RDX removable disk cartridges usable for backup?

Hello:
Has anyone had any experience using RDX removable disk cartridges for Time Machine or EMC retrospect? It's a new storage platform to me. My VXA-2 tape drive went and I was looking at this removable disk system. It seems like an alternative to tapes.
Anyone with any thoughts on using this with Retrospect or Time Machine.
Thanks,
Rick

I'm not familiar with them, but from what I see on the web site, yes, it might be a good alternative to tape (didn't know anybody still used tape!)
It doesn't look like this would be compatible with Time Machine, though, since it's a network device. If it can't be attached directly to a Mac via FireWire or USB (or a Time Capsule via USB), it's probably not going to work with TIme Machine: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html
Even if you could get TM to back up to it, the removable feature is at cross-purposes to Time Machine: one of Time Machine's big advantages is the quick hourly backups, always easily available for recovering a previous version of something changed or deleted in error.
While you could back up and take the disk(s) offsite, it would likely be much cheaper to get a pair of portable external HDs: use one for a week or so, then take it off-site and swap with the other; or do Time Machine backups to a desktop external, and periodic bootable "clones" or other image-type backups to a portable you can take offsite.

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Is anybody using RDX Removable Disk Backup System

I´m sorry, this a new post about an old discussion but I would like to start a fresh dialogue for today; 2011.
Is anybody using RDX Removable Disk Backup System (with or without T.Machine).
An affordable alternative to LTO tape? Proved compatibility with Mac OS?
Is it possible to insert a RDX drive as a second optic unit inside a Mac Pro?
Any happy RDX+mac user, so far?
Thanks.

I'm not using RDX on a Mac, but I do have one client I'm using RDX for a Windows server. While RDX is somewhat cost effective over LTO/Ultrium, IMHO it probably wouldnt' be the best for Time Machine. Time Machine expects the previous backup to be online and if you switch cartridges, TM would have to create a new backup from scratch. Then if you switch back the cartridges, your TM bundles are out of sync. I'm not saying it's not possible, but that this is not the "normal" way TM works. So you need to understand what you need to do if you were planning to switch cartridges. (If you weren't planning to switch cartridges, then a "normal" external or internal hard drive is more cost effective than RDX.)
RDX cartridges are basically 2.5" SATA hard drives. The RDX "drive" is, for the most part, just a SATA to USB converter. (Or SATA to eSATA or whatever interface you get.) On the PC the advantage is that you don't have to "safely remove hardware" and you don't lose the drive letter. On the Mac, a "normal" external hard drive is almost as convinient as RDX, since there's no drive letter to worry about. The RDX's advantage on the Mac would be not having to plug/unplug a USB cable on the external units. I suppose you could get an internal eSATA RDX to put into a Mac. I don't know of anyone doing that.
I did use my client's USB RDX drive on his Macbook, just to see what we could do with it. While it worked, we didn't do extensive testing so I can't comment on long term satisfaction with OSX. But so far it's been reliable with Windows for almost two years. (Windows Server 2008 with Backup Exec 2010.) However since RDX is basically just a hard drive, I've gotten the client to realize that in a year or two, we'll probably have to start replacing cartridges, assuming his data size doesn't grow beyond the RDX capacity. This is based on the assumption that the RDX cartridges would have similar longevity to laptop hard drives, which have 3-5 year warranties. We probably will get more lifespan than that, but better to have the client plan in the budget now, rather than have backups fail.

Weird Disk Repair warning for backup drive

I used to run Time Machine and Silver Keeper (Lacie software that came with my 2TB backup drive). Both backed up to separate partitions. Yesterday I decided to stick with Time Machine only. So I deleted the Silver Keeper's partition and then extended Time Machine's partition for all of the drive. I used Disk Utility to do this.
This morning, when I turned my computer on, I got this error after starting up:
"Disk Repair
The disk "2TB-TM" was not repairable by this computer. It is being made available to you with limited functionality. You must back up your data and reformat the disk as soon as possible."
Well, I was able see the drive on the Desktop and access all the backup files--until running Disk Utility. TechTool Deluxe does not see the drive. But Disk Utility does see the drive. But the Verify/Repair Permissions is greyed-out. When I click the Verify and Repair Disk buttons, I get this error (in bold red letters):
Invalid record count
Volume check failed.
Error: Filesystem verify or repair failed.
I can reformat this drive as it recommends. But I'd rather not if it's a simple fix. Any suggestions?

Eric Basir wrote:
OK, I'll reformat. I'm assuming that will fix the problem and my drive will be back to its normal self. I also assume that I messed it up with that repartitioning. Do I need to worry about my drive being broken or replaced?
that's hard to say now. reformat and see what happens.

