I would like to do it right before using TimeMachine

Question

I just upgraded my iMac for a new one with Leopard installed. I have been using 3 Ext. HD, one as my Primary and Bootable DR, and the other 2 as additional back ups. I seldom save anything on my Int HD. Here is the breakdown of my workflow:
Ext HD #1 - 1 TB with 2 Partitions.( Partition 1) contains a copy of the old Int. HD (no Data or images), same size as my original Int. HD 250GB. My current Int. HD has 320GB.
(Partition 2) - It contains all documents and images I have about 600GB available. I use this ExDR as my primary Drive, and any subsequent back ups I copy to the other Ext. HD.
However, I don't see any point using Partition#1 as a Bootable Drive since I was planning using TM. So I'm looking for some suggestion how I should use TM.
I have a couple of questions or concerns about using Time Machine.
1- Could I select which files I would like to be back up or copy to Time Machine or would it copy the entire content of what is the Int HD?
2- Is TM more compatible with a firewire Ext HD or USB Drive?
3- What is the best way to use Partition#1? Partition#2 is already populated with a large number of image files and I don't feel like moving them out there.
4- If I designate any other other Ext HD as my backup destination using TM, what would happen to the existing files on that DR once I star using it as the destination DR for back up.
I haven't done anything until I get some suggestions
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

crossover,
Time Machine can target any amount of files you like (you can exclude system & application files in one fell swoop, then exclude additional folders as you see fit), but I wouldn't recommend you use this route. Time Machine's greatest benefit is that it will maintain a backup that can be completely restored; system, applications, and all. From the "Utilities" menu of the Leopard installer, one can perform such a restoration in short order, making complete recovery or migration to another machine a snap.
Firewire, and preferably Firewire 800, is the best interface to use with Time Machine. It does, however, work perfectly well over USB. The preference for Firewire over USB is based on Firewire's better stability regarding file transfers. With the exception of the initial full backup, bandwidth is not a critical concern for Time Machine, but this story changes when it comes time to restore an entire installation using the Leopard installer. For this, Firewire 800 is very attractive. I am able to completely restore my entire 100+ GB installation in under 45 minutes from my Firewire 800 backup drive. Compare that to a "normal" installation of Leopard from the DVD, which takes at least a couple hours.
Time Machine requires at least twice as much backup disk space as required for the initial backup, in order to maintain subsequent backups in perpetuity without failure. As backup disk space becomes tight, older backups are automatically deleted, or "thinned," to make room for the newer data. This process, however, can be crippled by not giving Time Machine enough room with which to work. I generally recommend something closer to 3X the amount needed for the initial backup.
Also, Time Machine will include in its backup any secondary volumes that are mounted at the time that it is set up (or not, as you desire). This makes it a powerful tool for maintaining backups not just of your installation, but of any "live" files with which you regularly work.
Another consideration: Prior to Time Machine, my habit was to always partition my internal hard drive, using the first, smaller partition for a lean system, and the second to store things like my photo and music libraries. This allowed me to quickly and easily recover (format and reinstall) my system, without dealing with huge amounts of data, and my backup strategy was designed with these things in mind.
Time Machine made this routine obsolete, since it is now actually easier to store everything on my startup volume, yet maintain a backup that provides for quick, easy, and comprehensive (in fact, total) recovery. Time Machine is not just a backup utility, but a powerful recovery tool.
So, how you use Time Machine, and with what drives/volumes and space, depends on how you would like to manage your data from now on. I will strongly recommend that you use the first volume on your chosen external drive for use with Time Machine. In Leopard, we can dynamically re-size and/or re-partition live drives, without necessarily destroying data. New volumes must be added toward the end of the drive, however (the first volume is reduced in size, then the second volume added in the resultant free space). Consequently, a volume can only be expanded by deleting subsequent volumes (this is where data must be destroyed), then enlarging the earlier volume into the resultant space.
The implications of this for Time Machine is that, provided you use the first volume on a drive for Time Machine, subsequent volumes can be deleted in order to provide more space for your backups. While backups can be stored on a volume that contains other data, it is recommended that TM have a dedicated, and otherwise empty, volume with which to work.
Finally, redundancy is a good thing. You may want to continue using a bootable "clone" for this reason, in conjunction with Time Machine. A Time Machine backup volume can also be cloned, and this too would provide excellent redundancy. Time Machine will only work with one backup volume at a time, but it will see a backup volume and a "clone" of same as identical. In addition to providing redundancy, this is another fine way to expand the space available for backups (clone too-small volume/drive "a" to larger volume/drive "b," then continue backups with "b").
Digest this info, make some preliminary plans, then come back with any additional questions you might have.
Scott