Can I use the Time Capsule as a place to store files only?

I don't want my files backed up. For example, I want to be able to copy/paste things into the Time Capsule.
I would like to store all of my movie files in the Time Capsule and remove them from my Mac because it is taking too much space.
Sorry! I'm new to this and I don't really understand all the tech-lingo.

I would like to store all of my movie files in the Time Capsule and remove them from my Mac because it is taking too much space.
Before you do this, are you really willing to have no backup for your iTunes Media Folder containing all your movies, music, etc?
When....not if...the Time Capsule has a problem, you lose everything if you do not have a backup.
Only the most foolhardy of users would consider doing this.
Apple's instructions to move the iTunes Media Folder are here:
iTunes for Mac: Moving your iTunes Media folder

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I have a Time Capsule with 2tb of storage, and an I-Mac with 500Gb. (which is at capacity) Can I use the Time Capsule to store data in addition to backing up the hard drive?

I have a Time Capsule with 2tb of storage, and an I-Mac with 500Gb. (which is at capacity) Can I use the Time Capsule to store data from my hard drive that I want to access later in addition to backing up the hard drive?

Can I use the Time Capsule to store data from my hard drive that I want to access later in addition to backing up the hard drive?
Yes, but if you move the "original" data on your iMac to the Time Capsule....then the "original" data is now on the Time Capsule disk.
When...not if...the Time Capsule disk has a problem, you have no backups for this data.
Perhaps a much safer plan might be to add an external hard drive attached directly to your iMac. Then, move the data to that drive from the iMac.
Now, Time Machine will back up both your iMac and the external hard drive so you have "originals" on one drive and backups on another. Would that plan work for you?

Can i use the time capsule as just an external hard drive for music or does it have to be used soley as a backe up?? im thinking for music and photos

Can I use the time capsule as just an external hard drive for music or does it have to be used soley as a back up? I'm thinking for music and photos

Nickles96 wrote:
Hello friends.. I have a similar question, in that I would like to purchase the 2TB TC for use as a NAS device, in addition to taking advantage of the Air Port extreme.. Then I could dump my Linksys router.
I was originally looking at a Synology NAS solution, but the TC seems like it can meet my needs.
I have a Synology NAS as well as the Time Capsule. If you look at the 3.2 beta program, the Synology actually attempts to replicate TC functionality in that you can use it with Time Machine on your Mac.
I must say, Airport on the TC is definitely a nice feature!
Nickles96 wrote:
In addition to the obvious feature of the backup, can I indeed also use the TC as a NAS drive to access from remote locations (example from the office)?
I'm surprised more people aren't using the TC as a dedicated NAS deviced.. I've searched high and low on forums around the web, and don't seem to see many people trying to use it as I've outlined.
I can't see why this wouldn't fufill my needs, and take the place of a separate NAS solution (like the Synology, or iOmega, Seagate, etc....)
Has anyone used this TC as such?
Yes, you can do this and it's something I've been trying to do, but I'm currently having issues. I have another thread stating I consistently get "connection failed" messages. I'm basically storing my music/photo/video files on the TC and keeping my Mac hard drive fairly lean. In terms of NAS functionality, the TC is very basic. Synology/QNAP and others have a lot more features so don't rule them out.

Can i use the time capsule 2tb as a internet provider without having internet access?

Can i use the time capsule 2tb as a internet provider without having internet access?

Nope, the time capsule is a router, but it will still need access to the outside world (Internet) by way of a modem.

Can I use my time capsule to back up or save files from my pc?

My time capsule works great with my 2 Macs. I just got a PC and would like to know if I can use the time capsule to back up or save files from my PC?

You can.. but obviously PC is missing TM.. so you will need to use a backup software.
Saving files to the TC is not really recommended.. but as long as you have lots of space is unlikely to cause problems.. the whole idea of TM though is to keep incremental backups on an hourly basis and will slowly fill the TC.. once space is short.. it can get messy.
Also read Pondini who is positively against using it for other files.
http://pondini.org/TM/TCQ3.html
I suggest you read .. skim at least the FAQ so you actually understand what TM - TC is all about.
A USB drive plugged into the PC makes a better backup
1. It is formatted NTFS, ie native format and readable by any windows computer. A TC is a network device.
2. USB drives are cheap. You can use 2 of them and store one offsite.
3. USB traffic is not on the network.
4. Storing files on the TC is bad as it is a backup target not itself backed up.
5. In a pc you can add drive after drive after drive.. (assuming a desktop since you didn't say laptop). Only a Mac Pro can do that in the Mac world.. internal drives are cheaper than a. USB drives, b. network drives. And they are 10x or more faster.

