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User profile for user: OrsHU
OrsHU Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Direct connectivity to Mac question

Hey all,


I have a pretty unique use case I want to solve, and I only buy the Time Capsule if my setup is feasible. Please help me decide if the followings are possible!


  • I want to use the TimeCapsule as a NAS (network attached storage) so my other devices can connect to it through wifi.
  • I want to use my existing wifi router I got from the cable company, so the wifi router capabilities of the TimeCapsule is not needed (Ive got 2, and 5ghz capable router)
  • And most importantly, I want to connect one Mac to the TimeCapsule over gigabit ethernet port, because I want to use the TimeCapsule as an external storage device for this particular Mac. The reason behind this, is that I want maximum writing/reading speed, and that is not achievable over wifi, just with gigabit ethernet connection.


So my question at once:

How can I use the TimeCapsule as an external storage device for one Mac over ethernet cable WHILE the TimeCapsule operates az a NAS for other devices, that connects to the network with my currently used wifi router?


Thanks in advance guys!

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018), iOS 12.1

Posted on Dec 4, 2018 6:49 AM

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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
168,128 points

Posted on Dec 4, 2018 7:05 AM

I want to use the TimeCapsule as a NAS (network attached storage) so my other devices can connect to it through wifi.

The Time Capsule is not a NAS, and it will not act like one. So, you will be very disappointed if buy a Time Capsule and expect it to operate as a NAS.


I want to use my existing wifi router I got from the cable company, so the wifi router capabilities of the TimeCapsule is not needed (Ive got 2, and 5ghz capable router)

You can probably do this if you plan to back up your Mac using Time Machine, but Apple will not officially support this. So, if things do not work well, there will be no help from Apple on this.


I want to connect one Mac to the TimeCapsule over gigabit ethernet port, because I want to use the TimeCapsule as an external storage device for this particular Mac.

The Time Capsule was designed to store Time Machine backups of your Mac. Read/Write speeds are slow......much less than a normal USB 3.0 drive.The Time Capsule was not designed to be a general external storage device, and it will not work very well if you are expecting to use it this way.


The bottom line.......You need a NAS. The Time Capsule is not a NAS.


You might want to take a look at a real NAS, like the products from Synology.

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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
168,128 points

Dec 4, 2018 7:05 AM in response to OrsHU

I want to use the TimeCapsule as a NAS (network attached storage) so my other devices can connect to it through wifi.

The Time Capsule is not a NAS, and it will not act like one. So, you will be very disappointed if buy a Time Capsule and expect it to operate as a NAS.


I want to use my existing wifi router I got from the cable company, so the wifi router capabilities of the TimeCapsule is not needed (Ive got 2, and 5ghz capable router)

You can probably do this if you plan to back up your Mac using Time Machine, but Apple will not officially support this. So, if things do not work well, there will be no help from Apple on this.


I want to connect one Mac to the TimeCapsule over gigabit ethernet port, because I want to use the TimeCapsule as an external storage device for this particular Mac.

The Time Capsule was designed to store Time Machine backups of your Mac. Read/Write speeds are slow......much less than a normal USB 3.0 drive.The Time Capsule was not designed to be a general external storage device, and it will not work very well if you are expecting to use it this way.


The bottom line.......You need a NAS. The Time Capsule is not a NAS.


You might want to take a look at a real NAS, like the products from Synology.

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Direct connectivity to Mac question

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