Want to use Time Capsule as a back up AND external storage device-help!

I know there's been a few variations on this question but I can't seem to find the answer that relates to me so probably being dumb but help would be greatly appreciated.
I bought a 500gb Time Capsule yesterday and finally got it set up through AirPort Utility. I think I've done it right-there's a green light and it's going through the motions of backing up although VERY slowly. It's taken 10 hours to back up 20GB. I've used Time Machine before with an external Seagate drive so I know how to access/check those back ups.
I have a dish on the side of my house (on side of a mountain!) that brings the internet signal into a wireless router and then my MacBook accesses through that WIFI network. I plugged the ethernet cable from one of the standard ports out the back of the router into the WAN port on the Time Capsule as part of the setup and that seems to be right in that I can see the TC and surf the net.
So, now I just want to see the Time capsule as a normal external drive on my desktop and move other files to it so they can come off my Macbook completely but the only way icon I can see if the white one that says 'Backup of...' I've copied stuff onto this but I suspect that was the wrong thing to do.
Finally, I only want to TM to use the TC up to a certain max storage so I always have space free on it but can't find settings to allow me to do that.
I'd be really grateful if someone could tell me how to set this up properly!

Paretola wrote:
So, now I just want to see the Time capsule as a normal external drive on my desktop and move other files to it so they can come off my Macbook completely but the only way icon I can see if the white one that says 'Backup of...' I've copied stuff onto this but I suspect that was the wrong thing to do.
No. Don't transfer anything into the Back of... sparsebundle. That is your Time Machine backup.
Under Finder -> Shared -> Time Capsule -> Time Capsule Disk. This is where you can create a new folder to store your files. If you want to see this on your Desktop, via Finder, click Preferences. Under General, make sure +Connected servers+ is ticked.
Finally, I only want to TM to use the TC up to a certain max storage so I always have space free on it but can't find settings to allow me to do that.
Since the TC HDD isn't partitionable, you can't really do that. Best thing is to get another HDD for storage as TM works best if you give it enough room to grow.
I'd be really grateful if someone could tell me how to set this up properly!

Similar Messages

TS1253 I am connected to internet through modem. How can I use Time Capsule as a wreless harddrive and connection to USB printer

Can I use a Time Capsule as a part of my network> I am connected to internet through modem and want to use Time capsule as a wireless harddrive and wireless connection to usb printer. How can I do that? Please help

This type of setup is not officially supported by Apple.
It might be possible to configure the Time Capsule this way, but please take a minute to consider a few things that you may not have thought about, as this is...frankly....the worst possible way that you could configure the Time Capsule.
Wireless backups will take twice as long as normal wireless. Why? The signal must make a "double hop".
Hop "one" would be from your Mac to the wireless router, then the signal must make hop "two" to get back to the Time Capsule.
In addition to doubling the time for backups to occur, this doubles the chances for an error to occur during a backup.
The Ethernet ports are not enabled at all on the Time Capsule when it is configured this way, so backup over much faster Ethernet is not possible.
The USB port is enabled, so assuming that the printer is compatible, it could be configured to connect that way. Keep in mind that only printing is supported. If you have an All-in-One device, advanced functions like scan, copy, maintenenance will not be supported.
So, do you really want to try this? There are no guarantees here that things will work at all.

Just want to use Time Capsule as a wireless hard drive?

I thought I was computer savvy until now.
I just want to use Time Capsule as a wireless hard drive. I do not want to connect my Internet to it whatsoever. I realize this would involve disconnecting from Time Capsule and reconnecting to my Internet every time.
The settings for Time Capsule are just mind-boggling.
Is there any easy way to set it up as a password-protected wireless hard drive?
I am so lost with all the settings.
Please help! I will provide points!

First, you don't need to use Time Capsule with Time Machine. It can be used as a manual file storage or file exchange drive.
Where do you have the Ethernet cable placed on the Time Capsule. Is it the WAN port or one of the network ports?
If you are attempting to set-up the Time Capsule as your wireless router, it will need to be connected to the wired modem from your service provider through the WAN port for configuration. The Time capsule should then appear as a configurable Airport device.
To start, turn off your cable or DSL modem and the Time Capsule. Turn them both back on with the Time capsule connected to the wired modem via of the WAN port so the modem can grab the TC's MAC address.

How to use time capsule for wireless back-up but not internet?

