How do I use Time Capsule for backup only over an existing network (or ethernet)

Ok, first, I have been using Mac now for about 2 years and every little thing I do is much harder than advertised. I have yet to experience the mythical ease of Apple products.
With that said, I was talked into buying this 2TB Time Capsule. Which right now seems to serve nicely as a very expensive paper weight.
Here's what I am trying to do. I was told I could use this as a wireless backup. I have a cable modem and router in my house. I do not want to insert Time Capsule as the router. I would like to either hook it up to the existing network or have it just wireless. Whatever works best for backup use.
I set the time capsule up to connect to an existing network. Which it did. Green light is on.
When I select it as a backup drive in Time Machine, it works. However it does not back up. It will say Waiting to Backup and do nothing. If I select Back Up Now on Time Machine, it says it cannot find the disk.
Is it possibly because I had used another backup disk prior and kept it? When I set the Time Capsule I selected to use both.
I am at a loss. I am not a techie. And there are more options of use than the instructions cover.

The problem is your method of connection I suspect.
The TC was always designed to plug into the main router. It does not have to be in the same room but it has to be ethernet connected.
Please post a few screenshots of the setup.. that makes it so much easier for me to work through it with you.
Posting screenshots here is easy.. press the little camera and select the shot from finder.
What I need is the summary page from your airport utility.. ie this one.
Then click on edit button which I have highlighted and show me the tabs for Internet, Network and wireless. eg this is the internet. (show me the whole thing.. I have cut it off to keep it small).
We can then work through the issues.

Similar Messages

Using Time Capsule for backup only (no Wifi)

I posted a problem in another thread ( https://discussions.apple.com/message/22500623#22500623 ) about conflicts with my Time Capsule and Comcast modem. Apple concluded that there was a hardware problem with the Time Capsule. I got a new Time Capsule yesterday since I couldn't get a refund on the old one. Because configuring the Time Capsule to work as a Wifi station requires such a hassle and I don't get any extra benefits in terms of speed compared to my Comcast modem, I now have a very expensive hard drive for backup. I have some questions about using the TC for backup only since I am running into some problems with the backup.
1. Does the TC have to be connected to my modem? It seems that when I do not connect the TC to the modem then I end up with the backup stalling after a few GB. Additionally, I end up with the flashing amber light.
2. If I do connect the TC to the modem it backs up but my WIFI grinds to a halt (likely a product of all the data pushing from the computer through the modem and to the TC). I should add that in Airport Utility I have turned off WIFI on the TC so it should not be interfering with the WIFI. If I do need to connect to the modem are there any tips for not messing up WIFI speeds beyond just backing up when everyone is asleep? I assume not, but it can't hurt to ask.
Thanks.

2. My initial setup showe various errors so I hooked the TC into the modem via the WAN port and then I was able to set up (WIFI off, Bridge Mode OFF) and those errors went away.
If I understand your last post correctly, you say that I should do a reset on the TC. Re-configure but leave the errors because backups will still work. Then I can leave the TC unplugged until I need to use it (which has the added bonus of limited flashing amber light). Is this correct?
You are setting up the TC in the wrong mode.. it has to be in Router mode.. Not Bridge..
You are worrying too much about the flashing amber.. it is irrelevant. You can select ignore and it will go green.
This setup is actually simple.
So here is what I suggest.
1. Factory reset the TC.
Just to get started from a clean setup. And that will put the TC in the correct mode.. ie dhcp and nat.
2. Plug it by ethernet LAN TC to computer. On the computer no other connection.. turn off wireless.
3. Just change the name of the TC to something short as it helps.. eg TCGen5
And turn the wireless off.
And ignore all the other problems.
4. Now setup TM.. I would also start clean.. do a fresh TM setup .. see A4 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
5. Run the backup. Maybe even erase the TC before you start so you are really doing a fresh clean backup.
The very first backup will start quickly and drop to very slow speed as there are heaps of very small files in the system.. these take a long time to process.. but as it proceeds it will speed up. Overall you should still average 50GB/hr.
6. Once you complete the first backup, later ones should be fine.. but do not expect them to work as well as when you do it hourly.. it does need to do a lot more work to figure out where the TM backup is up to.
I would like to get you to have another crack at using the TC properly in the network. When you are over the pain of all this.. and perhaps when apple releases a decent firmware update you can go back to it.. but I have another suggestion for setup. Get the above working first so you have a good first backup of all your computers.

How can I use Time Capsule for backups and an external hard drive?

I have a large file/program on my iMacs hard drive that is 62GB and I would like to keep only things I need on my iMac. I have a 2tb time capsule currently used for backing up. It has roughly 1.66 TB free. How can I move the 62GB program onto my Time Capsule and still use it for backups? Also, is this stable? And don't worry about backing the program up because it came on 8DVD discs.
Thanks.

