Can I Partition a Time Capsule? and more...

My existing setup consists of an Airport Extreme wirelessly supporting 2 MacBooks ("MBs") 5 iOS devices, 2 WiFi/Airprint printers and then by wire (Ethernet) a couple of other devices. In addition, the Extreme has a USB external hard drive visible/accessible to both MBs. Both MBs have their own external hard drives configured as Time Machines. All devices have latest software upgrades/updates.
I am thinking of replacing the Extreme with a 3TB Time Capsule ("TC") and I propose to Partition the TC's drive into 3 – with one partition supporting MB1's TM, the second supporting MB2's TM, and the third partition supporting/acting like a common hard drive (the same as exists external on the Extreme). The existing external hard drives acting as TMs would be set aside and saved for TM recoveries; the TC situate TMs would simply commence as new TMs (I envision difficulties not worth the effort in moving the existing TM backups to the TC).
Query 1: Can the latest 3TB Time Capsule be partitioned as I have proposed? (The reason I pose the question is a series of discussions dating back to 2012 that indicate a TC cannot be partitioned but the current Apple Store page for the 3TB TC indicates a TC can support multiple TMs: "you can back up all the Mac computers in your home to a central location.") A review indicates the TC established at least two TMs automatically, but I'd like to also dedicate some space for a third partition non-TM drive….so, the Q – can I partition a TC?
Query 2: Would I just be better off not trying to partition the TC and just letting it support two TMs automatically and plugging in a separate hard drive, as I currently have? (Why hasn't Apple upgraded the USB connection to 3.0? oh, well, they probably will a month after I buy mine, right? )
Query 3: When moving the existing MBs from desk to couch it is necessary to first eject the existing TM external hard drives. If the TMs are moved to (or replaced by) a TC that would appear to no longer be necessary – because they aren't physically connected anyway. (Having typed this it seems so obvious, but….I'm asking because I just want to confirm.)
Any other suggestions/observations/watch-its would be welcomed. Thanks.

Query 1: Can the latest 3TB Time Capsule be partitioned as I have proposed? (The reason I pose the question is a series of discussions dating back to 2012 that indicate a TC cannot be partitioned but the current Apple Store page for the 3TB TC indicates a TC can support multiple TMs: "you can back up all the Mac computers in your home to a central
The Time Capsule drive cannot be partitioned in a traditional sense unless you pull the drive from the Time Capsule (which voids the warranty), place the drive in a SATA to USB caddy or enclosure, attach the caddy directly to a Mac, and then use Disk Utility for the formatting operation. Once that is done, then you have to reinstall the drive back in the Time Capsule. Not a job for the faint of heart....and best left to a technician.
The Time Capsule "as is", can support multiple Time Machine backups from different Macs, but is basically a free for all as far as space is concerned. Time Machine backs up to a special file called a sparsebundle on the Time Capsule, and while it is possible to modify or limit the size of the sparsebundle file for each Mac, it is a complex operation. This document will give you an idea of the process:
http://pondini.org/TM/A8.html
Query 2: Would I just be better off not trying to partition the TC and just letting it support two TMs automatically and plugging in a separate hard drive, as I currently have?
Much simpler, therefore much better to do it this way.
Query 3: When moving the existing MBs from desk to couch it is necessary to first eject the existing TM external hard drives. If the TMs are moved to (or replaced by) a TC that would appear to no longer be necessary – because they aren't physically connected anyway. (Having typed this it seems so obvious, but….I'm asking because I just want to confirm.)
Time Machine will automatically back up to the Time Capsule once you have it set up. No need to mount, or eject the drive, etc.
Any other suggestions/observations/watch-its would be welcomed.
The current version of the Time Capsule will be two years old in June....and Apple traditionally introduces new products in June.

Similar Messages

Can i partition the time capsule so i can use it as a server as well?

can i partition the time capsule so i can use it as a server as well?

In order to partition the Time Capsule, you would have to open up the Time Capsule case, pull the hard drive, install it in a separate enclosure, connect the enclosure directly to your Mac, and then use Disk Utility for the partitioning operation.
Then, you have to reverse the entire process to install the drive back in the Time Capsule.
In addition to being a lot of work, something like this will void the warranty on the Time Capsule.
Niel's suggestion of creaing a disk image on the Time Capsule drive to reserve a given amount of space would be by far the easiest way to accomplish things.

