.Mac Backup vs Time Machine

Not sure I've got this figured out. Do I use both .Mac's Backup along with TM or do I use one or the other? How/why would I use both?

1) Dot Mac's Backup is extremely flexible in meeting many different user backup scenarios
-Apple provides numerous Quickpicks for easy data type and Application's data backup selections
-Easily configurable for any single data item to numerous data items to be backed up
-Can create multiple backup Plans each with their own backup time schedule
-Any Plan can backup to a combination of media each with their own backup schedule
-Can backup in compressed form to a user's .Mac iDisk (requires a .Mac subscription of ~$100/year)
-Provides a flexible restore feature
-Has a specific .Mac Backup User forum for getting technical help from other users
-Can be used on Mac OS X version prior to Leopard as well as Leopard (Leopard does require Backup v3.1.2)
-The flexibility can confuse a user because of the multiple choices provided
-Provides a traditional Full + Incremental backups and uses backup space less efficient than for Time Machine but does retain data for as long as user wishes to keep it.
-Backup time schedules are done only on a daily basis. That is, a Plan can backup to a specific media only once per day automatically. To perform backups more frequently the user must do so manually.
2) Time Machine (only available with Leopard)
-Apple provides a single interface for controlling what is to be backed up. This is done by a counter intuitive 'exclusion list'
-Time Machine will silently remove backup data (at least in its current form) which may be poorly understood by the user
-Time Machine, once setup, operates in the background automatically and captures data once per hour every day.
-Time Machine is restricted to backing up to HDs only. Backup to optical media and tape for example is not supported.
-Time machine has a easy to use browser for reviewing backups, managing backups, deleting unwanted data from backups and for restoring data.
-The Time Machine browser is tightly coupled with Apple's Address Book, Mail and iPhoto at this time. The Time Machine APIs are known to 3rd party developers for integrating their Apps much like Apple has done for Address Book for example.
-Time Machine User forum for technical help is available
-Time Machine is bundled with Leopard and does not require a .Mac subscription of ~$100/year. Mind you, Backup can be continued to be used after an initial $100 subscription expires.
-Time Machine uses the backup space very efficiently and far more so than does the traditional Backup's Full+Incrementals.
-Time Machine offers a single backup Plan whereas Backup provides numerous Plans. Plans in both can be changed at any time is user so desires.
I'm sure others can chip in with other pros/cons for you. However, this should provide you with a starting point for comparing the two.
BTW - Time Machine and Backup co-exist without issues.

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How can I see another mac backup on time machine?

how can I see another mac backup on time machine?

Bob thanks, but that didn't solve my problem, I went to question 17 and went into the Browse my Time Machine and it also didn't find or recognize the other Mac. I know it's in there because when I open the other Mac and Enter the Time Machine, I can see it through that Mac, and I have the same problem there, where I can't see my Mac.
In short, when I back up a Mac (doesn't matter which one) I can verify its backup as long as I use that Mac, but I cannont verfiy the backup on that Mac using another Mac and vice versa.
Also, I never used to have to do anything to see both on the same Mac. So I don't know what changed.
There must be another way.
Thanks

Why won't my Western Digital (2TB) My Book for Mac backup to time Machine?

This past fall (2012) I was notified by apple that the hard drive on my 2010 iMac might need to be replaced due to issues. Before doing so I was prompted to back up all of my data with an external hard drive using Time Machine. I purchased a Western Digital 2TB external hard drive and set it up easily. The setup parameters were such that the thing should backup my iMac to Time Machine on the hour every hour. This worked well and also allowed me to restore my user preferences for nearly everything when I got my computer back with its new hard drive. This was around October.
Recently (mid-March), my WD My Book no longer backs up to Time Machine. The computer recognizes the drive, allows me to access it, but will not backup to Time Machine. I have no hypotheses as to why this has started happening, but it just did. I have tried shutting Time Machine off and turning it back on to the particular external hard drive. This has not worked. I have tried to prompt a manual backup, but the computer gets stuck when preparing to back the drive up. It never actually commences the backup.
I understand that just like anything else that things fail. I also understand that sometimes things fail within the first few months of purchase (half a year-ish in my case). I just cannot understand what might be causing it. Any speculation?
Here are some screenshots associated with my current problems:

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar.
Enter the word "Starting" (without the quotes) in the String Matching text field. You should now see log messages with the words "Starting * backup," where * represents any of the words "automatic," "manual," or "standard." Note the timestamp of the last such message. Clear the text field and scroll back in the log to that time. Select the messages timestamped from then until the end of the backup, or the end of the log if that's not clear. Copy them (command-C) to the Clipboard. Paste (command-V) into a reply to this message.
If there are runs of repeated messages, post only one example of each. Don't post many repetitions of the same message.
When posting a log extract, be selective. Don't post more than is requested.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Some personal information, such as the names of your files, may be included — anonymize before posting.

.Mac Backup and Time Machine?

Do I still need the normal .mac backup if I use Time Machine?

