Time Machine & More than one backup disk

Hi, I was told a while back by an Apple Engineer that I could use say two drives for my Time Machine backups. The reason being that if my main computer fails then I would at that moment have no backup, just the one Time Machine disk so all my eggs would be in that basket. I don't like the odds so wanted to find out if there was another option, a better option. He told me:
I can have one disk that I use one week, I called this the Blue Disk and the next week
Choose the second disk, I called this one the Orange Disk and he said that each alternate backup would be independent of each other.
My question is, is this true and okay to do because I've only last week been told by another Apple engineer that this was definitely not the case and that I would have no complete backup and therefore if the worst happened and my computer failed I wouldn't even have one working Time Machine Backup!! I would be stuffed.
I really don't wan't to mess around with third party backup applications because I've come unstuck in the past before doing exactly this. I hoped that Time Machine was the answer to all my prayers.
I cannot have just one backup of my computer because the work is too critical to risk loosing and also with only one Time Machine backup that means that every time I backup all my work is in one place and connected. This is very bad because 18 months ago we had a powercut whilst Time Machine was backing up and both the computer and the Time Machine backup were destroyed. No way of getting back the files at all. I always keep the second backup in a secure place off site.

Bill Soan wrote:
Sorry went on a bit there Question was:
Can I use more than one external disk for Time Machine to backup onto alternately (One one week, the other then next week). and still have two complete independent backups of my computer.
Yup. Each will be complete and independent. The first backup after the switch will be longer than usual, as Time Machine catches up with all the changes made since the last backup +*to that disk.+*
You must tell Time Machine each time you swap disks, though, via Time Machine Preferences > Select Disk.
A better solution, however, might be to use one drive permanently with Time Machine, and the other with a different app. See #27 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), for some suggestions.

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HT3275 Can some HELP, I keep getting this error with my Time Machine Back up, "The backup disk image "/Volumes/JKPN Safe/JKPN IMAC.sparsebundle" is already in use.

Can some one HELP me , I keep getting this error with my Time Machine Back up, "The backup disk image “/Volumes/JKPN Safe/JKPN IMAC.sparsebundle” is already in use.

See > http://pondini.org/TM/C12.html

More than one backup drive??

Can I use more than one backup drive to back up my Mini's internal hard drive and six external hard drives?
My latest backup failed because the backup is too large for the backup disk. My back up disk is now a 1.5 TB external drive.
Rather than buying a single very high capacity external hard drive to replace the 1.5 TB drive as my back up disk, I would prefer to add a second drive and be able to distribute the back ups between two back up drives.
Thanks,
John Fermendzin

no, TM can only have one backup drive. you can RAID several drives in one volume or buy a bigger external or a RAID enclosure. another option is to use a different backup solution for part of your data. you can use a different backup drive with that. see this post by kappy for options
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Can you face time with more than one person at one time?

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Time Machine cannot mount remote backup disk (ReadyNAS NV+)

