image libraries. They have a high risk of corruption if you do this.
Also the iCloud Photo Library is a sharing mechanism, not a back up.
Or, maybe you can hook up 2 HDs running time machine at the same time?
Yes, you can definitely do that, see https://www.backblaze.com/blog/use-multiple-hard-drives-time-machine/
At the same time yes 🙂
You can boot from either.
The both back up the entire disk, or, those elements that you choose to back up.
thanks!
(i would be making these as helpful, but strangely, this page only lets me reply or link to this post!)
best way to backup in addition to time machine?
