Using Time Capsule as back up only vs Time Capsule as Router

Greetings!
I currently have a Time Capsule, Airport Extreme & Airport Express. I currently use my TC as my main router. Because of the reduced speeds that I get when "incremental back ups" occur I was considering going back to using my Airport Extreme as my main router.
My question is.... is anyone else doing this? I want to know if this would resolve the reduced speed/network issues since the TC would no longer be the "source" for the network.
I still want to use the TC as my back up source, but would like to get back my network and internet speeds back to what it was before I used the TC as my main router.
Thanks for any feedback and suggestions!

Smokerz
Thanks for the info.....
My biggest problem is that I really need to run everything wirelessly. My office is outside of my home (which has two very thick brick walls between the office and the house. My signal in the house is rather poor unless I have a device inside which means I can't use ethernet since it is some distance away.
I guess I am going to have to find another alternative.
Anyone else using TC as the "middle" WDS?
Thanks for your help.

Similar Messages

Can I use my time capsule for back up only and not as a router?

I have been trying to set up my time capsule as a router but have not been successful, the dsl I am using is not responding. Can I just use my time capsule as a back up device and not as a router? if so how can I do this?

Yes, you can. Simply plug the TC via Ethernet into the current router and set it up in bridge mode.

Can I connect my Time Capsule wired to the computer and just use it as a back up

Can I connect my Time Capsule to my computer (wired) and just use it as a back up and not as a wireless router?

Yes, you simply bridge the TC..
Just google for it as we have posted the instructions endlessly.
The one trick that might be necessary is to ensure the TC is on a different IP range to the main broadband connection.
And make sure the gateway and dns do not cause issues.. so it is generally better to set static ip on the TC and the computer.
None of it is hard so ask for specific instructions if you get to the point.

Best practice to use Time capsule for back-up of 3 different products (MBP 15 OSX lion, MBP 13 OSX lion and MBA 13 OSX mountain lion)?. Only the MBP15 is back-up regularly.

When I want to save data of the MBA13 on mountain lion (wireless) with time capsule, hois there any best practice to perform?
After that, assuming that data are back-up, can we easily differentiate data in time capsule belonging to MBP15/13 and MBA13?

Unfortunately, Apple left off the Ethernet port....the most important port in networking....on the MBA, so your first backup of the entire Mac will need to be done using wireless.
That may take a day or two unless your MBA has a Thunderbolt port on it in which case you could add a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter and connect the MBA to the Time Capsule for the first backup using an Ethernet cable. It will probably only take 3-4 hours or less doing it this way.
Once you have the first complete backup done, other subsequent backups can be done using wireless since they will ony take a few minutes, on average.
Both Macs will backup to the Time Capsule using Time Machine automatically. Backups will be kept completely separate, so one Mac will normally only be able to "see" its own backups.

Using time capsule model A1409 and trying to use it as only backup. Already have Verizon wireless router. Do not know which cable port to use in back of time capsule. And also it is asking for password. Have tried all of mine and it will not work.

Want to us my time capsule model A1409 as only backup. 2 TB hard drive.
Already have Verizon wireless router. Do not want to use Time capsule as router, only back up for iMac.
Do not know which cable port to use in back of time capsule to Ethernet port back of my iMac.
And also it is asking for password for the server John Garland's Time Capsule so Time machine can access it..
Have tried all of passwords can think of and none work.
Held the reset button for one second on back of capsule and do not see if anything happened.
What a conundrum.
Appreciate any help to get this working.
Thanks,
John R

I have a 2TB Timecapsule and really only use it for Time Machine backups. But the Wi-Fi side is used to sync my iPad at times.
Mine is wiredup thus;
Eth cable from iMac to modem (not the WAN port should you have one), then eth cable from modem to T/Cap in the WAN port (bottom port with an O sign above it)
I believe when its connected up you may have to set up a wireless network. Follow the instructions to set up Wi-Fi and Network
and then give it a password. The WiFi icon should appear in the menu bar where you can switch it on or off.
Its been sometime since I set it with the help of Apple Techs so I might be a bit rusty.
Alan

Using Time Capsule only for back-ups, not as a modem

Hi, We have Comcast modem and router for internet connection. Is it possible to use Time Capsule only for Time Machine-generated back-ups of our Macs?
Is there any complication setting up TC for use as back-up only device?
Thanks!