Removed disk in Time Machine, now can't reselect to get my old backups back

I accidently clicked Remove Disk in Time Capsule on my MBA. Now when I try to reselect it in Time Machine (using the Time Capsule disk listed) it doesn't find my old backups.
I don't want to start again as there is all my old backups sitting on the Time Capsule taking up space. Any advice to get my backups back?
One thing I have noticed is the icon for the Time Capsule used to be the Wi-Fi 'fan', but now it's got the people holding hands icon instead. Sorry if they have correct names for the icons but that's the best description I can use. I also have no idea if this is important or not.
Thanks.

Sfem wrote:
I accidently clicked Remove Disk in Time Capsule on my MBA. Now when I try to reselect it in Time Machine (using the Time Capsule disk listed) it doesn't find my old backups.
If you mean the TM Preferences window shows "None," it just hasn't updated the window yet. See #B3 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting
One thing I have noticed is the icon for the Time Capsule used to be the Wi-Fi 'fan', but now it's got the people holding hands icon instead. Sorry if they have correct names for the icons but that's the best description I can use.
I'm not sure what you mean. Can you post a screenshot?

Time Machine looking for backup disk/not finding

Time Machine backed up the HD on my 2009 20" iMac up till Feb. 4 when I downloaded Since then there have been no new backups of my HD and there have been problems wihen I have Time Machine "on" with other applications (TextEdit, Pages, Adobe Bridge CS4) opening or not responding after being open and with Finder not responding. I have also had grey screen freezes multiple times so that I have to use the power button to shut the computer down. When I take TM off of the Automatic backups, most of the problems with applications quitting and the grey screen freezes stop happening. (Although I believe I've had at least one or two grey screen freezes even then.)
Today I've run Verify Time Machine Backups. It completed that. Then I turned on Automatic Backups again. But then it showed "Looking for Backup Disk". So I selected the Backup Disk. Then I checked back in a while and it still showed Looking for Backup Disk. I removed the selected backup disk, shut down and rebooted, and reselected the backup disk. It is still showing Looking for Backup Disk.
The Time Machine is a 1 Terabyte size. My iMac is using 203.6 Gigabytes of its 319.21 G space.
In looking at what my Finder is showing as the name of my Backup Disk, I see that it is showing my Backup Disk as Virginia's Computer (3). It should be showing my Backup Disk as Virginia's Computer. If this is the source of the problem, how do I get my Backup Disk named back to Virginia's Computer? Is it possible to get it changed back?
My TM is used as a router for two iMacs and up through Feb. 4 I was sharing files between both computers. When the problems started, I turned off File Sharing in the other computer (Jim's iMac). I had noticed that frequently my computer's name as shown on the other computer would be changed to Virginia's Computer (2) or Virginia's Computer (3) and I would change it back when I noticed. Perhaps this is how the problem started.

I finally contacted Apple Support. Three support people and seven and a half hours later Time Machine began working correctly. Multiple things were tried. The Time Capsule ended up getting erased. Many files and folders were deleted from several places on my hard drive. It seemed that the final ones that made a difference after the Time Capsule was erased were files that were in my Keychain.
I have to thank Apple's Support people for persistence, especially Jim who is the one who got things back to normal as far as the Time Capsule & Time Machine goes. I have to keep watch to see if anything acts up now on my hard drive and then the solution will go further. But the issue with the Time Capsule and Time Machine appears to be resolved!
Thank you, Apple Support!!!

Internal Time Machine "looking for backup disk" (not time capsule)

Hello,
I have the infamous "looking for backup disk" issue. My Time Machine drive is an internal drive, NOT a time capsule. It is mounted and visible, and the backups show up on it in the Finder. When I select to enter the Time Machine "starfield" UI, all my previous backups are browsable. But when it comes time to actually back up... it just says "looking for backup disk" forever. I've tried leaving it like that for something like 40 minutes, no joy. This is not a huge disk, there are about 700 GB of backups on it. The HDD activity light on my computer is NOT showing any activity when I am idling but it is "looking for backup disk," so I don't think it's scanning the drive or anything.
I have tried turning TM off and on, removing the drive and re-selecting it, unmounting it and remounting it, deleting the TM preference plist file from the library, rebooting, and all manner of combinations thereof. Nothing seems to work.
Anyone have any advice? This is on OS X 10.8.2 by the way. The TM backup worked fine through 10.8.1 and 10.8.2 with no problems until now. I don't recall doing anything specific to mess up TM or the disks in any way, although I may have turned TM during a reboot cycle prior to this happening (don't recall if this is actually the case, but in any case it shouldn't have caused such an error, no?).
Thanks in advance,
—Gabriel