Hello,
I have a tower and recently a laptop at work. The tower is connected to our local network with an ethernet cable and the laptop with wireless. So, the internet connection is fine for both.
I was hoping to use my time capsule to do time machine backups on my laptop. Do you have any advice on how to configure this? I do not want to use the time capsule to extend my Internet, as I believe my work I.T. would prefer to handle all access to their network.
Perhaps there is some documentation about doing this that you could point me to? I have not been able to find it.
Thank you for your help.

Your original question was How to use Time Capsule for wireless back-up but not Internet?
There is no reason for you to connect the tower....or anything else...using Ethernet if your goal remains that same as you stated.
If you are asking if you can backup the Tower using Ethernet, and not wireless, then you can connect the tower to one of the LAN <-> ports on the Time Capsule....not the WAN port.
Yes, it appears to work without plugging into my tower.
Correct, it will work.
I just have to select the network that it created. Of course, I have no access to the Internet while this is happening and it can not auto backup, unless I am on that wireless signal.
As I stated, that is the downside to trying to back up without an Internet connection. You have to establish another network...and backup over that network.
If you are asking if you can stay connected to the work network while also backing up to your non-Internet "private" network, that is not possible.

Can I use Time Capsule to just back up my iTunes catalogue?

Can I use Time Capsule to just back up my iTunes catalogue? or will it back up everything on my Mac?

Set Time Machine to exclude everything else, or keep Time Machine turned off and drag the catalogue to the Time Capsule manually.
(63467)

Using Time Capsule only for back-ups, not as a modem

Hi, We have Comcast modem and router for internet connection. Is it possible to use Time Capsule only for Time Machine-generated back-ups of our Macs?
Is there any complication setting up TC for use as back-up only device?
Thanks!

You can use TC this way. And it's very simple to setup.
Check out the setup guide here:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Time_Capsule_Early2009Setup.pdf
EDIT:
I've just noticed that they've removed the section "Using Your Time Capsule on an Existing Wireless Network" from the new manual.
Anyway here is a copy of the text under that section in the old guide:
To set it up:
1 Open AirPort Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities/ on a computer using Mac OS X,
and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows), select your Time
Capsule, and then click Continue.
2 Follow the onscreen instructions to join your current wireless network.
3 After your Time Capsule is set up, you can use Mac OS X Leopard to set up Time
Machine to back up the Mac OS X Leopard computers on your network. See “Using
Time Machine with Your Time Capsule” on page 27 for more information.
If you’re using an earlier version of Mac OS X, or if you’re using Windows, you can
connect to Time Capsule to share or back up files.
Message was edited by: dchao99

How do I use Time Capsule as a wireless router and turn my current one into modem only

I have a crappy modem/ router and before I purchase a new modem I want to use the modem (no wireless) feature of my router.
Question #1
How do I use my Time Capsule as a router?
Question #2
If I do this will I still be able to wirelessly back up to my Time Capsule?
Question #3
How do I turn off (wireless) or the router function of my modem/ router?
Question #4
I then want to connect all my wireless devices to my Time Capsule making that
the main WIFi in my house. I am assuming this is possible it is I just dont know how to go about doing this myslef without guidance, and the Airport Installer is confusing to me.
Thanks!

Question #1
How do I use my Time Capsule as a router?
Connect an Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on your modem/router to the WAN port (circle of dots icon) on the Time Capsule.
Open AirPort Utility and click Continue to follow the guided setup to configure the Time Capsule to "create a wireless network". Select the "Bridge Mode" option when it appears during the setup. (AirPort Utility will normally do this for you)
Question #2
If I do this will I still be able to wirelessly back up to my Time Capsule?
Yes
Question #3
How do I turn off (wireless) or the router function of my modem/ router?
We prefer not to guess at things, but since we do not know the make and model number of your modem/router, and this is an Apple support area, we have little choice.
In general, you would enter the default IP address of the device into your browser to bring up the configuration pages (check your documentatio on the modem/router for this information, or it may be on the back or bottom of the device. An example of a default IP address is something like 192.168.1.254
There will be a wireless settings page that will allow you turn off the wireless function of the device.
If you acquired the modem/router from your service provider, they should be able to tell you how to do this as well, or if you check the manufacturer's website, they will likely have a support area for questions like this.
Question #4
I then want to connect all my wireless devices to my Time Capsule making that
the main WIFi in my house.
You will need to log on to the Time Capsule wireless network from each device and enter the password to connect. Most computers will "remember" the setting so that you do not have to enter the password each time that you connect.