HT201514 Can I reset my time capsule and restat

Can I reset my Time capsule and re start?

You do not need to reset to restart.
Reset means changing settings..
Restart means power off.. power on. Since it doesn't have a power switch we just pull the power cable usually.
I am unclear what the question is though?

Can you partition the Time Capsule hard drive?

I would like to back up through AirportExtreme 2 different Macs with Time Machine
but obviously I would first need to partition the Time Capsule HD !
Is it possible and how would I go about this? I can't find no infos in the manual...
Thanks for your help.

First you do not have to partition the drive to backup multiple computers. Each computer creates a separate file for the backup.
Second there is no way (currently) to partition the drive without taking the TC apart, removing the hard drive, putting it in an external drive enclosure, and partitioning it.

Can you use two Time Capsules and back up both with Time Machine.

My little iMac hard drive (250GB) is quickly filling up with my iTunes library (180GB). I have a 500GB Time Capsule which I use to back up my system via Time Capsule. I would like to move my iTunes library to an external hard drive. If I add the 1TB Time Capsule and use it as my main system back up and wireless router can I use my 500GB Time Capsule as an external drive to locate my iTunes library? Will I be able to back up both my iMac HD and the 500GB Time Capsule to the 1TB Time Capsule using Time Machine or some other method?
Finally if I can do this can I have both Time Capsules running wireless?
Message was edited by: mwheelerk
Message was edited by: mwheelerk
Message was edited by: mwheelerk

Could I simply make a copy and move it between the two Time Capsule on a routine basis say every two weeks or month?
Yes
I know I will have to "point" or "map" the new location of my iTunes library to the external hard drive/2nd Time Capsule. Once that is done wouldn't Time Machine then just find the location and back it up along with all the data on the iMac hard drive?
Since this Time Capsule would be connected wirelessly or via Ethernet to your Mac, it would appear as a network drive. Time Machine will not back up data FROM a network drive. Therefore Time Machine will not back up data on this other Time Capsule.

Can you partition a Time Capsule?

My situation is, I would like to use 1 Harddrive for both a back-up and general files.
I work as a freelancer and when I'm finished with a project I just throw it on a HDD just incase I ever have to go back to it. I don't want to spend too much on a new Harddrive so I thought maybe I could use a large Time Capsule to firstly back my computer up and then perhaps on the partition put my work files on?
Another question:
Are the transfer speeds solely based on your interenet connection? This could mean you get thunderbolt speed transfers if you have good interenet right?
Thanks,
Tim.

1. The Time Capsule can't be partitioned, but disk images can be stored on it. You should get a regular external drive anyway; the Time Capsule's internal drive will eventually fail.
2. Data transfer between your computers and the Time Capsule is local traffic and independent of the speed of the Internet connection.
(111945)

Can I have two Time Capsules and back up to both?

Would it be possible to have two TC, one at each end of the house and have them share the same network wirelessly? And allow backup to each one independently, so as to have duplicate backups on two units?
Thanks,
Richard

It may be possible with some work-arounds, but I wouldn't recommend it (time machine or apple doesn't support something like this). Backing up wirelessly and duplicating that backup wirelessly will take an incredible amount of time.
I'd set up the time capsule as your main base station and use another airport (like the express) to extend the signal if you're having wireless connection issues.
To make backups of the time capsule drive, the best thing to do is to plug a usb hard drive into it and use the archive function in airport utility. This copies the time capsule disk to the external drive which you can then move to another location.

How can I get my time capsule and airport express (as a network extension) working properly together?

Hi,
I bought a time capsule a while back and connected it to my modem, and it seems to be backing up my hard drives but I can't tell if I'm getting my wireless signal from my time capsule or from the modem itself, which used to before I bought the time capsule.
It's bugging me because I'm trying to get my airport express to work as an extension to my network, and airport utility half the time can't pick up the express. I heard that it will only work of the time capsule is working as the base station,and I'm not 100% sure this is the case.
Also, how far can the airport express be from my time capsule for it to be picked up? I tried resetting it which helped to start with, but when I was setting it up to extend my network it just told me that there was an error and to try again, which I did with the same result.
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Cheers

Always do setups with ethernet.. setting up wireless via wireless is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on.
You do not need the TC in the network to do the setup.
Plug it by itself into the computer. Same with AE. But do each separately.
Give the TC a different wireless name.. like TC.. then you will know the TC wireless is separate and different to the main modem router. Simply allow it to be extended.
Plug it back into the main modem.
Now do the AE.. set it to extend the wireless of the TC.
When you do this check the signal level. The airport utility v5 has a full diagnostic of wireless client levels.. do not use v6 utility.. it is useless. The AE is placed somewhere in between the TC and the clients you want to connect.. it has to get decent signal itself to extend wireless. And there is no way we can tell you how far apart.. pick the half way point.. around about and suck and see. If it doesn't work move closer to the TC.
Count the walls the signal is going through.. about 15% signal loss for each one.. if angle is acute 20%.. floors are worse.. they might be 20-25%..

