Time Machine Filling Up My Time Capsule

I use a time capsule for file storage, and also for backups. The backup is filling up my Time Capsule so I cant store any files on it. How can I set Time Machine to only fill up a certain of space or delete older backups?

blackbeardesign wrote:
I use a time capsule for file storage, and also for backups. The backup is filling up my Time Capsule so I cant store any files on it.
Welcome to Apple's discussion groups.
That's the way Time Machine (which I presume you're using) is designed. See this: http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/3.html
How can I set Time Machine to only fill up a certain of space or delete older backups?
It may be impossible to partition a Time Capsule disk with resorting to surgery. There are two things you could try: (1) Create a large "disk image" (.dmg) file and copy it to the Time Capsule disk. This will reserve that much space on the Time Capsule disk. Then mount the disk image and copy into it what you want to store there. (2) Get an external USB drive, connect it to the Time Capsule, and use it for the non-Time Machine data.

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How can I copy a time machine backup from one Time Capsule to another ?

How can I copy a time machine backup from one Time Capsule to another ? I bought a 1 Tb Time Capsule to replace my 512Mb Time Capsule. Now, I like to copy my time machine backup from the old Time Capsule to the new one so I can keep using my backup.

from this support article:
(click on image to enlarge)

How can I resolve OSStatus Error 13 on Time Machine when connecting to Time Capsule on Lion?

This is a semi-rhetorical question: I have now resolved this for my own setup, However, there was very little information on this error in the fora, so I thought I would post my experience with getting a Time Capsule (2TB, 3rd edition) to work on OS X Lion after the AFP/NAS debacle.
Background
My third party LaCie Big Disk Network* NAS died when Lion came out.
I could access neither Time Machine nor the drive through Finder.
The excellent thread on "Lion: Connecting to legacy (pre-Lion) AFP services - and Mac OS X (server)" (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3258472?start=0&tstart=0) allowed me to access the drive via Finder to save my files but, of course, Time Machine was still broken. That guide showed you how to lift security restrictions on AFP shares.
For reasons explained below [disclaimer: rant follows] I decided to ditch the LaCie and purchased a Time Capsule.
The Problem
Time Capsule connected via DSL to the net and set up a wifi network with a green light.
The "Data" mount for Time Machine was visible in Time Machine, but trying to access it showed the following error:
The operation couldn’t be completed. (OSStatus error 13)
Trying to open the share in Finder using the appropriate credentials showed:
The operation cannot be completed because the original item for "Data" can't be found
Things that didn't work
Turning lots of things on and off
Resetting the DSL modem, the router (Time Capsule), the computer
Repairing permissions
What DID work
Undoing the modifications made during the process of mounting the old LaCie NAS
To do this, open Terminal and enter:
sudo -s
chmod o+w /Library/Preferences
cd /Library/Preferences/
rm com.apple.AppleShareClient.plist*
(from https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3258472?start=0&tstart=0)
Then restart your computer.
This worked for me. I don't UNDERSTAND any of why this did or didn't affect the computer, so please don't ask me to explain how it worked or what else to try. I thought I would just put this out there for knowledge.
* LaCie have really got my goat. Unlike other manufacturers who seem to be trying to provide support for their drives (Western Digital MyBook), LaCie have stated outright that they will not be providing any updates for their Big Disk Network. This is a hard drive they describe as a "Professional NAS", though I can't think of many professions where £200 backups need to be replaced every two years to keep abreast of security updates. In their defence, the drive is no longer manufactured… but, IMHO, I don't see that as sufficient reason to abandon all support or updates immediately. Boo! On the upside, loving my shiny new refurb Time Capsule.

Our true genius died a little while ago.
But up to Mountain Lion he has tones of info ..
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Try some of the section C solutions.
It is more than likely network.
BUT do the following.
1. Install the widget A1
2. Reset TM, A4
3. Verify the backup, A5
4. Reboot the whole network and restart it in order.. modem.. TC.. MB Air.
No luck to this point.
Tell us exactly what OS you have.
The worst possible is Mavericks. If you are trying to connect to old backups after an upgrade it is hopeless.
I recommend you start over.
Simply wipe the TC and start afresh.
Manually mount the TC disk in Mavericks so you are sure it is working. Tell us if you run into trouble.
Most important.. in wireless network preferences are you running ipv6 in link-local mode.