Time Capsule as a Back up and Hard Drive Storage

HI
I want to use my TC as the back up location and also as a hard drive on the Network. I know this can be done but do i need create folders, or partition or anything? Or will it just happen that the back up is in a folder and I can create folders to store other stuff? It is the 1 TB version
Thanks

The HDD inside the Time Capsule enclosure cannot be partitioned. Just create new folders and move/copy files over.

Using Time Capsule to Wirelessly Receive Internet and then Extend Network via Ethernet

Hello,
Our modem/router combo is located downstairs, and my computer that i want to get online is upstairs. I cannot get a ethernet from the modem to my computer to access the internet, so I wanted to try to use my Time Capsule to help me get online upstairs (not sure if this is possible...)
My idea was to have the Time Capsule receive the wireless signal and then connect the computer to the Time Capsule through an ethernet so that I may get the computer online. Essentially wireless connection in, wired connection out.
I've been playing around with the device for a while now, and can't seem to make this work. Has anyone used the Time Capsule in this fashion? Is it even possible? If not, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my computer online?
Thank you very much for any help/input!!

Why not try a pair of these over domestic power loop.
http://www.netgear.com/home/products/powerline-and-coax/high-performance/XAVB510 1.aspx#two
Not cheap though Best buy link
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/NETGEAR+-+Powerline+Ethernet+Adapter+Kit/5042106.p?i d=1218603011817&skuId=5042106
The Apple solution might well need Two devices to extend range.
You would retain your ISP router/modem however would go into settings and TURN OFF wireless on that device - you can do this in the Java Web based control panels on most routers.
Now you sling the Ethernet cable between that router and a purchased Time Capsule device locally and set this up to create a new local Wifi network (Replacing that of the ISP supplied router) . Being a dual band device and being able to broadcast both over 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz frequency base bands simultaneously you could well see improved performance and range straight away.
However if not then you are going to need a further device an Airport Express set up in bridged mode somewhere between the Time Capsule and your upstairs rooms. Your may have to try various power points and locations to get coverage required.
Further Airport Express devices can be added in bridged mode as required to cover blind spots, however remember each additional device degrades the overall network performance somewhat.
Again this will get quite costly.

Using Time Capsule as a 'wireless' router and backup using Time Machine

I have a question about backup speed on my 1 TB Time Capsule. I purchased a Time Capsule about a year ago and have an imacg5 and two Mac laptops that I setup to use the wireless router capability and as the backup drive for all three computers.
I was experiencing a problem in that the backups from the imacg5 were never completing even though the Time Machine window said it was only backing up several MBs. In order to 'fix' the problem I finally 'erased' all of the backup files on the Time Capsule using Airport Utility. I had also run Disk Utility on all of the drives to verify and fix any problems.
When I initialized the wireless connections and initiated backups I connected to the imacg5 to the Time Capsule with an ethernet connection as well as via Airport and began 'backing up' my laptops, then started by backing up individually, various disks on my imacg5.
The laptops have rather small disks and backed up rather quickly. The imacg5 has hundreds of GB of data spread across several disks. I had decided to 'backup' the disks individually in case that had been the cause of my original problem.
My systems disk, Macintosh HD, backed up about 110 GB at the rate of 8 GBs per hour. I was encouraged.
My next 'data' disk, LaCie 320 #1, backed up about 209 GB at the rate of 2 GBs per hour. I was confused. This 'backup' took several days to complete. Once it completed, Time Machine has run about every hour as expected and completes the backup in about 3 minutes.
I still have two more disks on the imacg5 to backup. Does anyone have any idea what rate I should expect or should I just add the drives and let it take its course?

I say just do it!
When connected via ethernet I turn off the airport connection on the computer. I found that frequently my mom's macbook pro would choose the wireless connection to her Time Capsule rather than the ehternet connection to do the back up. This was slower than via the ethernet.

Binned BT and want to use Time Capsule instead of BT Home Hub

This is my first question so please be gentle with me and forgive any errors!
After a truly horrendous experience with BT (22 calls to them in two weeks to resolve broadband speed of 0.4 mbps and no that's not a typo) I've changed ISP.
I already had a Time Capsule which previously I've used only as back up facility. Now I have a separate cable modem and want to use the Time Capsule as a router. The cable modem is plugged in to the phone line (with a filter) and there's an ethernet cable connecting it to the Time Capsule.
I thought I could bin my hated BT Home Hub, but the minute I unplug it, the set up doesn't work.
So it would seem that my Mac is talking to the Home Hub, that's talking to the TC and that's how I'm getting onto the net. I'm at a loss what I need to do to be able to throw the Home Hub in a skip.
Would greatly appreciate any advice as this is frying my tiny brain!
Thanks in advance.
Macbook Pro, iPad 2, iPhone 4, Time Capsule

There are some issues here.. if your modem is plugged into the phone line it is adsl not cable modem..
The TC is not a modem.. it is a router.. you still need a modem to provide connection. Ask your new ISP for what their preferred modem is.. In the UK most ISP use PPPoA method of authenticaiton.. The TC cannot handle that.. they only offer dhcp to an existing router or PPPoE. That means the TC needs to be bridged. If the BT home hub is now running fast though, a new modem is not going to make the connection go faster.

