Do I need Time Capsule for my back up needs?

In my office, I have an iMac 24" 10.5.5. My secretary uses a PC and the server is a PC. At home, I use my Macbook, and my wife and kids each have laptops (4 of them total).
I want to make sure I 'back up' everything properly at the office and at home. Is there a way to backup both onto a single deal like Time Capsule? Or do I have to have two separate units? Is Time Capsule a wireless backup, or does it have to be connected to the computer you want to backup?
Help!
Bob

The Time Capsule is not really meant to used as a portable device, so it would have to be kept in a single location. Presumably this single location would be at your office where your iMac is. The only problem with one location is that your MacBook would only backed up when (or if) it's at your office. And I don't know if that happens and/or if you're away from your office for extended periods would that be acceptable (to not have a backup during that time).
Both computers could backup to one Time Capsule assuming there is enough disk space to do so and I'm unaware of how large the hard drives are that you have in each computer. And the Time Capsule can backup devices over both wired and wireless connections.

Similar Messages

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.

Time Capsule for a back-up device and a WiFi device

I would like to start backing up by way of a Time Machine (I assume this is the same as a Time Capsule). Is it possible to use a Time Capsule to back-up and to set up a Wireless network in my home? If so, is it possible to allow several people to use the Time Machine to get on the internet (like the Airport Extreme)?
My other option was to get a LaCie external hard drive as my back-up device. (do I need to worry about the LaCie being pre formatted HFS+ or is this pretty standard?) Being the novice that I am, I would like the easiest but highly secure set-up that is in this range. I think LaCie makes good external drives that work good with the Apple products which is why I would consider using this device for my back-ups and my old Airport Extreme for a wireless network in my home.
I have a 500 hard drive in my MBP and am looking at the LaCie Rugged Hard Disk
FireWire 400 & 800 | Hi-Speed USB 2.0 | 500 GB
thanks for any help.

One2Two wrote:
So the Time Capsule and Time Machine do go together, correct?
you could say time capsule was designed to work hand-in-hand with time machine.
The icon I have on the dock called Time Machine is the software I would use to get the Time Capsule up and running, correct?
no. you get time machine up and running using the time machine system preference pane. the icon in your dock is for when you want to enter time machine in order to restore files from your backups.
you configure the TC's router side with *airport utility*
Oh, I remember Jolly Giant--you and a couple of your buds were really trying to drive me into the ground with your men and untrue statements sometime back.
huh ?
if you're referring to my involvement in this thread -> http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2418460&start=0&tstart=0, i can see only supportive comments and suggestions from my fellow users and me.
So, if I were to get a Time Capsule, I would not need my 3-year-old Airport Extreme.
you don't need but you still can use it (unless it's dead).
Since formatting a drive is easy, is this knowledge a person needs beforehand or will the program walk one step by step?
you would use *disk utility* to format the drive. however, all my LaCie drives came formatted for Mac.
I was thinking another option that I could try to get my 3-year-old Airport Extreme up and running and get the LaCie as back-up hard drive.
again, time machine will not back up to drives connected to an airport extreme, however, ChronoSync will.
I would like the LaCie with the orange extra pad of protection
i have one of those myself (the one with firewire 400/800 and USB interfaces and 320 GB capacity) and use it for CCC clones. they are very handy and reliable.
I think CC clones are a bit over my head. I would like to get something that I just plug in it determines what needs to updated, does it thing and I disconnect it and of I go until I am at home next time.
CCC is very simple to use but it sounds like time machine (in connection with a time capsule or a directly attached LaCie drive) is the right thing for you - it's basically fire and forget. however, for time machine to work, your computer must be running.
JGG

Can i use 2 time capsule for the back of the same Mac computer, for improve the security of the data store

I will save my data in 2 time capsule at the same time for improve data security

Mountain Lion added this ability.. it doesn't do two backups at the same time but each time it backs up it uses the alternative location.
Under Lion you can manually set it to use a different target.. this isn't difficult but you must do it.

My MacBook Po can not connet with Time Capsule for Internet. Back-up are ok

Hi to all,
If I connect the ADSL line to Time Capsule no Internett available.
If connect the live with eternet cable to MacBook pro all is fine.
Mack book pro do all the backup with Time Capsule in WiFi
Hot to have the MacBook connectid to Time Capsule in WiFe for internet too??
Easy explanation please, I'm really beginner

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 a Time Capsule for ADDITIONAL storage for a Mac Air which has run limited storage space

Hi
I am looking at purchasing the current MacBook Air but am aware of its limited storage space in terms of files, photos etc.
Was wondering if I could use a time Capsule for both back-up and as an additional storage device. Ie: would I be able to store photos and files on the Time Capsule that I do not wish to store on a MacBook Air and be able to retrieve them as and when - or would these be deleted after a period of time? Is there any way of protecting certain files on the Time capsule to prevent them from being deleted?
Many thanks in advance