Time Machine over AirPort to Time Capsule... maybe a solution

Like a lot of people on this forum, apparently, I have been suffering from the inability to make reliable Time Machine backups to a Time Capsule over AirPort. Here's what I did to solve the situation.
Here's my network setup:
I have an ADSL wireless box with b/g network connected over ethernet to a 1-TB Time Capsule which has a 5 GHz 'n' network. Using 5 GHz 'n' network where I am means no interference. All equipment that is not capable of 'n' is on the wireless box, 'n' equipment (basically, only my MacBook Pro) gets on the Time Capsule. It doesn't make internet faster, but sure makes the Time Capsule accessible. Both networks are hidden and secured with WEP (b/g) or WPA2 (n).
(the Time Capsule is double-NATted, unfortunately, to cut down on network chatter in the system log)
After upgrading to 10.5.6, I think I haven't been able to make a reliable Time Machine backup over AirPort. It may have been well before that (possibly with the AirPort Extreme update) but I don't remember. Most of the time, before the wireless box arrived, I have been making far-too-irregular backups over ethernet to the Time Capsule.
Anyway, I had been trying to get Time Machine to work over AirPort to the backup on the Time Capsule. I had made the original backup over ethernet (all 500 GB worth over a weekend). For the incremental backups, though, I would prefer AirPort because keeping a cable attached really is a pain. Of course, it didn't work right away.
What I couldn't figure out was why. Time Machine mounted the sparsebundle volume on the Time Capsule, but after that it seemed to do nothing with it. I left it for half a day and found little by way of relevant network activity. I tried the following to no avail:
* disabled Little Snitch (outgoing firewall) and the OS X firewall (incoming firewall)
* disabled security on the network
* disabled and re-enable Time Machine
* changed the name of the sparsebundle volume (that was dumb!)
* trash Time Machine preferences and re-select the backup disk
* reboot, reboot, reboot
Whatever I did, it sucked. Connecting over ethernet was excellent, and incremental backups went really quick, but AirPort just didn't fly. It would have been worse if it were slow; chances are then it'd be a hardware problem. But nothing was going over AirPort with Time Machine.
In amongst the surfing, I found somewhere how to downgrade the firmware on the Time Capsule. Worth a try since nothing was working. I opened up the AirPort Utility and checked, but it would only give me 7.3.2 (AirPort Utility 5.3.2). I searched and found the AirPort 5.3.1 software, and using Pacifist extracted the AirPort Utility application. That would let me 'downgrade' the Time Capsule firmware to 7.3.1 (and 7.3). It downloaded the 7.3.1 for me and put it on the Time Capsule without problems.
I then made a test run with Time Machine over ethernet, that was fine. The I tried over AirPort - and hey presto! it worked! I re-enabled my network setup (firewalls, security) and it's still working fine.
So, if your Time Capsule is on 7.3.2 firmware and Time Machine over AirPort *****, try downgrading to 7.3.1. The AirPort 5.3.1 software, which can download and install the 7.3.1 software (5.3.2 doesn't) can be found here:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/TimeCapsule_and_AirPort_Base_Station__802_11n__Firmware_7_31
Note: you need Pacifist to extract the AirPort Utility application;
do not install the software over your existing AirPort software

This may be tough because TM isn't supported over wi-fi unless you're using a Time Capsule. There are a couple of resources available to you and I'd also recommend posting in the Snow Leopard forum because TM is part of OS X the OS X forum would be the right venue. The first thing is I'm guessing you are using a router, if so make sure the firmware on it is up-to-date. You will need to refer to the router's manual. You also should do the same with the modem too. Some written resources are:
Time Machine FAQs
Time Machine Troubleshooting
Pondini Time Machine Tips
That's about all I can help you out with.
Good luck!

I am trying to delete a Time Machine backup from a Time Capsule.

I am trying to delete a Time Machine backup from a Time Capsule. The file is about 400GB and my MacBook has been trying to delete it for 5h now. It still says "deleting" but has not given me a "time remaining" yet. Any idea of what I could do????

You should not attempt to delete backups using the Finder. The result can be a corrupted backup.
I recommend you let it complete, no matter how long it takes. That could be days, if your TC is connected via wireless.
It is not necessary to delete backups, since Time Machine will delete old backups some time after they have been deleted from your source volume. For more information read Apple Support Communities contributor Pondini's explanation here: Should I delete old backups? If so, How?

Time machine was not working. I bought a new time machine and migrated time machine files to new time capsule; not recognized by yosemite

Time machine was not working after yosemite upgrade on new and old MacBooks in my house. I bought a new time machine and migrated time machine files to new time capsule. I changed the names of the older sparse bundles to the default values. Yosemite still does not recognize them.