Can I use time capsule as a back-up device and not use the wireless?

Hello. I have recently had many issues with a new Time Capsule.
My question is : Can I use my TC as a back-up device and not wireless while I am using my Lynksys router as my WiFi device? Thx.

Can I use my TC as a back-up device and not wireless while I am using my Lynksys router as my WiFi device?
Yes, turn off the wireless on the TC if you want to do this.
Open AirPort Utility, click on the TC, and click Edit
Click the Wireless tab at the top of the page
Change Wireless Mode to Off
Update to save the new settings

How to use Time capsule/machine to back up external HD

Hey, I cannot find an answer to this. My problem is simple. I just started using time machine with my new capsule. I have successfully used TM to back up my internal macbook hard drive, however all my music is on my external hard drive. I want time machine to back up my music from my current external HD to my Time Capsule. I've gone into Time machine preferences in order to remove my external HD from the "do not back up" list (which it is currently in), however, i am not allowed the option to remove it. Any thoughts.

First your external HDD with all your music needs to be directly connected to your Mac. Second, it needs to be formatted HFS+ (Mac OS Extended - Journal). Time Machine will not backup a FAT32 or NTFS formatted HDD. Check under Disk Utility to confirm. If you need to re-format, you will need to transfer all you data to another HDD and reformat with Disk Utility. After moving your files back, try Time Machine again. Go to Options and try to exclude.

Want to use Time Machine as wireless back up only - no internet

Im searching everywhere and unable to locate how to set up my TM as a wireless back up only. Im already hooked up to the internet and only want to use the backup feature in TM. Can someone give me directions or point me to the thread? thanks

Welcome to the discussion area!
By TM, I take it that you mean Time Capsule, correct?
If you want to backup using wireless only to the Time Capsule, you have two basic configuration choices to consider:
1) Connect the Time Capsule to your existing wireless router using an ethernet connection, and turn off the wireless on the Time Capsule. Backups will occur over your current wireless network. For most users, this is the easiest and most reliable way to configure a Time Capsule for back ups.
2) Configure the Time Capsule to "join a wireless network". In this configuration, the Time Capsule can be located virtually anywhere that it can receive a good wireless signal because it becomes in effect, only a wireless backup device.
Configuring the Time Capsule to "join" a wireless network can be quite tricky, even for experienced users because you must know the exact type of security the wireless network is using. It sounds simple, but different manufacturers use different names for the same thing, and it can be a challenge to get the device configured correctly without multiple tries. If you already have an Apple main router, this will be much easier to configure.
Post back for more details.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

I want to use Time Capsule simply as a backup harddrive, no wi-fi

My wife and I were talked into buying the Time Capsule. We only wanted an external HD to use Time Machine with (we are new to Leopard). No interest in using any wireless features. We were told to get a TC because it would work straight out of the box. Neither the SetUp Guide nor the Support website describe how to do this, so I just followed the directions in the SetUp Guide as best I could. I installed the disk. I went into Airport Utilities (all along, wondering why, but OK), and indicated that I would connect only with Ethernet cable. I went and bought an Ethernet cable ($$$). Did everything I was supposed to, short of setting up the internet connection, etc (again, I don't want the wireless stuff). Went into Time Machine, chose Set Up Time Machine. Tried repeatedly clicking on "Change Disk". The computer (MacBook) seems not to see the TC at all. TC is plugged in, and connected to MacBook with the Ethernet cord. Infuriating! I am starting to wonder if all I need to do is connect the two with a USB cable instead. I'd need to go get one of those. If this is it, why wouldn't they just say this somewhere in the SetUp Guide?????! Thank you to anyone who can help.

No, you do not use the USB port to connect to your Mac. That is only for connected a USB HDD or printer. Try opening AirPort Utility and ensure that under Disks you have File Sharing Enabled with Time Capsule password and restart TC.

Want to use Time Capsule as a back up AND external storage device-help!

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