HT1178 Time Capsule used as External Hardrive Backup

If I want to use a Time Capsule as an external hardrive backup for my MacBook Pro, how do I do it?
What cords do I need and can I get it to back up wirelessly?  I don't want my own wireless from it,
because we already have it in the house - I just want my own storage unit and I have one, but no
cords to go with it.  Need to get cords - which ones?

This is out of my area of expertise, but I believe you can set the Time Capsule up so it doesn't generate a network, but is on the existing network.
Then you can back up to it wirelessly.
You should still do the first backup via an Ethernet cable if at all possible, as it will be 2-3 times faster than WIFI, but then backups can be done without having to connect the cable.

Similar Messages

  • Will Time Machine Back Up Data on a Networked Time Capsule to an External HD?

    Situation: I use my time capsule as a "network server". This is where all my files, music and movies are located. These files need to be backed up regularly. The Time Capsule is connected to my MacBook Pro via ethernet.
    Question: Can I use Time Machine to back up my files on the networked time capsule to another external hardrive?
    Goal: Data from TIME CAPSULE backed up to an EXTERNAL HD via time machine. I can have the external HD on the network or via USB to the Macbook Pro.
    Any help is appreciated. I've been trying to do this off an on for a few years with no luck.
    Thanks!

    Can I use Time Machine to back up my files on the networked time capsule to another external hardrive?
    No, but ChronoSync can do this and I believe that Carbon Copy Cloner can now do this as well.
    http://econtechnologies.com/pages/cs/chrono_overview.html
    http://www.bombich.com/

  • HT201250 How to backup the Time Capsule to an external drive using Time Machine?

    Most of my data is on my Time Capsule since the hard drive on my iMac is too small for my music/movies/pictures and also so multiple devices can wirelessly access the data. I want to back up the files from my iMac and the Time Capsule on an external hard drive using the Time Machine. However, it seems that the Time Machine ignores the Time Capsule as a data source. How can I get this to work?

    No, I don't believe this solves your problem.
    TIme Machine can be used with a Time Capsule as a backup solution from connected macs and their drives but not from network drives, NAS or Time Capsules.
    Thus, if you store files for LAN access on a TC internal drive, and want to back them to the USB/external drive attached to that TC, you cannot use Time Machine to do so.
    Time Machine has not way of backing up ANY Time Capsule or NAS or WInPC or other networked drive, as far as I can tell. You will have to use some other backup software.
    This is exactly what I bought the TC for myself (tried to use the internal drive on the TC as a NAS for my LAN, storing my music and photos and documents and bought a LaCie 2TB USB3 extneral drive to connect to the TC and hoped to be able to use Time Machine to backup the internal drive to the LaCie drive....but this does not work, as TM cannot backup from a network drive or TC device.

  • Can I use my 1TB Time Capsule as my external HD AND have it do backups with Time Machine?

    I want to be able to utilize my Time Capsule as my external HD because I have 150GB of photos and music to offload but it's unclear to me how to do this - it seems that some say that it can only either do Time Machine backups (that eventually would delete what I want to keep forever) or strictly as an EHD.  I currently use it as a router and for my backups.

    Not a good idea to use it for both.  See #Q3 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule.

  • How to backup an external hard drive plugged into a time capsule using time machine

    How to backup an external hard drive plugged into a time capsule using time machine.
    I want to move my itunes library from the mac HD to an external plugged into the time capsule, but I want to be sure this drive will still be backed up by time machine.  I currentlly see no way to do this.

    There is no way. You can connect the drive to your Mac and remove it from the Time Machine exclusion list. Then it will be backed up, but that will stop when you reconnect it to the TC. While it's connected to the TC, you can copy it manually to another AirPort Disk by following the instructions here (with a slight modification):
    Using AirPort Utility to make a copy of the Time Capsule disk

  • HT1178 i am setting u a new time capsule. i already have a wifi setup in my office. now i want to use this time capsule just as a wireless backup machine. do i still need to attached a DSL cable, or it can connect to my existing wifi and start working ?

    i am setting u a new time capsule. i already have a wifi setup in my office. now i want to use this time capsule just as a wireless backup machine. do i still need to attached a DSL cable, or it can connect to my existing wifi and start working ?