I just purchased two Macbook Air along with two Time Capsule (2TB) for my kids. Meanwhile I use a sagemcom ADLS modem/router for home use. Can I connect both Time Capsule and laptop which will allow both laptop to have their own backup system?

I want both of the computers to have their own independent time capsule.

want both of the computers to have their own independent time capsule.
I assume that you are asking about using the Time Capsules for Time Machine backups here, correct?
If yes, both MBAs will be able to select the specific Time Capsule that they will use for backups, so "point" MBA1 to Time Capsule 1 and MBA2 to Time Capsule 2.
Since you will have plenty of available backup space if you use two Time Capsules, you might want to consider having each MBA back up to both Time Capsule 1 and Time Capsule 2.
This way, if one Time Capsule fails, you will still have a complete set of backups for both MBAs.

About time capsule and external hard disk

I have got rMBP. I also have got time capsule. External WD hard disk is connected to time capsule.
I have got 3 users in my rMBP:
(1) Admin : Administrator
(2) User A : I normally do all my work from this user.
(3) User B: I recently added this new user.
Here, using Finder tabs, User A can see time capsule and External WD hard disk. But, Admin and User B cannot. I also want User B to have the ability to see WD hard disk (and time capsule). For User B and Admin, time capsule does show up, but it shows as not connected. How can I provide User B the ability to see External WD hard disk (since User B needs to store large different files there)? Any permission issue on hard disk?
(Amazingly backup does take place automatically even if I am connected as User B or Admin).
I will appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

Emma1609 wrote:
Hi,
hi emma, and welcome to discussions
Once the external HD is turned on my Time Capsule is not longer recognized. I can't connect to Time Capsule and make any backups. It is also no longer appearing in the Airport settings.
you could try a power cycle on your devices. turn off modem, TC, and HD for, say, 10 minutes. turn the modem back on for 2 minutes, followed by the HD, followed by the TC.
then go airport utility > manual setup > disks. see if your HD is showing beneath the TC

Time Capsule and external Hard Disc

Hi,
I have a problem with my Time Capsule (1 TB) and External Hard Disc (1 TB). The external HD is connected via USB. The idea is to have use the device as a shared HD in my network. First it worked perfect. After upgrading to Snow Leopard i have following problem.
Once the external HD is turned on my Time Capsule is not longer recognized. I can't connect to Time Capsule and make any backups. It is also no longer appearing in the Airport settings.
Can anybody help?
Thank you.

Emma1609 wrote:
Hi,
hi emma, and welcome to discussions
Once the external HD is turned on my Time Capsule is not longer recognized. I can't connect to Time Capsule and make any backups. It is also no longer appearing in the Airport settings.
you could try a power cycle on your devices. turn off modem, TC, and HD for, say, 10 minutes. turn the modem back on for 2 minutes, followed by the HD, followed by the TC.
then go airport utility > manual setup > disks. see if your HD is showing beneath the TC

I have partitioned my time capsule, but I can't get it to work as a Time Machine back up and permanent media server for both mac and PC. What format do I need to partition the drive to so that it works for both mac and windows and so that it will be visab

I have partitioned my time capsule, as I want part of it to act as a media server for both mac and windows. However I don't know what format that I need to partition it to. I also can't make it a permanently accesible drive. I want to restore the drive to the original format (which I don't know) and start again and re-partition the drive in a format that can be used for media by both mac and PC and for time machine back-ups and make the media part of it permanetly accesible so I can add and acccess my files.
Thanks