[Just a note, TM only works on OS X Journaled drives (i.e. HFS+ drives). TM does not back up your FAT drive.]
Isaac:
If you unloaded the NTFS and FAT kexts, your TM backups might (might!) work again, but of course in that case you would not be able to see your FAT or NTFS drives in OS X, and if you removed the FAT kext then a lot of USB keys would be unreadable in OS X - not a good solution.
The kexts are specific to OS X, so removing them should not affect Windows... but may affect boot camp, I don't know how boot camp is programmed (which would be a problem). Luckily if your Windows drive became inaccessable from boot camp with removed kexts, it should be easy enough to simply boot back into OS X, restore the kexts, and then Windows should work again.
I would recommend not mixing partition types on drives with shared OSX/Win functions, it seems to "tempt fate" as it were with possible errors. I don't know what has precipitated this error in your case, if it was the MSE or disk error or something else, and unfortunately I don't have a real fix to offer beyond trying things with the kexts removed and seeing if they work.
NOTE THAT THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK, messing with kexts is not a very recommendable practice since these files enable core functionality in the OS. Make a backup before if you can, and consider your options carefully. In OS X, navigate to /System/Library/Extensions and you'll find a bunch kext files. The two you need are msdosfs.kext and ntfs.kext. Copy ntfs.kext into a backup folder (e.g., on your desktop). Delete the original ntfs.kext from the S/L/E folder. Reboot and see if you can still access windows. If so, reboot into OS X and see if Time Machine works again. If you're good on both those points, then consider going without ntfs.kext on a permanent basis – it is rare that you need to read an NTFS drive while in OS X. On the other hand, if this does not fix your problem, you may try restoring ntfs.kext, and backing up / deleting msdosfs.kext to see if THAT is the culprit. Unfortunately, if msdosfs.kext is causing the TM error, you're kind of out of luck, since going without FAT access will be pretty annoying any time you need to use a drive to swap files between Windows and Mac (using a USB key).
Ultimately I don't have a solution, as I have noted, so much as I've narrowed down where the error is occuring in some peoples' cases (like my own). Good luck!

Time Machine stuck at "Looking for backup disk"

I've been backing up via Time Machine to an external USB drive and it's been working fine. I recenty installed Windows 8 via Boot Camp and now TM gets stuck forever at "Looking for backup disk...".
I've tried the following, to no avail:
Using "Select Disk" in TM preferences to re-select the disk
Deleting /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
Running system maintenance via Onyx
Resetting PRAM
Formatting the drive and setting it up for TM backups again
The Boot Camp partition is on the same drive as OS X (on a 180GB Intel 330 series SSD). During the Windows installation I re-formatted the partition as NTFS.
If I start OS X in Safe Boot mode, TM backups work. In Safe Boot mode, the NTFS partition isn't loaded so I suspect it has something to do with this. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I'm going to assume during the install setup of Windows, you deleted the partition made by Apple and created your own and formatted in NTFS. This is probably the cause as to what happened.
Try this:
1. backup anything you did in Windows 8.
2. In Boot Camp, remove the Windows Partition. Reboot when prompted.
3. Try and see if Time Machine works again.
If its working, create a bootcamp partition and re-install Windows. Do not delete the partitions that Boot Camp created. See if TM works again after that.

I have 2 auxillary disk drives for my MacBokk Pro. Time Machine uses one for backup and I use the other for storage, but I am unable to create a new folder or drag and drop files or folders to the aux drive.

I am unable to create a new folder on either of my auxillary disk drives. I can access the files and folders that were there when I transferred one of the drives from a PC. Time machine uses one for backup and I want to use the other to store photos which are large files. An help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the reply. If I reformat the drive will I be able to access the files on it from the MAC. I do not share the drive with a PC. The files were originally created on a PC which I no longer use. I do want to continue to access the files put there by the PC. I would like to not have to copy them over to the MAC hard drive just to use them. The second aux drive is new and works fine because it was formatted by the MAC. I can drag and drop files there and work with just as if they were on the internal drive.