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
You can but it's not recommended, because you can damage the Time Machine structure.
Toffey wrote:
would I be able to store photos and files on the Time Capsule that I do not wish to store on a MacBook Air and be able to retrieve them as and when - or would these be deleted after a period of time? Is there any way of protecting certain files on the Time capsule to prevent them from being deleted?
Only files backed up with Time Machine are deleted from your Time Capsule when there's no enough storage. If you store other files, they are not deleted. However, for what you want to do, I recommend you to buy a big external drive and make two partitions, one for Time Machine and another one to store files, or get two external drives

How to divide time capsule for Mac and PC back up

Want to know if a cant use my time capsule to do back up for my MacBook and do manual back up for the PC of my wife

How to divide time capsule for Mac and PC back up
It is not possible to divide or "partition" the Time Capsule disk......unless you pull the hard drive from the Time Capsule (which voids the warranty), place it in a separate enclosure or caddy, connect the enclosure directly to your Mac, and use Disk Utility to partition the disk. Then, you must reinstall the disk back in the Time Capsule.
This is a lot of work....best done by an experienced technician. The operation will likely cost more than the cost of the Time Capsule.
Life would be tons easier if you used the Time Capsule with your MacBook and added a separate USB drive to the PC.
If you do not need to divide or partition the Time Capsule storage space, and you are willing to have the Mac and PC share the same space, take a look at an application like Macrium Reflect to backup the PC to the Time Capsule disk.
Still, having done this in the past, things would be much faster and easier for you if you use a separate USB drive for the PC.

Best practice to use Time capsule for back-up of 3 different products (MBP 15 OSX lion, MBP 13 OSX lion and MBA 13 OSX mountain lion)?. Only the MBP15 is back-up regularly.

When I want to save data of the MBA13 on mountain lion (wireless) with time capsule, hois there any best practice to perform?
After that, assuming that data are back-up, can we easily differentiate data in time capsule belonging to MBP15/13 and MBA13?

Unfortunately, Apple left off the Ethernet port....the most important port in networking....on the MBA, so your first backup of the entire Mac will need to be done using wireless.
That may take a day or two unless your MBA has a Thunderbolt port on it in which case you could add a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter and connect the MBA to the Time Capsule for the first backup using an Ethernet cable. It will probably only take 3-4 hours or less doing it this way.
Once you have the first complete backup done, other subsequent backups can be done using wireless since they will ony take a few minutes, on average.
Both Macs will backup to the Time Capsule using Time Machine automatically. Backups will be kept completely separate, so one Mac will normally only be able to "see" its own backups.

Time capsule for back-up only. How do you turn off the flashing amber light?

I am using time capsule to back up my work computer. I use internet through an ethernet cable, no wireless (it's my desktop work computer!), so don't need the airport - just back up on time machine.
I figured out (although there is NO information in the time capsule manual) how to set up the time capsule to wirelessly back up my computer, but because I don't have it plugged into the modem, and I haven't set up an airport connection, it blinks amber at me. How do I make it know that it is as set up as I want it to be, so it will be a steady green? Should I edit the airport utility options so that wireless network mode and/or router mode are "OFF"? If I set wireless mode to off, will my computer still "see" the time capsule and back up using time machine?
This might just be finicky on my part, but the flashing light is annoying me!

If you set up the Time Capsule to back up wirelessly, it functions only as a wireless hard drive...with no routing capabilities at all. In other words, the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule are not enabled, even though you might have an Ethernet cable connected.
Try opening Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the Time Capsule icon, then click directly on the amber dot
AirPort Utility will display a message with information about why the amber dot is flashing. It might be something like a message that a firmware update is available for the Time Capsule.
Should I edit the airport utility options so that wireless network mode and/or router mode are "OFF"?
No, since the Time Capsule will no longer connect wirelessly if you do this.

I lose my Internet connection, unplug my Time Capsule for a while, plug it back in and get my conne ction back. What may be causing that?

I lose my Internet connection, unplug my Time Capsule for a while, plug it back in, then in a few minutes my Internet is connected again. Can someone tell me what to do? Thanks

I was being jovial..
SL is snow leopard.. If you are on 10.6.8 you are on SL. Your initial post says 10.5.6 but I assumed you had upgraded to Lion or worse Mountain Lion.
Don't whatever you do update.. that is out of the frying pan into the fire.
You might need to give more network info..
What is the TC plugged into for broadband.. are you on cable, adsl, other.. is the TC in router mode.
I find with SL, the later versions of TC firmware much worse than earlier ones.. So I do recommend you check your TC and if you are on 7.6.1 then downgrade to 7.5.2 .. you do this by holding the option key when you select update firmware.. it will show you downgrade options as well as upgrade.. only this is not possible with newest Gen 4 TC which are stuck on 7.6.x firmware.
How do you connect to the TC is the other question.. and with what?? Is this issue computer only or iphone ipad etc. ie is your network wireless or ethernet (or both) does the issue affect both?