First some quick background so you'll understand the asperity of my answer. I'm in IT and until 1993 I was an IT consultant to businesses and professionals that didn't require a full time IT staff. I've seen businesses go bankrupt due to data loss and I've experienced data loss myself on two occasions: one major and several minor. Today I consider any data loss completely unacceptable. Just imagine if you lost the only set of pictures of your child's first birthday party. Those are the stakes today.
Time Machine is very promising but at version 1 I consider it untested technology at present. I've seen too many little hiccups on its data acquisition cycle to consider it totally trustworthy. At this time I have my desktop connected to a FW drive and TM is doing its thing but I am also backing up my data weekly and daily using Deja Vu. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Note too that Time Machine is backing up data to a drive in your home/office. In the event of fire, flood, theft, or other disaster chances are the TM drive is going too. An off-site backup is very important! I back up my data to DVD regularly with a copy going with my wife to her work place.

Can I restore my mac from a Time Machine backup once I have used BootCamp to partition and set up Windows (without erasing all of the Windows content)?

A few months ago I partitioned my mac using BootCamp and successfully installed Windows and a few Windows-only programs (games). I never restored my mac from the Time Machine backup and now I would really like all of my files back on my mac. I am wondering if I insert the osx install disc and restore from Time Machine backup, will that get rid of the partition I made for Windows? Will the Windows side of my hard drive stay in tact or will everything on that side get erased when I restore the mac side from the Time Machine backup. It was a HUUUUUUUGE pain to do the BootCamp partition and get everything Windows set up and I would really like to not have to do that all over again. I just want to make sure that if I insert the mac osx install disc and restore from Time Machine backup it will only affect the Mac partition, NOT the Windows partition.

Hi,
Time Machine does not touch your BootCamp Windows.
It simply said ignores it completely.
Nonetheless, I am curious as to why you wanna restore a Time Machine backup.
Usually during partitioning with the BootCamp Assistant in OSX to make the Windows partition your OSX stays intact.
Regards
Stefan

Recovering Mac HD via Time Machine Backup fails because "Restore system from backup" doesn't show in Utilities Menu of original install. DVD

Hi, after serious problems (troubleshooting didn't help) with my iMac G5 (PPC) running Mac OS X Leopard I've tried to recover my Mac HD via Time Machine (exactly as described by David Pogue on page 242 of the Leopard Missing Manual). However, "Restore system from backup" in the Utilities Menu of my original Leopard installation DVD failed to show up. What can I do?
Any assistance will be greatly appreciated -
Ballant

Hi Ballant,
I'm not very good with TM, nor a fan of it, but our resident king of TM, Pondini, has a vast array of very well done TM trouble shootings...
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

After a complete restore of Mac from a Time Machine volume, I don't want a full backup the next time Time Machine backs up.

After performing a complete restore of my Mac from a Time Machine volume, Time Machine wants to perform a full backup the next time it backs up.This is normal: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1338
But I don't have enough free space on my external hard drive to do this because my external hard drive already contains one complete backup. My hard disc on my MacBook is 320 and my external drive is 500 GB, so it doesn't add up. I don't want to delete the original backup in case something goes wrong during the new full backup. What can I do?

You don't have too many options. The best approach would be to buy a larger external drive. The guideline for Time Machine is that you should have 2-3 times as much capacity on the external drive as data you're backing up. See item 1 of Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions. In any case, you can't prevent that first full backup unless you're willing to turn off Time Machine permanently.

Can I backup with Time machine and continue to use my mac?

Hi I backed up my complete system with time machine and left the system alone. My question is when I do future backups can I continue to use the computer whilst the backup is happening or should I leave it alone whilst the backup is happening?
Thanks!

The automatic backups aren't nearly as noticeable as the initial backup. Time Machine is designed to do its thing politely in the background while you use your computer. I rarely even notice it. However, if you are using resource intensive apps you might want to turn off Time Machine in System Preferences until your are finished so your apps have access to all available horsepower.

Can i have two completely separate backups with Time Machine

Hi
Before i did this i thought it best to ask the question here.
Basically i have two huge iTunes libraries. One for official music, the other for unofficial stuff. Both of these libraries have their own separate external hard drives.
For one of the libraries i have Time machine backing it up using a 3rd external hard drive. What i need to do is add a 4th external hard drive to back up the other library using the same Mac and same Time Machine. Can this be done does anybody know? Im on 10.6.8 so quite old but its fine for what i need.
Many thanks.

