Using Time Capsule as a File Server

In my current set-up, I need to use my 3TB Time Capsule as a router, time machine destination for a couple of Macs and as file server (about 1TB in size).
The file server files will not be on any of the Macs so need to be backed up separately to a 1TB USB drive.
Apple has confirmed that the TC can be partitioned easily and, although unsupported, you can use third party apps to back up the file server to an external drive.
Does anyone have any real experience of doing this?
I have the option to us e a different router and to sort the time machine back-ups without needing the TC which means the TC would be used only as a file server.  Would you recommend another product to the TC if you only needed a home file server?
Any help much appreciated!

To answer your question, yes but I would not use two Time Capsules. Just purchase one Time Capsule and then one external hard drive (cheaper than a Time Capsule) and connect the hard drive to the Time Capsule via USB. You can use the Airport Utility to archive the contents of your Time Capsule to the external hard drive using the Archive feature (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1281).
In fact, it may be worth buying two external hard drives so you can keep one offsite in case of disaster, theft, etc. You then rotate the external hard drives weekly (or whatever you choose) so you always have a current backup offsite.

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  • Can you use Time Capsule as a print server for printers connected via Ethernet or wirelessly?

    Can you use Time Capsule as a print server for printers connected via Ethernet or wirelessly?
    I know that it works marvelous for printers connected via USB, but I'd like to know if you can use it as a more general print server.

    No, you can't, but what do you expect to gain by doing so?
    The main advantage of the print server is to provide multi-user network access to a printer that typically only supports a single connection. Since, by definition, your printer already has a network connection and can be used by multiple users.

  • Can we use Time Capsule as a Media Server????

    Hi
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    Can this be done?
    Message was edited by: wickkd

    Can we somehow use TC as a media server so that my PS3 picks up TC as media server and is able to stream all my digital files stored on my external HDD (connected to TC) to my PS3?
    Sorry, but no. The TC is not a DLNA-compliant media server. However, it could be used as a media drive. (ref: Gigaom: Using Time Capsule as a Media Drive)

  • Time Capsule as a File Server - to replace existing Airport Extreme

    Hi
    I have a 4th Gen Airport Extreme connected to my cable modem.  I was thinking of getting a 2013 Time Capsule to replace my existing 4th Gen 2009 Airport Extreme, to use for Time Machine Backups and also for storing other files which I can access from anywhere only.
    Is Time Capsule just a great wirelsss router and backup device or is it any good as a basic file server / nas drive.
    Thanks in advance.
    Matt

    Is Time Capsule just a great wirelsss router and backup device
    Yes, it is that.
    is it any good as a basic file server / nas drive.
    It is not a good NAS.. primary issue.. no internal backup. No way for the TC to back itself up.
    No way for Time Machine to backup a network drive.
    It still lacks any proper high speed connections for a second hard drive.. usb2 doesn't cut it.
    The tools are poor.. actually almost non-existent. No partitioning.. so mixing backups and data is not a great idea.
    See Q3 Pondini. http://pondini.org/TM/Time_Capsule.html
    Nothing has changed with this new one.
    There are no media servers. no ftp, http, or any other access method for files such as is common to the basic NAS of the world.
    To say nothing of rsync and all those kinds of things.
    It is still slow to spin up and quick to spin down.. fine for data.. not so great for streaming media.
    Remote access can be difficult if you cannot get the TC as the main router in the network.

  • Using Time Capsule to store Files

    Can I partition Time Capsule to use like a hardrive to store files such as photos and media, or does Time Capsule just function as a backup drive?

    How would I go about this?
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  • How to use Time Capsule to tranfer files to a new MBP?

    Hey guys,
    I have recently sold my old MBP, and had all my files backed up with Time Capsule. Now, I want to transfer my files to the my new MBP. What is the best way to do this? What cable can I use? I'd appreciate any information. Thanks.