I presume the bought a time machine means a time capsule.
How did you migrate the Time Machine files?
From where? A Time Capsule or external drive?
It is difficult to get TM working with Yosemite.. since it doesn't work after the upgrade on the old TM backup.. it will not work on the migrated files either.
You simply start a new backup and store the old backups for a few months until you are ready to dump them.
The instructions for inheriting old backups is B5 and B6 here.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
However it is just unlikely to work.. TM in Yosemite is very different. Broken even.
I also strongly recommend people to use Carbon Copy Cloner or some other 3rd party backup until Apple get the bugs fixed. And after several months.. they are still rampant.

Time Machine doesn't list Time Capsule as backup option

I'm trying to restart Time Machine, but Time Machine doesn't show Time Capsule as a backup option even though I'm connected to it wirelessly on our network. I was successfully backing up to my Time Capsule until I changed its name. Any ideas on how to fix this.
Thanks

Sounds like the drive is dead.
Take it to your local Apple Store or Authorized Repair location.

I have bought a time capsule to use as time machine device. Until now I have used a external hard disk. How can I transfer the the old time machine datas to the time capsule?

I have bought a time capsule to use as time machine device. Until now I have used a external hard disk. How can I transfer the the old time machine datas to the time capsule?

This is really difficult to the point of not really worth it.
Keep the old TM backups in archive.. and start afresh on the TC.
Time Machine has a different way of backing up on Network drives cf Local drives.
Pondini does have a method to do it... but I would not recommend it.
http://pondini.org/TM/18.html

I have "lost" the time machine disk on my time capsule. How can I get it back?

I went to restore a Word document from January 2010. When I went into Time Machine to restore it, I found that the current backups only go back to May 2013. I've had the Time Capsule at least a couple of years longer than that. I tried going into Time Machine to select disk, and ended up deleting the existing disk and being offered a new one.
However, I know that the old backups (from May 2013 onwards, anyway) are still there. How can I reconnect to them via Time Machine?

It was the alt key that did it
Interesting, since it is the control key that works on my Mac....not option or alt.
Unfortunately, if you cannot select the disk in Time Machine Preferences as a Time Machine backup destination, you will have to go with what you have.
If it were me, I would probably erase the Time Capsule disk and simply start over again with a new backup set.

Time Machine will not access Time Capsule no permission?????

Need some help-
I have atiem machine that I have used for several years -
Bought a new MacBook pro / installed Lion -
When I went to set up Time MAchine it sees the Time Capsule - but I am not allowed to read or write as I get the message that says I don't ahve permission.
Have gone in and reset the pass word for the Time Capsule and for the Net work - but this has not changed
I can see the Tiem Capsule on the network and can open it up on my desk top - but I cna not set up Tiem MAchine as I get the "No Permission message'
What am I missing???

The backups might be corrupted. Try to Repair them, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.

Looking for a back up drive for photos and videos that works with time machine, prefer wireless. Time capsule has poor reviews and already have BT hub

Looking for a back up drive for photos and videos that works with time machine, prefer wireless. Time capsule has poor reviews and already have BT hub that serves as a good router. 3gb or 4gb capacity preferred but 2 would suffice.

Plug a NAS into the BT Hub that does TM. Look at Synology.
You just use the wireless of the hub.
But the cheapest solution is still the TC.

Time machine back up on time capsule never stop

time machine back up on time capsule never stop.

You need to do a bit of troubleshooting.. and it isn't an easy one to solve.
TM could be stuck on a corrupted file..
It could be slow due to network issues.. wireless is terrible.. use ethernet if at all possible.
Is there an error message??
Look at Pondini.. http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
You need to load the widget A1.
Verify both the source and backup sparsebundle. A5
Look at some of the reasons he gives for over long backups.
Look at section D.
I would also need to have more info. Did this just start when you upgraded the TC firmware that was recently released.. if so expect issues.
Are you running Mountain Lion.. expect issues??
To help further we need more info.

Backup Drive for Time Machine FILLS UP FAST!