Can i get the time capsule to automatically back up my file from my Mac Book Air but have certain files which are only stored on the time capsule and not the computer? Then can i access these files only on the time capsule without connecting it?

Can i get the time capsule to automatically back up my file from my Mac Book Air but have certain files which are only stored on the time capsule and not the computer? Then can i access these files only on the time capsule without connecting it?

igonneau wrote:
Can i get the time capsule to automatically back up my file from my Mac Book Air but have certain files which are only stored on the time capsule and not the computer?
You can, but how are you going to back up those other files? When (not if) your Time Capsule fails, you risk losing them. See #Q3 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule for details.
Then can i access these files only on the time capsule without connecting it?
Not sure what you mean. You have to connect a computer, either via Ethernet cable or wirelessly, to read or write to the disk.

How do i use my time capsule as a network to store files, etc.?

How do i use my time capsule as a network to store files, etc.?

There is no difference in setup..
Only trouble.. be warned this is quite problematic. With Mavericks even more so.
See Q3 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
Take particular note. The TC is not a NAS or file server.. it can be pressed into use as one.. but will suffer..
1. Slow spin up of the disk and fast spin down. Causing streaming and library issues with itunes.
2. iphoto is easily corrupted.. don't move it to a network drive at all.
3. no backup.. the TC cannot back itself up.. it is designed as a backup target for Time Machine. but Time Machine cannot backup network drives.. and nor did apple build in a backup.. it was never needed. After all it is a backup.. not a file store.
4. you cannot partition it. You will have issues with TM if you do store both data and TM backups on it.
5. You can use USB drive plugged into the TC, and experience a new definition of pain and suffering.. well slow file transfer anyway.
Good luck.

Can you use the Time Capsule as a wireless drive to share music on multiple computers

Does anyone know whether you can use the time capsule almost as a nextwork drive of sorts (i.e. to share Music etc amongst a few computers)?

The TC is a dumb hard drive inside an apple extreme router.. with a couple of knobs on.
It has no media servers.. and very little flexibility.. indeed it serves files.. AFP or SMB.. and that my friend is that.
So if you want a media server in the network..then a mini is a better proposition. At some point, with sales of ssd laptops soaring and space on these devices at a premium, Apple is long overdue on a revamp of the TC.. it is really either time to drop it or to create something a lot more powerful.. the mini might be a cheap computer but it is not really a file server.. having so little internal disk space and lacking external connectors unless you are rich enough to buy thunderbolt.

Can I use the Time Capsule as a storage device for my Ipad?

I want to get an Ipad for my wife because all she does is surf the net, email, and photoshop pictures. Can I get an IPAD and a Time Capsule and use the Time Capsule as like a shared drive to push pictures from the Ipad to the Time Capsule?
I do not want to store the pictures on the Ipad

It is difficult unless you tell us what format the movies are in and what player you are using?
iTunes library will not really work. The TC is not a Media Player or Media related in any way at all.
But if you store movies in one of many different formats that are available and use a player on the ipad that can read and play those files, it can work.
So we cannot help you without info.. what source are the movies from? What format are they in? What player are you using?
How flexible are you?
Can anyone recommend what I need
In the apple world with itunes you need a computer (Mac or Windows) running iTunes with a disk available to it big enough to hold your library. And some sort of router to connect the ipad and the computer in the network.
Apple intends you to use itunes in homeshare.
iOS: Setting up Home Sharing on your iOS device - Apple Support

Can I use the Time Capsule as a backup drive and wired network switch? I do not want to use the wireless part as I already have an ADSL 2 Wireless Router for that. Thanks.

