Setup Time Machine Backup To Multiple Devices

I currently have a Time Capsule and I let Time Machine run it's regular back ups. What would I have to do if I wanted to run a manual backup once a month to another drive/device? Can this be done, or would I need to use another backup program/method to do a monthly backup to another device/drive?
I know that Time Machine does a monthly, I'd just like have a 2nd backup. Thanks!

Mike72677 wrote:
I currently have a Time Capsule and I let Time Machine run it's regular back ups. What would I have to do if I wanted to run a manual backup once a month to another drive/device? Can this be done, or would I need to use another backup program/method to do a monthly backup to another device/drive?
All you have to do is format the other drive properly, then go to TM Preferences > Change Disk and select the alternate. The first backup to it will be a full one, of course, so quite lengthy.
Then to switch back to the TC, just use +Change Disk+ again. The only caution is, if you go several days (over 10) between backups on the alternate, TM may, depending on the volume of changes, do another full backup the next time.
Both sets of backups will be independent and complete, but have different "snapshots" of your system.
I know that Time Machine does a monthly, I'd just like have a 2nd backup. Thanks!
That's not exactly true. TM does hourly backups, then "thins" them out, keeping one per week as long as there's room; the first of each day for a month; all others for 24 hours. But they're all done in exactly the same way, and each is a full picture of your system.
An alternative, that many of us do, is to make a full "bootable clone" with CarbonCopyCloner, SuperDuper! or the like, in addition to full TM backups. These have advantages and disadvantages vs. Time Machine, and for those of us who think that Murphy was an optimist, it's always good to have a second, independent backup. It's a bit safer to use a separate disk for these, but you can also use a separate partition on the same disk.
One thing you might consider is getting a portable external for the "clone," and taking it to your safe deposit box, workplace, relative's house, etc., so you're also protected from fire, flood, theft, direct lightning strike, etc.

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    Message was edited by: Kappy

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    mickleroy wrote:
    We setup time machine backups in an office environment which is managed by a mac OS X Lion server.
    I'm not familiar with the server product, but the actual backup process should be the same as on the client version.
    On some occasions, a device requests an admin username and password whilst time machine is backing up.
    Does it say Admin password, or could it be a password for the backup device?  
    Feb  1 10:01:16 pc-205 diskarbitrationd[15]: SystemUIServer [206]:24835 not responding.
    Feb  1 10:01:33 pc-205 diskarbitrationd[15]: SystemUIServer [206]:24067 not responding.
    Not related to Time Machine.
    Feb  1 10:06:15 pc-205 sandboxd[513] ([61]): mds(61) deny file-write-data /dev/dtracehelperThat's not coming from Time Machine.  Looks to be related to Spotlght (mds) trying to index something. 
    Feb  1 10:07:16 pc-205 mds[61]: (Error) Volume: Could not find requested backup type:2 for volume
    We see that occasionally.  It seems to be spurious, or at least not a significant problem.
    Feb  1 10:07:37 pc-205 com.apple.backupd[436]: Backup completed successfully.
    Feb  1 10:07:39 pc-205 com.apple.backupd[436]: Ejected Time Machine disk image.
    Feb  1 10:07:40 pc-205 com.apple.backupd[436]: Ejected Time Machine network volume.
    Yes, that's the "bottom line." 
    Could this be fixed by running a full backup as admin so that time machine doesn't have to backup these inaccessible files (to normal users) anymore?
    No.  However a backup runs, it runs as the root user, so has access to everything.

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    mickleroy wrote:
    We setup time machine backups in an office environment which is managed by a mac OS X Lion server.
    I'm not familiar with the server product, but the actual backup process should be the same as on the client version.
    On some occasions, a device requests an admin username and password whilst time machine is backing up.
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    Feb  1 10:01:16 pc-205 diskarbitrationd[15]: SystemUIServer [206]:24835 not responding.
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    Not related to Time Machine.
    Feb  1 10:06:15 pc-205 sandboxd[513] ([61]): mds(61) deny file-write-data /dev/dtracehelperThat's not coming from Time Machine.  Looks to be related to Spotlght (mds) trying to index something. 
    Feb  1 10:07:16 pc-205 mds[61]: (Error) Volume: Could not find requested backup type:2 for volume
    We see that occasionally.  It seems to be spurious, or at least not a significant problem.
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    Feb  1 10:07:39 pc-205 com.apple.backupd[436]: Ejected Time Machine disk image.
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    Yes, that's the "bottom line." 
    Could this be fixed by running a full backup as admin so that time machine doesn't have to backup these inaccessible files (to normal users) anymore?
    No.  However a backup runs, it runs as the root user, so has access to everything.

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