*Be forewarned!*
I have a new iMac 2.8 GHz with an internal 750GB drive (about 500GB free). I bought a 500GB external drive (Western Digital Book My Book™), and after just 4 days of running with Time Machine turned on, I get this error message, "Time Machine backup failed. Time Machine needs 175GB to backup, and only 150GB available." Huh?
I just spoke to someone at the Apple Store's Genius bar, and they recommend a backup drive that is twice the size of your internal drive. (which means a 1.5 TB drive: not cheap...LaCie costs $539)
Also, come to find out some programs simply "don't play nice" with Time Machine. A good example is MS-Entourage, which has a single database file (in the Main Identity folder) which holds all the info for your email, address book and calendar. Mine is 350 MB in size, and it is being backed up IN FULL every hour because, well...I use my email. And every time any changes are made to that single file, it is considered modified, which means it is backed up every hour on the hour, which can quickly add up.
The same is true for the Windows XP or Vista VM files created by Parallels or VMware Fusion. Each are single, 2+ GB files, and each time any change is made to this 'huge' file, it gets backed up repeatedly by Leopard's Time Machine.
_So the larger the backup drive for Time Machine the better_! I'm considering giving up on Entourage (kiss Microsoft goodbye!) and switching to Apple's excellent mail, address book and calendar programs!
Tim Liszt
LisZt Design

Tim,
I just switched from Entourage to Mail (for many reasons). Thus far, I love Mail. You may want to get the Widescreen plugin for it if you like the three-pane configuration of Entourage.
You should also be careful with Address Book if you have syncing set up in Entourage. In other words, probably should turn it off, along with any daemons you may have running. I lost data twice (once before my very eyes!) until figuring this out. Used Time Machine to restore a previous address book with all my contacts.
Thanks for the other information on this thread. Since I should be upgrading my old external drive anyway, it will help in purchasing a new machine for use with TM.
Message was edited by: SPD

Cannot open time machine; message on screen: time machine in backup. I want to find last 12 mos. of pictures.

cannot open application to time machine: Message on screen: time machine in backup.
Purpose to get into time machine; is to pickup lost photos

northernresort wrote:
I workedwith apple support on the phone it believe the backup is corrupt.
Yup, sure sounds like it.
It does have a .sparsebundle for the machine that is backup up. There is only 52G free on the 1T time capsule, so it seems that the data is there,
That's good, obviously. Often it won't mount at all, and you're in a very large pickle.
I'm not seeing nor beleive I'm having a hardware issue with the time capsule.
Probably not.
I'm wondering if I have some sort of version issue between 10.7.x that the Time machine on the time capsule was created with and 10.8.4
No, at least not that's been reported. A sparsebundle is a sparsebundle, as far as we can tell.
I don't use hdiutil or fsck, so bear with me. Drag the sparsebundle into Disk Utility's sidebar and try Repair Disk on it. See what messages it shows. (They may not appear in the window; click the Log icon or select Window > Show Log from the menubar.)
Do you have a copy of DiskWarrior? It can operate on a sparsebundle, and sometimes can fix things Disk Utility (and hdiutil or fsck) can't.
I haven't found any good way to parse out/copy files from a sparse bundle
If you double-click it, does the disk image (named "Time Machine Backups") mount (should appear on your Desktop and/or Finder sidebar)? If it does, can you open it via the Finder? If so, you'll find the usual Backups.backupdb folder inside, with one folder named for your Mac, and inside that all the date-stamped backup folders, each with one folder per drive that was backed-up, and inside that the full folder structure.
If so, you can probably drag & drop, but depending on what kind of damage there is, and where, that may not work well, if at all.
Best, of course, is if you can repair it and just do a full restore.

I am trying to confirm the time at which a particular backup occurred using an external hard drive that I have since misplaced. Although time machine lists the backup times for some backups, it does not list them for all. Can someone help?

I am trying to confirm the time at which a particular backup occurred using an external hard drive that I have since misplaced. Although time machine lists the backup times for some backups, it does not list them for all, including the one in question. Can someone help?

Okay, I've sussed it. I saw a link to another discussion that hadn't turned up in any of my searches before I posted the question above.
My Tosh HDD was formatted to FAT 32 and therefore would not be backed up by Time Machine. I removed all data from it - nightmare as I hadn't enough space to put it on the macbook HDD, but, after trawling through numerous photos and deleting rubbish for hours, I finally made enough space and copied all data across. Then, after clearing the data from the Tosh HDD, I used disk utilitity to reformat it to Mackintosh OS Extended. Chose the option without kournalling because I'm not baking up onto this disk and so don't need it - according to some other discussions I found.
When it was done I check on time machine in system prefs and once I selected options, I was able to remove it from the excluded from backups list. Hey presto. Now I'm moving my photo library and my music library onto the Tosh HDD and my macbook should start to breath again. Hurray.

Time Machine Filling Up My Time Capsule

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