    You probably can, but this type of configuration is not recommended or supported by Apple.
    Two cautions if you want to try this:
    1)  The Time Capsule has to be configured to "Join" your existing wireless network in this type of setup...and to do that, you must know the exact type of wireless security that your network is using.
    2)  Backups are likely going to take twice as long. The wireless signal must travel from your computer to the wireless router and then from the wireless router back to the Time Capsule.  Two "hops"......even if the computer is located close to the Time Capsule.
    If you want to try this, we can tell you how....but with no guarantees on your results....since this is not officially supported.

  • How can I use my Time Capsule as an external Hard Drive for my PC?  My PC can't find it.

    Hi, I just bought this Time Capsule for my home.  I've got the internet access for all my devices (Mac, iPad, PC, iPhone) and I've got the Mac backup working through Time Machine.  I'm supposed to be able to use the Time Capsule as an external drive for my PC, but I can't figure it out.  My PC doesn't recognize the Time Capsule as a Network Place.  I called AppleCare, but they don't have all the answers for "PC issues."  They tried to get me to Map a Network Drive, but my PC popped up a window asking for a Username and Password.  It looks like something similar to when I VPN into my company network from home.
    I'm using Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, Service Pack 3.
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks!

    Download and install the airport utility for windows.. it isn't strictly necessary but the bonjour service makes life easier.
    The request for username and password is correct. Username is whatever you like.. but windows needs it.. so admin.. being the common router one.. password by default is public unless you changed it.
    Now to get the TC to work properly..
    1. The names should be SMB compliant.. by default they are wrong.. use short names, no spaces no special characters.. pure alphanumeric. That is for TC name and wireless names.
    2. Wireless passwords should also be same use WPA2 private.
    3. In the disk sharing page.. manual setup.. put in the windows workgroup name.. ie WORKGROUP.. this helps the discovery process.
    4. In the same area, turn on the guest account to read and write.. not necessary but helps with later versions of windows particularly.
    5. Access the drive by using the direct IP address. ie in Windows Explorer address bar, \\10.0.1.1 (or whatever IP the TC is at).

  • Can I use my time capsule as a external hard drive as well

    I want to use my time capsule as a external hard drive as well as a back up disk. Is that possible?

    You Can!! But Should you??
    Can and Should are different.
    Here are the issues.
    Store files on the TC.
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/24380694#24380694
    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

  • How can i use the airport time capsule as a external hard drive?

    how can i use the airport time capsule as a external hard drive?

    Why do you recommend not place things like iTunes libraries or photo libraries on the drive? It was what I am looking for...
    I suggest that you ask the experts over in the iPhoto Support Community about their opinions on placing an iPhoto or Aperture library on the Time Capsule....even if you plan to use a wired connection for your Mac and the Time Capsule.
    But, if Terrence Devlin answers, be prepared for a lecture about why you should not ever do this.
    If you place the iTunes library on the Time Capsule, be prepared for iTunes to give you messages about not being able to find the library.
    In addtion, LaPastenague has the answer for you in a nutshell......corruption problems.
    Bottom line....the Time Capsule is for your backups.....not "everyday" files and especially not libraries.

  • 180 GB of my 639-GB Macintosh hard drive is used. 320 GB of my 498-GB Tie Capsule is used. Only one backup ("now") exists for the Time Capsule, which can no longer backup because of "insufficient space". How come? What is wrong?"

    180 GB of my 639-GB Macintosh hard drive is used. 320 GB of my 498-GB Tie Capsule is used. Only one backup ("now") exists for the Time Capsule, which can no longer backup because of "insufficient space". How come? What is wrong?"