You can use TC this way. And it's very simple to setup.
Check out the setup guide here:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/Time_Capsule_Early2009Setup.pdf
EDIT:
I've just noticed that they've removed the section "Using Your Time Capsule on an Existing Wireless Network" from the new manual.
Anyway here is a copy of the text under that section in the old guide:
To set it up:
1 Open AirPort Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities/ on a computer using Mac OS X,
and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows), select your Time
Capsule, and then click Continue.
2 Follow the onscreen instructions to join your current wireless network.
3 After your Time Capsule is set up, you can use Mac OS X Leopard to set up Time
Machine to back up the Mac OS X Leopard computers on your network. See “Using
Time Machine with Your Time Capsule” on page 27 for more information.
If you’re using an earlier version of Mac OS X, or if you’re using Windows, you can
connect to Time Capsule to share or back up files.
Message was edited by: dchao99

Hi can I use Time Capsule 4th generation as a back up at the same time between my iMac and HP PC

HI Just bought a 4th generation Time Capsule and after a bit of trouble, I was able to do the following...
1. Connect TC to my modem via ethernet cable
2. Set up my first time Machine from my iMac to Time Capsule
3. Set up my HP PC via ethernet cable to Time Capsule
4. Set up HP Printer Scanner to USB port in Time Capsule, can now print from my PC and iMac using the same printer.
Here is the question...
Can I use Time Capsule (2TB version, not that this should matter, I think) as an external back up for my HP PC, running Windows 7?
I asked this question at Apple Store and they said YES, now I have my doubts as I cannot see Time Capsule as an external drive when I check my PC and computer part there, can see my C drive, D drive (internal backup drive in my PC), E drive (DVD drive) and that is it.
Installed AirPort utility for Windows, have version 5.5 something. I can see TIme Capsule using this at my PC but can I somehow save my HardDrive to Time Capsule, even manually?
Or is the problem that as I started Time Capsule with Time Machine Backup first, it has formatted Time Capsule to support only Apple version, and this is why I cannot see Time Capsule as an external harddrive?
Any help would be appreciated!
I have already an external HD for my Windows PC, just thought this way I could potentially have all the data in one place and also able to use 1 printer...
Many Thanks

Remember Apple Names are not fully SMB compatible..
Reset the TC and do the setup with all SMB naming.. ie.. short, no spaces, pure alphanumeric.
That means TC name eg TC
Wireless name (different for 5ghz) eg TC24ghz and TC5ghz
And hard disk share name.. eg Data
Make sure all passwords also match that convention.. but you can use more characters.. up to 20 or more if you are paranoid. Pure alphanumeric though.
In the file sharing area. set the right workgroup. And it makes life easier turning on the guest account to read and write.
Then in windows explorer simply type
\\TCname or \\TCIPaddress .. obviously you change the names with the actual name or IP.

Want to use Time Capsule as a back up AND external storage device-help!

I know there's been a few variations on this question but I can't seem to find the answer that relates to me so probably being dumb but help would be greatly appreciated.
I bought a 500gb Time Capsule yesterday and finally got it set up through AirPort Utility. I think I've done it right-there's a green light and it's going through the motions of backing up although VERY slowly. It's taken 10 hours to back up 20GB. I've used Time Machine before with an external Seagate drive so I know how to access/check those back ups.
I have a dish on the side of my house (on side of a mountain!) that brings the internet signal into a wireless router and then my MacBook accesses through that WIFI network. I plugged the ethernet cable from one of the standard ports out the back of the router into the WAN port on the Time Capsule as part of the setup and that seems to be right in that I can see the TC and surf the net.
So, now I just want to see the Time capsule as a normal external drive on my desktop and move other files to it so they can come off my Macbook completely but the only way icon I can see if the white one that says 'Backup of...' I've copied stuff onto this but I suspect that was the wrong thing to do.
Finally, I only want to TM to use the TC up to a certain max storage so I always have space free on it but can't find settings to allow me to do that.
I'd be really grateful if someone could tell me how to set this up properly!