Hi
I just went from PC to MAC. Have a MAC Mini and wanted to get a time capsule for backups. I would like to use it as a wired device instead of wireless. Would me connecting it to my router do the trick? Can I then use the LAN ports in the back of the capsule like I would a network switch? Can I just disable the wireless router part of the capsule as I already have an ADSL2+ Wireless Router.
Thanks

I wanted to run a cable upstairs from the switch downstairs so the Time capsule becomes my upstairs switch (as I only have Wireless upstairs at the moment. That will work right?
Cheers.
Yes, that is also fine.. ethernet being the cable you run.. !!
You still don't have to use a TC.. which is still a rather expensive box for the job.. an Airport Extreme would offer the same exactly minus hard disk for cheaper price and more than likely better lifespan.. TC with internal power supply run too hot.

Can I use the time capsule internal hard drive for file storage?

Can I configure the Time Capsule internal HD to function as a network file server as well as handling time machine backups?
Can the internal HD be partitioned?

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.
It cannot be partitioned. It was and is and ever shall be a backup device for Time Machine.
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.
3. The drive is slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. there is no controls.
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!!
5. iTunes will constantly lose connection to the library. The disk is too 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 I use the time capsule as backup and hard disk at the same time?

Hi.
I want to buy a time capsule.
I wondered, if I can use the time capsule as backup (over time machine) and as a hard disk at the same time?
If I buy the 2TB time capsule, I wanted to use 1TB for the backup and 1TB for hard disk.
Is this possible?
Best wishes
Sophie

It is not recommended.. the problem being anything stored on the TC only is not backed up and cannot be backed up by the TC itself or Time Machine. So what are you going to do about back.. the TC can and do die suddenly.. and the cost of recovery can be huge.
See Q3 here for the semi-right way to do it if you must.
http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
You can plug a USB drive into the TC and use that for files.. but note, its speed is poor.. fine for wireless as wireless is even slower but you will really notice it if you expect the drive to be as fast as the internal.. it will be a fraction of the internal drive speed. 1/2 write and 1/3 read aprox.
See http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/airport-extreme-5th-gen-and-time-capsule-4th- gen-review-faster-wifi-/7

Can I use the Time Capsule strictly for system backup and continue to use my Airport Extreme for all my wireless needs

I want to use the Apple Time Capsule as an external drive and continue to use my Airport Extreme for all my wireless needs. Can I do that? The reason I ask is that my Time Machine utility cannot find the TIme Capsule - it only shows me the Airport Extreme, even when I "Rescan". SO I am unable to use the Time Capsule.

You will need to connect an Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on the AirPort Extreme to the WAN "O" port on the Time Capsule.
Perform a "hard reset" on the Time Capsule by holding in the reset button for 9-10 seconds, then give it another minute to restart to a slow, blinking amber light.
Open AirPort Utility, select the Time Capsule, and click Manual Setup
Click the Time Capsule tab located below the row of icons to assign a name to the Time Capsule, a device password, and adjust Time Zone settings.
Next, click the Wireless tab located to the right of the Time Capsule tab
Change the setting for Wireless Mode to Off
Click the Internet icon, then click the Internet Connection tab
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Click Update at the lower right to save the settings and allow 30 seconds for the Time Capsule to restart to a green light.
You are all set

Can I use the Time Capsule as a media server

As many, I have hundreds of CDs. I was hoping I could store all of my music on the time capsule as well as movies I have purchased and pictures, and use it as a media server. I've heard yes and no in other forums. Any ideas?

The Time Capsule is a dumb hard drive with no brains. It is not a media server and will not ever be one.
If you want to put your music and movies on the Time Capsule, you can do so, just like you could place them on any external hard drive.
But, you will need to have a DLNA server running somewhere else on your network to be able to do anything with the data on the Time Capsule.
Best to use the Time Capsule as it was designed and intended.....for backups....not any active or everyday files.
Speaking of backups, if you place your music and movie files on the Time Capsule.....how will you then back up those files to another hard drive?

Can I use the time capsule connected to my linksys wireless hub

I just bought the Time Capsule to use as storage and use my printer remotely. I already have at home a Linksys wireless hub, can I use both, the Time Capsule, and the Linksys ? With the Capsule connected to the Linksys.

I just bought the Time Capsule to use as storage and use my printer remotely. I already have at home a Linksys wireless hub
So, you want to use the Time Capsule only as a backup device and continue to use the Linksys router for your wireless network, is that correct?
If yes, are you able to connect the Time Capsule to the Linksys router using an Ethernet cable?

Can I use the Time Capsule as a place to store files only?

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