1. Mount the Time Capsule as a drive and drag the application over to it. If the application requires system components, those won't be transferred; if those are only data files, you may be able to drag them over as well and then create a symlink or alias to a folder enclosing their current location.
2. The application may work slowly if this is done. Note that Time Machine will eventually use up all the free space on the Time Capsule that isn't reserved by being allocated to a disk image.
(66649)

Use time capsule for backup for HP Windows computer?

How can I use Time Capsule for backup on a HP Windwos computer?

Apple does not offer Windows backup software.
A popular PC application used to backup a PC on the Time Capsule is Genie Timeline Pro. You might want to take a look:
Genie Timeline Pro | Overview | Time Machine Backup Software for ...

Possible to simultaneously use time capsule for backup + another router for internet?

I will soon be moving into an apartment in which my landlord provides wireless internet through her own router.
I also have my own Time Capsule, which I'd like to continue to use to back up my Mac via Time Machine.
Is it possible to connect to both my Time Capsule (for backup only) and another router (for internet only) at the same time?
If not, can anyone suggest a good workaround?

moskovit wrote:
I've done a little research, and it looks like I might be able to wirelessly daisy chain the two routers, using WDS (wireless distribution system), assuming my landlord's router supports it, but that this would drop the speed of the internet significantly: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2623802?start=0&tstart=0
It works extremely poorly and the landlord would need to agree to it.. plus it would require use of WEP security which is hackable by children with internet hack kits in about 2min flat. Don't go there. Apple have made their products incompatible with most other routers. So any suggestion of a workaround will involve spending some money on your part.
You could buy a airport express and plug that into the main router by ethernet.. again if allowed. Your TC can do wireless bridge to another apple product very well. Messy but could work. It is not that expensive to get a second hand AEBS and use that. You don't need the latest products but wireless range would be better in the AEBS than AE.
So I'm still wondering: Is there another workaround? Is there a way to get my mac to connect to my time capsule (for backup) and another router (for internet) simultaneously, or is that just technologically impossible? If it's impossible, is there another solution?
You cannot wirelessly connect to two different wireless devices at once on one client. You need to either have a second wireless client in the laptop.. for instance a USB stick which can be fairly tiny nowadays. It is just you need to find one with Mac drivers. Or the TC must have internet connectivity. You could get that by buying a wireless bridge, and using that in your room, with the TC plugged into it. Universal wireless bridge devices are fairly cheap, but can be a pain to setup. Look for products that work with the main router and use as fast a speed as possible. It can be a tricky setup as you need the wireless bridge working on one channel and the TC working on another. What I am suggesting is the WDS solution you found but using two different boxes to do it. And not using WDS at all, unless the main router is suitable, but rather universal bridge.
The hassle of all that suggests to me,, I would go for the wireless stick, so your Mac laptop has two wireless clients.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/iMAC-MAC-Apple-Airport-G3-G4-G5-OS-X-USB-WIRELESS-CAR D-/290538112833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a56bc741
I have no idea if this works just to show you what I mean. Please do research it yourself.
An ethernet connection to the TC is far superior solution albeit would require you to plug and unplug it.

Setting up Time Capsule for backup only on existing wireless network

I have a wireless network already set up with a NetGear wireless router. Cable plugs into router, router connected via ethernet cable to my Power Mac G5 desktop, plus 2 PC laptops in the house also connect wirelessly to the home network via this router.
I want to set up Time Capsule as an external hard drive to back up all three computers -- I don't necessarily need to use it as a wireless router although i'm not opposed to that if it's easier to do it that way.
When i try to set it up using AirPort utility, i get the amber flashing light. Airport utility is able to discover the device, and then always asks if it's OK to switch networks. I've tried both "switch" and "don't switch"; either way when i try to set it up, AirPort utility stalls out on "Reading Time Capsule Configuration"; eventually giving me the error msg: "Base Station Error: AirPort Utility was unable to find your Apple wireless device."
All i want to do is mount it as an external hard drive so i can use Time Machine for backup, and be able to use it to also back up the PC laptops wirelessly. I need help in the following three areas:
1. How should I be physically connecting my devices if i want to do this? Which cables go in which ports? There is only one ethernet port on the back of my G5. The G5 can connect to the router either wirelessly OR via ethernet cable. I've tried G5-->Time Capsule-->Router, G5-->Router-->Time Capsule, Router-->G5 PLUS Router-->Time Capsule, and I've tried every variation on the regular ethernet and WAN ports. What's the right way to do this.
2. If i'm not setting up the TC as a Wireless Router, is AirPort utility even the right tool for setting it up? it seems to be confused by the two wireless networks and won't let me get past that point. Am I supposed to click "Switch" when it asks me to switch networks? Is there a way to just mount it as an external drive and bypass the AirPort utility setup entirely?
3. Once i get it set up so it's visible as an external drive and usable for Time Machine backup, how do i then make it available to the other PCs on the network so they can back up to it also?
Thanks for your help.

sarah,
You already have an existing wireless network.
You do not need to plug the Time Capsule into anything except power.
Set the Time Capsule to "Join an existing wireless network"...
That is all you need to do.
Then all the computers should see the Time Capsule.
If you can't see "Join an existing wireless network" in the choices, hold down on the option key and then click on the choices.
Give that a try.