You are mixing up a couple of things here.
The TC drive cannot be partitioned without removing it.. did you do that?
If you partition it you must use a Mac disk utility and use the HFS+ ie standard Mac format. And GUID partition table not windows type.
You can select erase disk in the airport utility.. that will take the disk back to original format. No partitions. TC is deliberately not partitioned as it is not a media server.. it is a backup device for TM. Over time .. the disk will be filled with TM backups so you have a long history of file changes to your computer.
There is no media server in the TC.. it is merely disk storage.. you can serve files from it to a media device.. but the TC itself is dumb as dumb.
Now the actual format of the drive is irrelevant to the PC.. The TC offers SMB file services to the network. You can copy files to and from the TC as if it was a local disk without caring one iota about the format. The TC handles that .. it is not a local disk .. it is a network drive.
Although you cannot partition the TC. you can still copy files to it.. this does have implications for TM.. but as long as there is plenty of free space should not be a major issue.
You can create a disk image via the disk utility in a Mac.. and as stated you can create partitions if you do it on a Mac with the disk directly connected which means breaking warranty if any exists on the TC.

I have 1TB time capsule and i need to back up more media. Can i also use a 3TB time capsule asswell?

i have 1TB time capsule and i need to back up more media. Can i also use a 3TB time capsule asswell?

You can, but it is not possible to continue backups "seamlessly" from one Time Capsule to the other.
Time Machine will make a new complete backup of each Mac on the first pass when you connect the new 3TB Time Capsule.

Can I use my time capsule for time machine back ups and as an external storage device?

I have a time capsule and have set it up so that my time machine back ups are saved on it, but I would also like to use it as an external hard drive. Is this possible?
I know nothing about computers so please tell me in very basic terms. thankyou!

By external hard disk we usually mean one plugged into the computer by USB or Firewire or Thunderbolt.
None of those works on the TC.. it is plugged in by ethernet or use wireless connection.. that means it is a network drive.. not an external drive. The difference might not mean much to you.. but it is totally different to the computer. In the former case the computer has full control of the disk. In the case of the network drive, the disk is controlled by the TC firmware and the files are stored and accessed by network. This has large implications.
So here is my standard response.
Store files on the TC.
This is asked several times a day.. obviously people are struggling with their latest SSD being too small.
The TC is not suitable for network file server.. but many people having no choice press it into service as such.
Major issues.
1. No backup.. no way Time Machine can backup a network drive. No place to backup to.. So all your files will be at risk. And you will need to buy a third party like CCC to do backup.
2. The TC cannot be partitioned and mixing TM backups and data is not great. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no control. In fact the TC is so lacking in controls for even the router side.. that you cannot do more than the most basic of setups.
The following are controls on the hard disk side.
Reformat it. You can name the share. You can do a full archive of the whole disk. This will go at a speed of aprox. 30-50GB/Hr so calculate how long an archive of a full 2TB will take.
4. iPhoto in particular can easily corrupt its entire library with wireless networking causing a disconnection to one photo. Even if you do this;;; do not move your photo library... you have been warned!!
Even apple btw say don’t do it.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5168 Although mostly about FAT32 it adds network drives.
5. iTunes can constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is slow to respond.. itunes on the computer will constantly spit out errors. Even in the midst of streaming the TC can spin down the disk due to caching.
6. Do not use any live files on the TC no matter what else you do.. if you edit files in whatever program the file must be on the local hard disk.
7. The only suitable location for most libraries is a computer. You can plug in an external hard disk.
Read pondini for some work arounds.
Q3 here. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

Can time capsule store more than the data on my computer?

Can time capsule store more than the data on my computer?
I have a lack of data storage space on my macbook hence I would like to know if Time Capsule is an external hard drive and not just a back up device.

It is a backup device.. in fact it is a backup device for wireless clients in particular hence it is a wireless router with a hard disk inside.. if you use it for storage.. it has one or two big weaknesses..
It is slow.. cf a real NAS with raid.. a single slow green drive is plenty for backups.. less than adequate for storage.. fine over wireless of course.. lousy if you are trying to pass big files.. like your iphoto library back and forth.
But the biggie.. IMHO.. no backup.. the TC has no way to back itself up.. and TM cannot include the content of the TC in a backup to another location.. TM cannot backup any network drive.
So your files will be stored on one bottom of the market, cheapest possible drive available.. with no backup.. !!
Time Machine and data files may also not so happily co-exist.. the TC cannot be partitioned (well not internally).
You can create data images... but is this a good idea??
Read a bit of pondini.
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
Q3

Can I Partition a Time Capsule? and more...

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