Time Capsule "looking for backup disk" problems, running Lion on 24" iMac

Hi,
I'm having problems with my Time Capsule. I can't get the backups to run for about a week. The backup just says "looking for backup disk" for ever. This is a first gen Time Capsule, and it's still working fine for two MacBooks in the house. I have all the Apple updates installed, and I'm running 10.7.2. In Preferences, Time Capsule, I can see the available/of space and there is plenty left. It's not showing any Oldest and Latest date info for backups.
If I go to "select disk" and choose the Time Capsule, I'm prompted for the password. When I press "Connect", the message changes to "Stopping Backup" and this will run for ever. I have plenty of disk space available, have repaired permissions, have booted in safe mode, reset pram and nvram and probably a few other options to no avail. I can enter the Time Machine and see all of my backups without problem.
As a side note, I have also noticed instability whereby various programs have been 'not responding' of late, and need to be force quit. Once that happens, the iMac won't properly shut down and restart; I usually need to how down the power button.
Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm having the same problem. Anyone have a fix?
Nozz

HT3275 I am using an external drive for backup. I am now getting a message that the drive needs a disk repair, but when I run disk repair it just seems to freeze.

I am using an external drive for back up. Yesterday the backup failed and I received a message that the external drive( a passport drive) needed a 'disk repair", when I ran disk repair nothing happened it seemed to freeze. Suggestions? should i simply erase the external drive and start over-my computer is fine.

Get a different drive for backup.
In the meantime, once you are backed up some drive safe, then you can attempt to repair the backup drive using the repair the directory link.

HT3606 how do i get a recovery disk or download for os 10.5.8? my system was installed by an apple store when replacing my hard drive. i did not get a backup disk.

how do i get a recovery disk or download for os 10.5.8? my system was installed by an apple store when replacing my hard drive. i did not get a backup disk. macbook is a 1.1 from mid 2006 and 10.5.8 is as far as i can go.. use this as a utility backup when my new macbook pro with mt lion screws something up---which seems like a daily event. do i have to install a lesser version of leopard then install the update. does software update even work anymore for leopard? im so in the dark and when i look at the console i just freak.

Hello, your best bet would be to clone your drive to an external drive, which will be bootable.
Get carbon copy cloner to make an exact copy of your old HD to the New one...
http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
Or SuperDuper...
http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/
You're not likely to see any updates show up for 10.5.x
The very first MacBook 1,1s can actually run 10.6, which is updatable to 10.6.8, but will only run in 32 bit mode on yours.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook/specs/macbook_1.83.html
Snow Leopard/10.6.x Requirements...
General requirements
   * Mac computer with an Intel processor
    * 1GB of memory (I say 4GB at least, more if you can afford it)
    * 5GB of available disk space (I say 30GB at least)
    * DVD drive for installation
    * Some features require a compatible Internet service provider; fees may apply.
    * Some features require Apple’s MobileMe service; fees and terms apply.
Which apps work with Mac OS X 10.6?...
http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/
Buy Snow Leopard > http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC573/mac-os-x-106-snow-leopard
Call Apple Sales...in the US: 1-800-MY-APPLE. Or Support... 1-800-275-2273
Other countries...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57

When i try to open itunes i get insert a disk into removable disk f and when i look for that on my computer there is no disk f

when i try to open itunes i get the message insert a disk into removable disk f and when i look for disk f there is no f on my computer. I thought i might make a disk f that letter is not available in my device manager section. So i try and uninstall/install itunes it was error message wd is invailid character. I am in a pickle here.

To solve this issue all I did was check to ensure that the file permissions were set as described by the earlier posts, followed by simply deleting the iTunes Library Genius.itdb file. Once the file was deleted I was able to open iTunes without difficulty. Note that I am running Windows 8. Hope this helps!

In the installation process lion will not install as message reads MAC HD 904 gb available this disk is used for time machine backups .What is the next step

After downloading ,completing the lic agreement phase, the next step is where to install and automatically' MAC HD with 904 gb available this disk is used for time machine backups' is shown and installation is blocked .
Any body got any idea what to do next ?

Time machine needs its own partition to operate. So you are not going install a OSx Lion on that volume.
If there is enough room you may be able to partition the drive on the fly with DiskUtility
Are you saying you clean installed Lion and you are trying to move your user Data over with TM via the migration Assistant? Please explain.

I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard. When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed. Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Mach

I am trying to upgrade from Tiger to Snow Leopard. When I insert the disk and install starts, it states "This disk is used for Time Machine backups" and Mac OSX can't be installed. Does anyone know how to correct this (since Tiger doesn't have Time Machine)?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2986

Removable Disk For Zen V P

I just bought a Zen V Plus & have tried to set it to GB for the removable disk. It went to 75% complete & just stayed there, I left it for about an hour & when I checked on it again, it still only said 75% complete.
How long should the process take? Is there a reason it gets hung up at 75%?

Should take 2-3 hours.

RDX removable disk cartridges usable for backup?

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