Hello,
I own a ReadyNAS NV+ which I use as an external backup. It has a "Time Machine" backup daemon, so the iMac see's it over network. I used it for a couple of months without issues.
A couple of days ago I had to change the physical location of ReadyNAS. Now there are 2 switches between my iMac and the readyNAS.
Since I changed the physical position of the ReadyNAS I try to backup using time machine but it's not possible. Time machine hangs up when trying to up at "Making Backup Disk Available". Using the terminal I can clearly see that AFP has issues mounting the disk:
afp_4pcsta0oyhi62C4wJd3Bx6yh-1.2e00000b on /Volumes/ReadyNAS (afpfs, nobrowse)
angel:log root# dmesg
6a800!
jnl: disk3s2: journal_open: Error replaying the journal!
hfs: early jnl init: failed to open/create the journal (retval 0).
disk3s2: 0x5 (UNDEFINED).
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [ErrNo 5] [IOType Read] [PBlkNum 2] [LBlkNum 2] [FSLogMsgID 1814855696] [FSLogMsgOrder First]
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [DevNode devfs] [MountPt /dev] [Path /dev/disk3s2] [FSLogMsgID 1814855696] [FSLogMsgOrder Last]
AFP_VFS afpfs_unmount: /Volumes/ReadyNAS, flags 524288, pid 285
AFP_VFS afpfs_mount: /Volumes/ReadyNAS, pid 872
jnl: disk4s2: replay_journal: from: 8247296 to: 4564992 (joffset 0x962000)
ASP_TCP dothreadread: no reqInfo found for reqID 5
ASP_TCP Disconnect: triggering reconnect by bumping reconnTrigger from curr value 0 on so 0xa258660
AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect started /Volumes/ReadyNAS prevTrigger 0 currTrigger 1
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 22 error 89 reqID 3256 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x3D so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 23 error 89 reqID 3257 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x22 so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 24 error 89 reqID 3258 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x22 so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 25 error 89 reqID 3259 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x22 so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 26 error 89 reqID 3260 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x22 so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 27 error 89 reqID 3261 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0xB so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 28 error 89 reqID 3262 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x22 so 0xa258660
ASP_TCP CancelOneRequest: cancelling slot 29 error 89 reqID 3263 flags 0x29 afpCmd 0x22 so 0xa258660
0 [Level 5] [com.apple.message.domain com.apple.afpfs.reconnect] [com.apple.message.signature Reconnect failed - socket failed to start reconnect] [com.apple.message.value 1297443679] [Message afpfs_DoReconnect: socket failed to start reconnect 61 /Volumes/ReadyNAS
AFP_VFS afpfs_DoReconnect: posting to KEA to unmount /Volumes/ReadyNAS
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [ErrNo 6] [IOType Write] [PBlkNum 8] [LBlkNum 8] [FSLogMsgID 1662666978] [FSLogMsgOrder First]
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [DevNode afp_4pcsta0oyhi62C4wJd3Bx6yh-1.2e00000a] [MountPt /Volumes/ReadyNAS] [Path /Volumes/ReadyNAS/angel.sparsebundle/bands/0] [FSLogMsgID 1662666978] [FSLogMsgOrder Last]
disk4s2: 0x5 (UNDEFINED).
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [ErrNo 5] [IOType Read] [PBlkNum 11744] [LBlkNum 11744] [FSLogMsgID 1726805554] [FSLogMsgOrder First]
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [DevNode devfs] [MountPt /dev] [Path /dev/disk4s2] [FSLogMsgID 1726805554] [FSLogMsgOrder Last]
jnl: disk4s2: updatefsblock: error reading fs block # 11744! (ret 5)
disk4s2: 0x5 (UNDEFINED).
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [ErrNo 5] [IOType Read] [PBlkNum 27379] [LBlkNum 27379] [FSLogMsgID 1933006271] [FSLogMsgOrder First]
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [DevNode devfs] [MountPt /dev] [Path /dev/disk4s2] [FSLogMsgID 1933006271] [FSLogMsgOrder Last]
jnl: disk4s2: dojnlio: strategy err 0x5
jnl: disk4s2: replay_journal: Could not read journal entry data @ offset 0x46a800!
jnl: disk4s2: journal_open: Error replaying the journal!
hfs: early jnl init: failed to open/create the journal (retval 0).
disk4s2: 0x5 (UNDEFINED).
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [ErrType IO] [ErrNo 5] [IOType Read] [PBlkNum 2] [LBlkNum 2] [FSLogMsgID 800265459] [FSLogMsgOrder First]
0 [Level 3] [ReadUID 0] [Facility com.apple.system.fs] [DevNode devfs] [MountPt /dev] [Path /dev/disk4s2] [FSLogMsgID 800265459] [FSLogMsgOrder Last]
AFP_VFS afpfs_unmount: /Volumes/ReadyNAS, flags 524288, pid 285
AFP_VFS afpfs_mount: /Volumes/ReadyNAS, pid 933
jnl: disk5s2: replay_journal: from: 8247296 to: 4564992 (joffset 0x962000)
angel:log root#
Finally Time Machine exists with error "Backup disk cannot be accessed. error 109".
Can someone give me a hint or two on how to solve this issue?
regards

Not a NAS-specific issue. The OS is trying to read a block of the sparse disk image, and the read is failing. Basically, the sparse bundle is damaged. You'll need to rename it and then try backing up again to a clean sparse bundle.
That said, make sure you're running a version of the ReadyNAS firmware that actually supports Time Machine. There are several AFP commands that were added for Time Machine that *must* be supported for correct operation, and older AFP implementations did not implement them. The reconnect errors suggest to me that maybe the firmware you are running doesn't support the Reconnect UAM, in which case it probably also doesn't support the replay cache, etc. If that's the case, then things probably won't work correctly without a firmware update even after you fix the corrupted sparse bundle.
Edit: actually, on further searching, it might be a NAS-specific issue. Certain buggy network switches do not properly support jumbo frames in mixed networks, which can cause read errors similar to what you are seeing when working with AFP. (This might have been your post on the other board.) In the Network prefs pane, choose Ethernet, click "Advanced", click the Ethernet tab, change Configure to Manually, and set the MTU to Standard (1500).