    This may help... Have you already created a user account on the new Mac? Or have you not yet started it? It makes a difference as to what approach you take as described below.
    *_Migrating User Data From One Mac to Another_*
    *Wirelessly or Directly Connected?* (For AirDisk Users)
    Bear in mind that for Time Machine to successfully migrate user data, the backup disk must be accessed in the same manner in which the backups were originally created. Otherwise, the backups may not be visible for migration.
    In other words, if backups were performed wirelessly to a hard disk attached to an Airport device, then the restoration will need to be performed either wirelessly, or, for faster speeds, via ethernet between your Mac and the Airport device. On the other hand, if backups were performed with the hard disk attached directly to your Mac, then the restoration will need to be performed with the hard disk connected directly to your Mac You cannot perform backups via one means and be able to access them via another means.
    *Using Time Machine Before Initial Launch of New Mac*
    Before starting the new Mac for the first time, attach the hard disk that contains the Time Machine backups from the old Mac. (For Time Capsule/AirDisk users: If you will be attempting this wirelessly, ensure that you are in range of your Airport wireless device. Alternatively, for faster migration of large quantities of data, connect your Mac via ethernet to your wireless device.)
    Procedure:
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    +from another volume on this Mac+
    +from a Time Machine backup+
    +Do not transfer my information now+
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    Give the installer time to calculate sizes.
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    After the migration, verify the registration information, click “Connect” and you are done.
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    *Using Time Machine After Initial Launch of New Mac*
    If you happened to initially set up the new Mac using a different username than the username on the account you wish to migrate, then skip to “Attach the hard disk containing...”.
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    Click “Continue”.
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    Click “Transfer”.
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    At this point the transfer will begin with a bar displaying the progress. Once completed click “Quit”.
    *Full Backup After Migration to New Mac*
    Bear in mind that in all cases Time Machine will not continue to backup the previous Macs’ backup sets but will perform a new full backup. This is normal. Time Machine will resume incremental backups after the full backup has completed. To view previous backups, Control-click or right-click the Time Machine icon in your Dock or Option-click the Time Machine menu extra and Choose "Browse Other Time Machine Disks," then select the previous Mac’s backup set. You will enter Time Machine and be able to browse your previous back ups and restore files. [http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1338]
    Let us know if this was helpful.
    Cheers!

  • Can I use time capsule as a home server?

    Running out of hard drive space on my Mac Book.  Wondered if I could dump all my movies and pictures onto the time capsule and still access them when I wanted at home.
    Thanks
    Eric

    I happen to have an old Macbook and was contemplating hooking it via ethernet cable to the time capsule, hooking an ext HD via Firewire to the old Macbook and then using home sharing to stream to Apple TV and my current Macbook.
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    I would plug the old Macbook straight into the TV with a suitable video adapter cable.. the Macbook will have better video than the ATV, and better sound.. you can use it as a Media computer and use it as store for all you media and as a media centre..
    Unless you want to sell it off, that seems as good a use as any.. and it should be plenty powerful enough for that job.

  • Can I use Time Capsule like real backup?

    I have two macbook airs home (plus ipad and iphone).  Both macbook Airs have relativelly small ssd so most of the data (family photos etc). MUST be kept on File Server. I would like to use Time Capsule as that File Server but Im afraid its just single HD not Raid.
    Am I right? It would be fundamental flaw in using of TC as real backup tool.
    Or am I the only one who has data which are larger than my ssd in my notebook?
    Thanks much for help!

    I dont need "backup" for the situation when I accidently delete a file. :) I need backup for the situation when harddrive collapses. I cant agree with your statement that "A single hard disk is actually pretty reliable item".
    Any harddrive fails sooner or later. Thats why I have all data on computer I use in work on raid. If one disk in raid fails the data are still on the second disk in raid. It saved my data two times already.
    I want my family data (photos, movies from vacations, etc.) on at least TWO disks. But they are too big to fit in notebooks. So i need to put them on separate file server.
    I guees the best will be to get Nas disk for my data. All important data will be on Nas (raid), all emails are on Imap. So actually I dont need to back up any data to TC.
    Im wondering who really need to to use TC. If you keep data on Nas its more comfortable and more safe.

  • Can I use Time Capsule for a server ?

    hi,
    i was wondering if I can use Time Capsule for a server.
    Let's say I have an ubuntu server, and I'm running some websites and web applications on it.
    I would install these appications on ubuntu but then store the "file folders" of each website or application (with images, videos, etc.. ) on Airport capsule and leave only the application files on the server.
    Is this feasable ?
    Thanks
    Patrick

    Welcome to the discussions!
    +Is this feasible ?+
    Feasible, yes. Practical, no...unless you are willing to put up with very slow access to files that are on the Time Capsule.
    Keep in mind that the Time Capsule was designed primarily for Time Machine backups, not as a media server for quick access to data. You might want to explore other options that would allow much faster access to files when you need them.

  • I am using a macbook pro with system 10.6.8. I just discovered that no recent files have been backed up to the external disk using Time Capsule.  There is a long list of backups including most recent but no recent files, for some weeks, have been backed u

    I am using a macbook pro with system 10.6.8. I just discovered that no recent files have been backed up to the external disk using Time Capsule.  There is a long list of backups including most recent but no recent files, for some weeks, have been backed up.  I did a full reset of Time Machine.  I disconnected the external drive and reconnected it. It is not a matter of file types, no files and no folders have gotten backed up.  Everything looks normal though unless one goes hunting for recent files on the back up.