Using Time Capsule for Backup Drives, Storage, and an iTunes Server?

I have a 500 GB Time Capsule to accompany my Macbook. The Time Capsule connects to my household's existing wifi network and is not connected by a cord to my computer. I went through a great deal of difficulty setting it up, but now it's time to start using it. I just canceled my off-site backup service, so I really need and appreciate your help and advice.
I want my Time Capsule to perform a few different tasks:
1) Time Machine backups for TWO different user accounts on my Macbook
2) Additional file storage
3) iTunes server
Is this possible? If so, how would I accomplish it?

1) Time Machine backups for TWO different user accounts on my Macbook
Time Machine backs up the ENTIRE hard drive. It is not user dependent.
2) Additional file storage
Yes
3) iTunes server
You can use it to store your iTunes library. However iTunes will need to run on your MacBook to play the music.

I want to use the Time Capsule for backup only.

I picked up a Time Capsule thinking I could use it just for backups. So far, I've been unable to connect to it. I did set it up to extend my current WiFi network, but now I can't see it with Time Machine. What do I do to make the Time Capsule to function just as a wireless back up drive?

OK, I tried this, what happened is that my iMac lost connection to the Internet while the Ethernet connection was active.
I said to do this only whilst you setup the TC.. and maybe do the initial backup .. otherwise the idea is to put the TC into the network, which is what you were trying to do.. but obviously do it so that it works.
As stated, if you bridge the TC.. simply update it.. and plug it into the main router by ethernet. You should now be able to do what you wanted.. connect to it by wireless and use it for backups. The fact that it is linked to the network is absolutely necessary if you want internet at the same time as backups are running. The wireless cannot connect to two different routers at the same time.
I'd like to know how do I not have it override my Wifi connection and allow me to access the hard drive? If I can't do this, I'll be forced to take the Time Capsule back.
Please give me exact steps how to setup and use a Time Capsule just as a hard drive. Thanks!
You only need to do this if you intend to keep the TC connected only to your computer by ethernet, without a network connection.. is that what you want?
The trick is very simple. Set ethernet manually not by dhcp.. do not set a gateway (router) or DNS for ethernet.
You can also simply change wifi connection to the top of the list. Both of these are set in the Mac itself not the TC.. the TC can just run as router but with nothing connected.. and ignore the lack of connection.
The end point of this process though is you have the TC doing what an external hard drive can do, better cheaper and faster. To use the TC as a backup device only connected by ethernet or wireless is a waste.
Tell me what you want to do.. ie your preferred setup in the light of the previous discussion and I will give you all the screen shots for the exact steps to set that up. I will need to know what IP your current router uses.. and the dhcp range if possible.

Using Time Capsule for backup storage as well as Time Machine back-up

Just set up Time Capsule and used Time Machine to back up files. All working OK with new backups as well, but I need to transfer files from an external hard drive to Time Capsule.
Read on Apple site, "Note: Time Machine works best if you use your back-up disk only for Time Machine backups. If you keep files on your bckup disk, Time Machine won't backup those files and the space available for Time Machine backups will be reduced.
What I really need is to have Time Machine backup everything. I don't have enough internal hard drive space on my MacBook Pro to transfer files from the external hard drive to the computer so that Time Machine could read them and back them up. How can this be accomplished? Is there another way? Thank you.

1. "Use Disk Utility in your Applications > Utilities folder to check the format of the disk. Mac OS Extended (Journaled"
I did this and the external disk is formated corectly. Thank you!
I "Entered Time Machine" again and found the external drive listed (Yes!) I reviewed files including photos and some video files and all were accessable except my iPhoto files. Note: I have been using iPhoto Manager (3rd party software) to organize my iPhoto picutres for some time now on the external drive. My internal hard drive, 125 GB, filled up years ago, so I got this program and moved the iPhoto images off the internal drive. I can see the information for the files, i.e. size, created date, lst modified date, but cannot get acess to the picutres. When I try the same procedure with my external drive I can get into the files and get access to the photos.
Is there a way to gain access to these pictures?
2. I also saw that my Applications folder had been backed up as well, but none of the Apple software, Adobe CS programs, Flash, Final Cut Pro are there. I am wondering if it is because this is an institutional college set-up machine and they installed the original software. There is a "Tech" folder that I do not have access to on the machine. I can update the college installed software and add software myself. All of the software I have added over the years seems to be there in the backup.
So is this simply not accessable except via "Tech"?