    Thank you William for your most helpful response. I shall deal first with your three comments:
    Not being tech savvy, I would not have been able to make that call myself but it sure makes sense.
    I have updated my profiles as you suggest.  Excellent tip.
    This guidance is good.  Being new to Apple Support Communities, I did not find the field a labeling and guidance to be clear, a point you make.  Now I know, I shall do as you say and will use the small slim box as a header to the full message/question, which will place in the larger box below.
    Secondly, I come to your question: Did anything change on your Mac recently, such as replacing the disk or main logic board?
    The answer is “yes”.  Two events have happened both of which concerned the Time Capsule:
    The telephone company, with which I have access to the Internet and I have my email account, installed a new modum.  After the technician left I had to try and get the Time Capsule and WiFi working again which ended with my having to call Apple for technical assistance.  The Apple technician walked me through a number of procedural steps which effectively re-set up the Time Capsule. 
    Access to the Internet failed and the telephone company reset the modum.  I had to call Apple again.  This time the technician did not reset the Time Capsule but walked me through a number of steps tha included renaming the “site”  (not the Time Capsule).
    Another piece of information that may be relevant is that the MacBook Pro uses the Time Capsule for backup.  Everything appears to be in order.  When I enter the Time Capsule for this laptop I have backups going back for a long time.
    Also, I do a weekly backup of the two computers onto another external hard drive using the Time Machine software.  So I have another backup of both computers.

  • 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

  • Using AirPort Time Capsule as an external drive with access to files by guest account

    Is it possible to use my AirPort Time Capsule as an external drive with access to files by a guest account?
    I would like to store a large number of folders containg photographs on my AirPort Time Capsule and allow anyone with a password to access the photographs - at the time of viewing the Time Capsule would be connected to the internet but I wouldn't want users to actually access anything other than the files on the Time Capsule - is this possible?  if so any help in configuring it would be really helpful.

    No it is not possible.. Guest is just that.. a guest that is allowed permission to access the internet but none of the local files.
    To give a person access to the TC they must have password to access your normal network..
    From there it is up to you how you do this.. people cannot actually access files on your computers unless you give them share and password permissions for that.. you can even setup accounts on the TC although I recommend against it.. if you want shared photos anyway. All security on a TC is illusion.. merely pressing the reset and it is all blown away.. so if you are concerned about security don't put stuff on the TC people should not access.. or like your TM backups ensure they are encrypted.
    A person can then access you TC and the photos.. but what else on the network??

  • Backing up external hard drive (connected to time capsule) using time machi

    hi. don't know if this is possible or not - am now using an external hard drive to store all my movies as my macbook pro's hard drive is filling up and i'm running out of space (it's 250gb). have created a separate itunes on the external hard drive and stream these movies to my apple tv. the external hard drive is connected to my time capsule and access it on the macbook pro that way wirelessy. is there a way to now back up my movies on the external hard drive to the time capsule using time machine (that it's already connected to)?

    Welcome to the discussions, squire78!
    If your external drive is connected directly to your computer, you can have Time Machine backup both your computer and the external drive.
    If the external drive is connected to the USB port on the Time Capsule, Time Machine cannot backup this drive.

  • Backing up a share point (external hard drive connected to Time Capsule) using time machine.

    I am currently using Mac OS X Lion, and just set up my time capsule with an external hard drive to store itunes, iPhoto libraries, etc.  Is it possible to use time machine to backup the external hard drive to the 2 TB internal hard drive in the time capsule?

    You cannot backup network drives with Time Machine. It will work only on HFS+ formatted local drives.
    Is it possible to use time machine to backup the external hard drive to the 2 TB internal hard drive in the time capsule?
    No, Time Machine is specific to backup of a local machine, locally connected disks.
    If you unplug the disk and plug it into a Mac.. and if it is HFS+ formatted then you can back it up.
    Otherwise you need a software like Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) but as a warning, it will be very slow. Especially if you do this over wireless.

  • How To Use Time Capsule As An External Hard Drive?

    I backup my computer onto the time capsule using time machine.
    After that I want to have more space on my computer (becasue my hard drive is almost full) (I still want to have my local snapshots and daily backups) so I want to delete some of my files but I still want them on my time capsule and I know after I back my computer the files will be deleted so I go to finder/my time capsule (under shared)/data/my macbook pro/ then I go to my destop and see; 1: time machine backups 2: data... I go to data and create a new file that will contain everything that I wanted deleted off my macbook so the when the next backup comes, I will still have (in data on time capsule) my time machine backups and my deleted things... will this work? why or why not? I heard people saying that you have to choose the time capsule between a external hard drive or with time machine... but will this attempt work with both>???

    It will work but shouldn't be done, as the Time Capsule's internal drive may fail at any time. Anything you want to keep shouldn't be on only one drive.
    (80321)

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