    Many thanks.
    With those symptoms, I'd try the following document:
    Apple software on Windows: May see performance issues and blank iTunes Store
    (If there's a SpeedBit LSP showing up in Autoruns, it's usually best to just uninstall your SpeedBit Video Accelerator.)

  • I want to transfer files from a Win XP PC to a Mac using Time Capsule via Ethernet connection.  Is this possible?

    I want to transfer files from a Win XP PC to a Mac using Time Capsule via Ethernet connection.  Is this possible?

    Sure.. the PC connects by SMB.. the Mac connects by AFP or SMB..
    But you can simply share SMB directly from the Mac.. there is no need to copy files through the TC. Go to system preference, sharing, and turn on SMB for the folder you want to share files to / from on the Mac.
    Make sure you have a common username and password also helps.
    If you have a TC already can you copy files to it via the windows machine??

  • Can I use time capsule to store music and video files as well as use it to back up.

    Can I use time capsule to store music and video files as well as use it to back up.

    Sure.
    Why are so many peolple asking this?
    Just store your files there. 
    And when using Time-Maschine for the back-up select the Time-Capsule (whatever name your has) as the place to store the date.
    cheers, anne

  • Can I use a time capsule as a itunes server to which my Atv v2 can connect to?

    I have currently an Apple tv second generation, which streams video's from my Itunes computer when it's powered on. What I want to accomplish is to have all my library on a NAS somewhere and that my appletv can stream my whole library without any computer turned on. Can the time capsule do this?
    Thanks,
    filip

    No.  A Time Capsule has no media serving logic.

  • Time Capsule (A1409): slow file access problem and how do we create a back up of the files on timecapsule?

    Time Capsule: We have a model no A1049 our network (installed by someone no longer working with us, so I don't know how it was set up or how to access any settings other than via Airport Utility)
    We use it for our central file storage, and as a disk for timemachine backups from the several macs we use here.
    The time capsule is running but we have slow access to files, it takes ages to bring up the list of files available, can I fix this?
    I have just updated the firmware.
    I would also like to know how I can back up these files to another disk.
    I have searched the manuals and also the support community but I can't find the answers or any instructions other than the manuals  and would appreciate help.
    Thank you

    The Time Capsule was designed to handle Time Machine backups from one or more Mac computers, and it will work reasonably well for that purpose.
    But.....and this is a big BUT......it will not work very well at all if you try to make it act as a file server, since the disk spin up time is quite slow among other things like slow read times from the disk.
    Suggest that you get with an IT specialist who can recommend the right file server solution for your network based on your needs.
    As far as backing up the data on the Time Capsule, the simplest way to do this is connect a USB drive to the USB port on the Time Capsule and use the built in Archive function in AirPort Utility to make a complete copy of all of the data on the Time Capsule.
    Unfortunately, the simplest way is also the slowest and the Time Capsule will not be available for Time Machine backups or file serving during the Archive procedure, which will likely take 4-6 hours or so depending on how much data might be on the Time Capsule.  A good time to do this might be late at night, so the Archive copying will run overnight.
    Another better option would be to use a commercially available application, like Carbon Copy Cloner to automatically back up the Time Capsule disk each day at a time that you choose.  The advantage to doing it this way is that CCC will only back up the changes that have occurred since the last back up, so once the first "master" backup is done, the subsequent "incremental" backups will only take a few minutes each day.
    Your IT specialist / consultant will likely have other suggestions for you as well. The advice that we have offered here is meant to be general in nature and not specific to your particular needs.

  • Time Capsule as a Media Server

    I repurposed an old 500Gb Time Capsule into a media server by placing an iTune Library (160 movies and 5000 songs) on its HD. I can access from any Mac in the house by pressing OPTION and selecting the iTunes Library.
    Is there a way to access the iTunes library on the Time Capsule from an iPad or AppleTV?  I can play a movie or music from a Mac and AirPlay it to an AppleTV but would like to 'cut out the middle man' if possible and access directly from an iPad or AppleTV.
    Is it possible?

    Yes, I’m using my TC as a media sever, both audio and video, without any problem. At my home I have two laptops running Windows XP, one Scaleo media center running Windows MCE and a MacBookPro running Leapord. It was a hasle keeping media and docs upto date for all and backups as well. TC solved the problem. Sharing videos , docs and pictures was straight forward. For sharing audio on iTunes, I had to make more than one attempt. Now I have same iTunes libraries on three computers sharing mp3s from TC, I can even play same song on two computers at the same time. Only thing I did was unchecked ”Keep iTunes forlder organised” and ”Copy files to iTunes folder when adding to library” under the ”Advanced” tab of ”Preference”.

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