You would have to change the setting in System Preferences/Time Machine as you switched which external drive you were backing up. Creating a clone would be an easier option I think.
Clone - Carbon Copy Cloner (Often recommended as it has more features than some others)
Clone – Data Backup
Clone – Deja Vu
Clone - SuperDuper
Clone - Synk
Clone Software – 6 Applications Tested
Time Machine Versus Clones and Archives
Commonly Used Backup Methods

Multiple iPhone backups in Time Machine

I have my wife's iPhone and she was charging it on our Mac via cable. Our iTunes is instructed not to sync automatically. We have two phones in iTunes. Child comes along and somehow resets or wipes phone: not sure which one.
My question is, if I were to enter into Time Machine is it possible to discern which backup is for which phone? The phone is not synced often and I'm guessing the last one was in September, if she even synced at all during that month .
I'm on os x10.8 which was a recent upgrade. Our previous version residing on Time Machine is SL. I have been told to be careful on the restore just in case we need to resort to other (cough) measures in order to (cough) the data.
Thanx

pcp0827 wrote:
Is there a way to delete multiple backups in TIme Machine and not have to delete old files one by one by slow one by one?
Yes, sort of. You can delete indiividual backups, or all backups of selected items,via Time Machine. See #12 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions. You can only select one backup at a time, but they're deleted in a separate process, so you can select another before the first one completes. When you exit from Time Machine, you may see one or more progress bars for the individual deletions. (As noted there, never delete anything from your backups via the Finder.)
But you really shouldn't have to do that. Time Machine will delete your oldest backups automatically, when it needs room for new ones.

How to delete the old backup in time machine?

Hi all,
As I have use the TM for a year,the backup folder is on a network dirve. HOw can I delete the old backup (eg 6 months ago) in order to release more space?
Thank you
Gary

Hi, and welcome to the forums.
I'll assume you mean a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, not a Time Capsule or external HD connected to a Time Capsule or other Mac on your network.
If so, you can delete individual backups via Time Machine. See #12 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum). That may not seem to gain any space, since the backups are in a rather odd container called a +sparse bundle.+ It won't shrink automatically when you delete things, but the space will be reused for new backups.
You may be able to limit the size of the backups by limiting the amount of space available to Time Machine on the NAS, but you'll have to use whatever facilities the NAS supplies, not OSX. Some allow the disk to be partitioned as on a normal disk, or allocate space to shares.

Backup with Time Machine for 6 iMacs

I want to to use an external drive to backup with Time Machine my 6 iMac's. I know that Time Capsule is good for this kind of stuff but I would prefer to be able to plug my Storage Device with an Ethernet cable. And Time Capsule is offering 2 or 3 TB, I would need minimum 5 TB. Any idea what should I buy and what is good for that purpose?
Thanks a lot

Time Capsule has 3 Eth ports so only 3 iMacs via cable.
You can do it with two 3TB Time Capsules if you wish.
With 6 iMacs you may need to think about small business solution.
On Mac networks we use Gigabit switches and NAS drives such as Buffalo TeraStation III 8TB on RAID5.
Those support Apple Time Machine, have dual Gigabit Eth port which can be trunked with manageable switches and all works very well and fast.
There are many scenarios you may want to consider.
Let me know if you have any questions regarding the above setup.

I cannot select a previous backup on time machine

I'm trying to upgrade my girlfriends mac to the latest OS X but she asked me to pull out some files for her and save them on a flash drive for her first. The files aren't on the Mac now but should be in previous backups.
Her mac has been connected to my time capsule from the very first day she got it so all her files should be saved on my time capsule.
When I entered time machine to find those files, I was only able to go back a few months "her Mac has been backing up for about a year and a half now"
I can see the purple stripes on the right in time machine that go back way before the oldest point that I can access, but the lines are kind of shaded and I can't click them! So it seems like the data is saved and the time capsule is recognizing the Mac but for some reason I just can't select the earlier dates!
So to sum it up
I'm trying to access older backups but when I enter time machine the backups I want are shaded and I cannot select those dates
So far all I tried was to reset the Mac and I did a "hard restart" on the time capsule by disconnecting then reconnecting the power.
Has anyone had a similar issue? What can I do to access those shaded backups?

Time Machine - Troubleshooting E2. I can't see some backups

HT201250 Original files after I backup on time machine?

What happens to the original files still on my computer after I backup on time machine? Should I trash them now to free up disk space. In other words are the backups all I need now?

bevmaccat wrote:
... In other words are the backups all I need now?
No. This is Not how TM operates. If you delete the files off your Mac they will (eventually) be Deleted from TM.
bevmaccat wrote:
What happens to the original files still on my computer after I backup on time machine? ...
They need to remain on your Mac.
See here > How Time Machine Works its Magic
bevmaccat wrote:
... Should I trash them now to free up disk space. ...
If you need to Free Disc Space... See Here...
what-to-do-when-your-hard-drive-is-full.html

How to do a backup with time machine?

Hi Communitieee,
I dont know how to make a backup with time machine. Can anybody help me?
And i have another question.. whats wrong with library? when i start my mac the message is popping up but i dont know what it means..
Thanks
KR

Ok thanks mende1.
Whats with time machine? I already take a look to the link but i could not find the answer of my problem. Can you please take a look of this screenshot?!
I dont have an extern hard drive. i just want to save my pics and the other data of my mac.

.Mac Backup vs Time Machine

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