Exactly How Does Time Capsule Work/Backup Strategy?

I've got a MacBook and several external drives I want to access wirelessly but I also want to backup all of them. I understand that Time Capsule won't backup any drives plugged into its external USB port. However, will the Time Capsule backup any external drive connected to my MacBook?
From what I've read it appears that the Time Capsule relies on the computer to backup the drive. If the computer is asleep or off, there's no backup. So it's only backing up my MacBook when I'm using it? Does that mean I should plan time when I'm not using it, to let it sit idle so the network activity doesn't interfere with my use of it? In which case, I could plug the drives into the MacBook at the same time. However, this seems somewhat inconvenient.
Since I want to use the drives wirelessly anyway, If they were all connected to something like a Mac mini, then everything connected to the mini could be backed up whenever. For that matter, could the Mini itself could be used as the AirPort and network drive for my MacBook and take the place of the Time Capsule (not to mention use as a second computer)? Would this be a better solution for my needs?
FYI, I already have an AirPort Express.

Woodwyn wrote:
So it's only backing up my MacBook when I'm using it? Does that mean I should plan time when I'm not using it, to let it sit idle so the network activity doesn't interfere with my use of it?
It backs up while the Mac is on, and it does it in the background. I have not noticed much difference working when it's on, so I just let it churn away while I do whatever I want to do. Remember that the backup is occurring over the local network only, and that should normally have a lot of capacity, especially over wireless n or Gigabit Ethernet. It's no big deal to use the Internet at the same time as Time Capsule, since your Internet connection is probably a fraction of your local network speed and has no problem getting through around the backup.

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  • How does time capsule compare to a different external drive

    how does time capsule cpmpare to other external drives used to perform backups with time machine?

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  • How does time machine work when being used with a mac pro?

    How does time machine work when backing up a mac pro?
    Considering the fact that the mac pro can hold 8TB and a external (non NAS) hard drive can hold only 2TB does time machine only backup the OS disk.

    macnewcomer22 wrote:
    Considering the fact that the mac pro can hold 8TB and a external (non NAS) hard drive can hold only 2TB does time machine only backup the OS disk.
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    I'm a writer who works on my MacBook Pro, the family's desktop PC and soon hope to have my own Apple desktop.
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    Is it possible to have the most current document(s) available no matter which machine I'm on?
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  • How does Time Machine work with Boot Camp?

    Hello, I'm going to install windows (I don't know if 7 or 8.1 yet) by bootcamp,
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  • Does time capsule work for windows

    Will Time Capsule work on Windows computers?

    Yes.  It's just a network drive to Windoze.  Once you find it browsing the network (assuming you named the worksapces riht, etc.), it will pop up on the list of network drives, and from there you can assign a drive letter to it and keep it auto-mounted.
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    Hi there
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    1. The Time Capsule will not automatically delete data that wasn't originally put on it as part of a Time Machine backup.
    2. It isn't possible to partition the Time Capsule. Network drives can only be partitioned by software specifically designed to work with that drive.
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  • Does Time Capsule Work for Anyone???

    I have a 3TB TimeCapsule and Mavericks on an iMac that about a year ago filled up and I had to restore from the backup (for reasons I forgot) and it royally screwed up permissions for files that I am still fighting.
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  • Does Time Capsule work on a new Mac Mini with 10.7.1 ?

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  • Does time capsule works with Lion?

    I am new to Mac after I had an HP damaged, and decided to move on to Mac.  As I do not want to repeat the experience of losing all the information for not backing it up, I was told that I could make backups with time Machine and Time Capsule.  I would like to check if it is possible, and if Time Capsule will work with Lion.  I have a 2011 MacBook Pro.  Thanks for your comments.

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  • Does time capsule work on bluetooth?

    I also want to know how to change it's owner's name
    Thanks!

    No, you can do it in complete isolation.
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  • How does time capsule distinguish between computers on the network?

    I used the migration assistant to set up my new MBAIR. Gave the old MBPRO to my wife, but want to back up both machines using Time Capsul. Just want to be sure that the TC will differentiate the two machines. I renamed the MBPRO in the Sharing Settings. I assume that should do it but don't want to undo a whole lot of work.

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  • How does Time Capsule identify Macs backing up towards it

    I have acquired a MacBook Air and copied data and settings from my MacBook Pro to it. I have no intention to replace the MacBook Pro, but to use both computers simultaneously. Everything works fine, but when both machines are online in my home LAN and are trying to execute a Time Machine backup to the Time Capsule, I very often get an error from the (old) MacBook Pro that the Time Capsule is busy.
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    Kind regards, Stefan

    Chamar wrote:
    Check the Time Machine Preferences on the MBA and check the setting of the ON/OFF slider.  If you do not want TM to automatically backup from the MBA, set it to OFF.
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