HOW CAN I USE TIME MACHINE TO BACKUP ONLY PART OF MY FILES ON EXTERNAL D?

Hi, I am using time machine to back up all my files at the moment. but I want to get rid of video and photo material from my laptop and keep it on the external hard drive to which the time machine backs up my stuff.
how can i do this without losing the video and photo files permamnently?
thank a lot!

nefsi wrote:
doesn't time machine back up my files on the External hard disk?
By default, Time Machine backs-up almost everything on your internal HD to your External HD. It can also back up things on an external HD, if you want it to.
What I would like is, to find a way so that I could back up everything, but not have all the videos and photos I do not use often, on my laptop. instead I want to put them on the external hard drive and have time machine update all the other files.
Yes, you can do that, but there are two considerations:
You should partition the external HD so the TM backups are in one partition, and the other files are in the other partition. A partition (also called a volume), is treated like a separate disk for most purposes. See #3 in the Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum.
You should find another way to back-up the videos and photos in that other partition, such as archiving them to CDs/DVDs.
In other words, can Time machine back up only some of my files?
Yes. You can exclude things from Time Machine. See #10 in the FAQ Tip. If you partition your TM drive, the other partition on it should be excluded automatically; but if it isn't, you can easily add it to the +Do not back up+ list in TM Preferences > Options.
For detailed instructions on making another partition on your external HD, see #6 in the FAQ Tip. It shows how to add a TM partition to a drive that already has other data on it, but the procedure is the same.

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.

I want to install a new Time Capsule for backups. I also have a B box2 from Belgacom for the digital TV, so how do I install?

Hi,
I want to install a new Time Capsule for backups. I also have a B box2 from Belgacom for the digital TV, so how do I install?

Just setup the TC in bridge.
Assuming you are using Lion.. download the airport utility that has some utility.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Then manual setup, internet tab, connection sharing.. off bridge mode.
Then plug the TC into the Bbox and just use it as wireless target for your air.
You can use wireless on Bbox if that works as well, and you might need to juggle wireless channels to get everything working. Having both set to auto is not a good idea.. set and lock channels on one or the other but best is both.. On the TC go to the airport wireless page. change it to manual.. lock the channel. You can use 1, 6, 11 or 13 in ETSI..

Can you use time capsule for your mac and have readynas backup your pc's on the same network

Can you use time capsule for your mac and use readynas to back up your pc's on the same network

Sure, that is trivial setup.. they both have different names and IP addresses.
You should be able to use ReadyNas for TM backup but you should check the latest state of play for that.

How do I use Time Capsule as an external hard drive?

How do I use Time Capsule as an external hard drive? I want to remove photos & music from my laptop and store them in Time Capsule only.

lyperez wrote:
How do I use Time Capsule as an external hard drive? I want to remove photos & music from my laptop and store them in Time Capsule only.
Apple has specific instructions on moving libraries.
eg itunes.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527
You simply follow those instructions..
TC is a network drive.. nothing more.
To move individual files, just copy and paste to a new directory.. not inside a TM sparsebundle please.
BUT.. TC only worries me.. deeply.
It is relatively easy to corrupt a library when you copy to it.. library as a whole is then corrupted and will need to be restored from backup.. wops.. no backup. You are putting at risk all your files.. don't do it.. make sure you backup..
And here is the rub.. TC cannot back itself up.. TM cannot backup network drives.
And where are you going to backup.. to... an external drive on the computer.. in that case, that is where the library should be and the TC used as normal.. ie backup target for TM.
Please read Pondini on how to do it properly though.
Q3 http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html

HT201250 How can i use Time Capsule as External Drive

Hey Guys,
I just have query about time capsual , How can i use time capsule as my external drive as i have 2TB with me i can take the Backup as well i can put all my pic and music in time Machine if i can use as External HD ! Can some one Please help me in this will be highly appreceate.
Thanks
Monal Thakkar
Amrapali Group

You need to get an external HD for the "overflow" of stuff that won't fit on your Mac.
Format it for a Mac (see #1 in Using Disk Utility), even if it says it's compatible.
Then copy what you want to the external HD. Most things you can just drag and drop; but for iTunes and iPhotos see: Moving your iTunes Music folder and Moving your iPhoto '11 Library.
Then let your Time Capsule back up both your Mac and the external HD. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #32 for info and details.

How do I use Time Capsule for backup only over an existing network (or ethernet)

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