HT3275 time machine error says: The backup disk image "/Volumes/Data/Apple 's iMac G5.sparsebundle" could not be accessed (error -1).

While backing up to Time Machine, I receive this message: time machine error says: The backup disk image “/Volumes/Data/Apple ’s iMac G5.sparsebundle” could not be accessed (error -1).

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
That message is caused by several reasons. Read the Pondini's site to fix the problem > http://pondini.org/TM/C17.html

HT5097 How can I make more than one backup at the same time

I use time machine to backup my mac. I want to also make an additional backup on a different hard drive in case the first drive fails. How do I do that?

I suggest you do not use Time Machine for the second backup. Instead, I suggest cloning your drive to a different backup drive using different backup software.
Your secon drive should be the same size as your computer's drive. Start by using Disk Utility's Restore option to clone your computer's drive to the new backup drive:
Clone Lion/Mountain Lion using Restore Option of Disk Utility
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu then press the Continue
         button.
     2. Select the destination volume from the left side list.
     3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
     4. Select the destination volume from the left side list and drag it
         to the Destination entry field.
     5. Select the source volume from the left side list and drag it to
         the Source entry field.
     6. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.
Destination means the external backup drive. Source means the internal startup drive.
After this initial clone you can use other backup software suggested below to make incremental updates to the backup. These incremental updates can be done on a regular schedule.
Suggested Backup Software
1. Carbon Copy Cloner
2. Get Backup
3. Deja Vu
4. SuperDuper!
5. Synk Pro
6. Tri-Backup
Others may be found at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on backup and restore. Also read How to Back Up and Restore Your Files.
The two backups need not be done on the same schedule. Time Machine backsup hourly. The other backup could be done on a daily or even weekly schedule.

Don't have more than one backup available on Itunes?

So I use Windows 8 and am having issues with backing up my Iphone 6.
When I go to backup it up on Itunes, the backup I create overrides the old one. Going into "Restore Backup" I can't find any older/additional backups than the most recent one.
Wondering if this is something I've toggled or can fix to allow creation/viewing of more than one older Backup at a time.
Any ideas?
I've looked here but couldn't find a solution: Create and delete iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups in iTunes - Apple Support
In,
:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
I only have 1 file again, which's title and contents are just random letters and numbers rather than the name of my Iphone.

Indeed, sadly there is no way back to older backups if you haven't created the,. I use the option to prevent devices syncing automatically as I think this presents a risk when you want to fix a problem by restoring only to have the backup automatically updated when you connect the device. I try to run a backup then immediate restore cycle every few months so that should the worst happen I might not lose too much. I also have my library cloned to two different computers each of which have separate backups for my device which gives yet more resilience to a disaster.
tt2

Time Machine reports identity of backup disk has changed

Hello! A few weeks ago I purchased a new 15" Retina MacBook Pro and a new 2TB Time Capsule. Every day or two I get an error informing me that the identity of my backup disk has changed. I finally got sick of this so I turned off Time Machine, deleted the preferences file, wiped the Time Capsule drive, and restored the Time Capsule settings to factory, and started fresh. However, I'm still seeing this error.
Some minor details: The Time Capsule is named "AirPort Time Capsule," as is the volume on it. I initially had a second hard drive at my office configured as a second Time Machine target, but after I started fresh with Time Machine, I didn't set up the second target, and am seeing the same message. I am also using Encrypted Backups.
Any suggestions would be great, I'm not sure if this is a bug in Mavericks, a bug with my Time Capsule, or something indicative of a hardware issue either at my MBP or my Time Capsule.

Cody DH wrote:
... I'm not sure if this is a bug in Mavericks, a bug with my Time Capsule, or something indicative of a hardware issue either at my MBP or my Time Capsule.
Any one of those is possible, and you have taken reasonable steps to resolve it. I suggest deleting the following file, which will reset Time Machine. Turn off Time Machine first, and make sure a backup is not in progress.
Triple click to select the entire line, then control-click and select Services > Reveal in Finder. Drag the selected file to the Desktop, or directly to the Trash:
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
This will not delete your existing backups.
Turn on Time Machine and reselect your backup volume. The effect of deleting that file will cause erroneous values to be shown in the "backing up xxx of yyy" messages until the subsequent backup.
If this does not resolve the problem contact AppleCare because you should not be having these difficulties.