My Time Capsule has stopped backing up. I have an Apple Time Capsule which backs up by wireless. For the last 3 days it has not backed up. I get this message: "The backup was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk.

My Time Capsule has stopped backing up.
I have an Apple Time Capsule which backs up by wireless. For the last 3 days it has not backed up. I get this message:
"The backup was not performed because an error occurred while copying files to the backup disk."
I have gone into Mac Help and followed this down to stage 4:
under shared it lists my time capsule and my husband's iMac - both use the time machine but we have switched his off temporarily. Clicking on my Time capsule I get "Connected" and "Sharepoint" - I didn't have to enter connect or password
I don't understand stage 5: how and where do I select the disk or volume that contains Time Machine backups ? How do I know which it is? My disk utility lists 160.04 TOSHIBA MK... with sub-heading Macintosh HD. It also lists (with a "CD" icon) HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS22N
Under stage 6, how and where do I Locate your backup ? I try dragging my Time capsule from Finder to the Disk Utility side panel but it won't go. What is my computer's name?
Please someone help! I'm completely stumped.
Thanks,
Maggie
Mac Help says:
If you back up to a Time Capsule or network disk:
Open the Time Machine pane of System Preferences, and slide the switch to Off.
Open Time Machine preferences
Open Disk Utility, which is in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.
Open Disk Utility
Make sure the Time Capsule or network disk is turned on and available.
Open a Finder window, select your Time Capsule or network disk in the Shared section of the sidebar, and click Connect. If necessary, enter your user name and password.
On the Time Capsule or network disk, select the disk or volume that contains Time Machine backups. Depending on how your Time Capsule is set up, there may be one or more disks or volumes.
Locate your backup, and drag it to the Disk Utility sidebar.You can identify your backup by looking for your computer’s name in the backup’s filename.

Hello,
Thanks to the great Pondini...
http://pondini.org/TM/C3.html

Can I use two Time Capsules? one as an extension of my laptop (for music and video storage) and the other one to back up everything from the laptop and Time Capsule (for music and videos)

Can I use two Time Capsules? one as an extension of my laptop (for music and video storage) and the other one to back up everything from the laptop and Time Capsule (for music and videos)

Not via Time Machine. It cannot back up from a network location.
The 3rd-party apps CarbonCopyCloner and ChronoSync may be workable alternatives.
EDIT: And, if you're going to do that, you could back up from the Time Capsule to a USB drive connected to the TC's USB port. Second TC not required.
Message was edited by: Pondini

I am backing up to my time capsule for the first time. It has been stuck on 348mb of 20.1 gb for days. Is this normal or is the machine not functioning correctly?

I am backing up to my time capsule for the first time. It has been stuck on 348mb of 20.1 gb for days. Is this normal or is the machine not functioning correctly?

That seems to be OK via WLAN!
It ist better to do the first backup via LAN-cable.

Backing up macbook pro to time capsule for first time via ethernet

I set up a new 2T Time Capsule / Airport, let it run overnight, only about half way backed up. I deleted first backup file, and want to do the backup via ethernet. How do I do this?

....and want to do the backup via ethernet. How do I do this?
This will depend on how you have the Time Capsule connected to your network.
If you have it connected from your modem or modem/router using an Ethernet cable at the present time, you are already set. Just connect another spare Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports on the Time Capsule to your Mac....and be sure to turn off the wireless on the Mac before you start the backup.
Normally, about 25-30 GB of data will transfer per hour this way, so if your Mac has say, 60 GB of data loaded, the backup should take approximately 2-3 hours. Once the backup is complete, disconnect the Ethernet cable and turn the wireless back on at the Mac.
However, if you have the TIme Capsule configured to connect to your network using wireless only, then the Ethernet ports are not enabled on the Time Capsule in this type of setup. It is not possible to backup using an Ethernet connection unless you are willing to reconfigure the Time Capsule for the backup...and then reconfigure it again to get it back to its current setup.

I have two time capsules, one for work and one for home, how do I set up the work time capsule to only back up my work files?

I have two time capsules, one for work and one for home, how do I set up the work time capsule to only back up my work files? Also, how do I add co-workers to my work time capsule and wife to my home time capsule? Thank you!

You cannot have two different TC setups.. at least until Mountain Lion.. it did introduce some changes but I am not sure if you can setup two different configurations for TM.. you can use two different devices to back up to. I doubt this will help you.
You might be better using a real backup software.. superduper, CCC, chronosync etc.
The TC by default is available to any Mac in the network to do backups. TM will sort itself out and put each computer on a different backup. These are kept in separate sparsebundles.. so that is all fine.

Do I need Time Capsule for my back up needs?

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