Time Machine very slow when backup disk almost full

My Time Machine backups on a Time Capsule (first generation, 1 TB) have become extremely slow recently. The disk is almost full, but I don't think that should be a problem as Time Machine deletes the oldest backups by itself. It has been, so I don't think that in itself should cause a problem.
This becomes particularly annoying because whenever backups are going on, the system doesn't allow me to access the "Open" or "Save" dialogues - probably because it wants to check the Time Machine disk, but can't, or only can very slowly. Whenever I do this, the app in question just freezes.
Anyone else has this problem, and does anyone know a fix? I don't want to start a new backup if I can avoid it.

Florian M. wrote:
Thank you. Did that, and it seems to be working now - though it actually seemed to have got better even before I ran Disk Utility. Before, even rebooting didn't help.
Yes, if there's a problem inside he sparse bundle, rebooting (the Mac and/or TC) won't help.
Time Machine is a great technology, but it seems to have strange quirks sometimes
It does indeed!
Once again, thank you.
You're quite welcome, and thanks for the star!

WD Smartware and time machine error -1 accessing backup disk

I saw a lot of postings in here but didn't see this solution addressed, so I'm documenting it for others.
After I upgraded to Lion, time machine on my MBP stopped working. It gave me an error message window that
Time Machine could not complete the backup
The backup disk image could not be accessed (error -1).
I was getting this message, but my buddy who has the same MBP model, was not having any backup problems.
After calling apple support, it turned out that I had two issues. First, Lion is incompatible with WD Smartware, which I had installed on my MBP (but my buddy did not). You can't even have WD Smartware sitting in your trash bin. I used the WD uninstaller to remove the software and then emptied the trash bin.
Second, a new firmware update was available for my Time Capsule. It was apparently released in the last week or month. I guess I had not run Airport Utility since installing Lion and missed the new version. After installing the firmware update, Time Machine was able to backup my MBP. The support rep said this firmware update also included fixes that may address the intermittent wireless problems we have been having with our TC router since upgrading to Lion.

Spent the whole day speaking to AppleCare on getting this solved.
Migration did not work on the DNS or Doman and the Priviledges were lost.
Look a lot of repair, but backup and running.

Time machine on more than one hard disk?

Hello,
I'd like to have two copies of time machine back up on two different hard drives. Is that possible?

For quality, performance, and support:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/
I've been looking at some Iomega solutions, but haven't tried any of them yet:
http://www.iomega.com/direct/products/family.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolderid=26891277&ASSORTMENT%3C%3Eastid=63191&bmUID=1207957629154
There are probably cheaper solutions by Western Digital, but they are behind the curve.
I don't use any Buffalo products. Too Dicey, unreliable devices by reputation.

My time machine error message "The backup disk image "/Volumes/Richard Searson's Time Caps/Richard's iMac.sparsebundle" is already in use." Any suggestions please?

The backup disk image “/Volumes/Richard Searson's Time Caps/Richard’s iMac.sparsebundle” is already in use. It hasnt backed up for over 24 hours now and I am concerned as only in May my whole system crashed and the time machine was not able to recover any data. I do not want this to happen again. Thanks

This is our most common problem.. and you are number 2 today.
Look on the right..
More Like This
Your problem is repeated with the solution ad nauseam.
But the solution is simple.. pull out the power cord from the TC.. count to 10.. Plug in the power cord again.
This is just poor networking from Apple.
Whenever you have TM issues.. this is the place to check.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html
Your issue is C12.

Time machine cannot find the backup disk, need to reset but previous data cannot be accessed.

Lately, my time machine/time capsule has the problem to find the backup disk in the time capsule and cannot perform the backup. I have to reset (at the back of the unit) then the backup can start again, but I can only access the backup data since the last backup, all my previous backup data is no longer available.
Does anyone face the similar situation and how to fix it?

Hi there!
Did you try upgrading to the latest WD Firmware?
It fixes the following:
WD Universal Firmware Updater 3.1.0.10:
Fixes:
Now works with 10.7.x (Lion OS-X)
Now works with new My Book Studio (without Electronic Paper Display), new MyPassport for Mac, and new My Passport Studio model.
Made device detection more robust.
Here's the link to the firmware:
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/firmware.asp?id=wdfGeneric&os=ma c
Regards

Time Machine & More than one backup disk

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