Paretola wrote:
So, now I just want to see the Time capsule as a normal external drive on my desktop and move other files to it so they can come off my Macbook completely but the only way icon I can see if the white one that says 'Backup of...' I've copied stuff onto this but I suspect that was the wrong thing to do.
No. Don't transfer anything into the Back of... sparsebundle. That is your Time Machine backup.
Under Finder -> Shared -> Time Capsule -> Time Capsule Disk. This is where you can create a new folder to store your files. If you want to see this on your Desktop, via Finder, click Preferences. Under General, make sure +Connected servers+ is ticked.
Finally, I only want to TM to use the TC up to a certain max storage so I always have space free on it but can't find settings to allow me to do that.
Since the TC HDD isn't partitionable, you can't really do that. Best thing is to get another HDD for storage as TM works best if you give it enough room to grow.
I'd be really grateful if someone could tell me how to set this up properly!

Can we use Time Machine to back up data on Time Capsule from the outside of network?

I have Time Capsule at home. Can I use Time Machine to back up data of portable nootebook when I am working at office?

If you mean over the internet, you can but it will be so slow and more than likely so unreliable it is a poor method to use. Remember all internet is limited to upload speed.
Lion does a temporary backup onto local hard disk.. which is useless of course if the hard drive is damaged.. but helps if you delete an important file. Then when you go back home and it discovers the TC is available it will then backup again from where it left off.
I think it is only a major issue if you are away from home for major lengths of time, weeks or months.

How can I back up only selected files using Time Machine?

I'm a graphic designer, I use a number of Time Capsules to periodically back up my entire computer. But I also want to set up another Time Capsule (bus powered external hard drive) that will continually run as I work and only back up a single folder and all it's sub folders - in this case a folder called 'Client Files'.
QUESTION: How do I use Time Machine to back up only my 'Client Files' folder and all it's sub folders?

Frankly, this is probably not worth the time and trouble that it will take to set it up.
Time Machine backs up your entire Mac by default.
Time Machine Preferences / Options gives you the ability to Exclude items from backup, so to do what you want, you basically will have to Exclude everything else on the Mac from being backed up. That is going to be quite a task depending on where your Client Files folder resides and you have your Finder files set up.
It will not be that difficult to Exclude major folders..... things like Applicatons, Pictures, Music, Documents, etc.....but to get to the point where you want may not be that easy.
Take a look at things by opening Time Machine Preferences, then click on Options
Since you will be adding items to be Excluded, you would need to click the + button at the bottom of the window and then navigate to find the general folder that you want to Exclude.
Unfortunately, you cannot simply tell Time Machine to only back up the items that you want.....you have to tell Time Machine what NOT to back up.....which is going to be most of your Mac.
And.....whatever you set up in Time Machine /Options to be Excluded will apply to all backups to all Time Capsules. You cannot specify what is Excluded on one Time Capsule and not another. It's all or nothing. Not what you want to do, I am sure.
Good luck

Backing up a share point (external hard drive connected to Time Capsule) using time machine.

I am currently using Mac OS X Lion, and just set up my time capsule with an external hard drive to store itunes, iPhoto libraries, etc. Is it possible to use time machine to backup the external hard drive to the 2 TB internal hard drive in the time capsule?

You cannot backup network drives with Time Machine. It will work only on HFS+ formatted local drives.
Is it possible to use time machine to backup the external hard drive to the 2 TB internal hard drive in the time capsule?
No, Time Machine is specific to backup of a local machine, locally connected disks.
If you unplug the disk and plug it into a Mac.. and if it is HFS+ formatted then you can back it up.
Otherwise you need a software like Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) but as a warning, it will be very slow. Especially if you do this over wireless.

Connect time capsule via ethernet to Mac for back-up only. Is it possible without internet connection ?

Connect time capsule via ethernet to Mac for back-up only. Is it possible without internet connection ?

Hi Bob,
I'm not certain the post I sent was posted correctly, as I added it as a reply to a 3-year old thread. Since this is a recently-active thread, though not specific to the issue at hand, I thought I'd post again:
Three years ago you helped me set up a roaming wireless network in my home. It's been rock-steady and I'm forever grateful to you for the time and guidance you gave me. I'd now like to swap out my AirPort Extreme base station for a time capsule. As I understand it, I should be able to unplug the base station and replace it with the TC without problem, so long as I use all the same settings on my TC... network name, security protocol, password, etc. Given the complexity of my network, I thought I should check with you first for any advice you might have. I don't want to set up a new network or make any changes to the existing one-- with the exception of using the TC in place of the AE. I'm already using Time Machine for backups. As a refresher, my current setup has the AE as base station and 3 expresses hard-wired with Ethernet connections elsewhere in my home. I have a 4th express set up wirelessly to use with my stereo system at the front of the house. All AXs are 'n's and are set up, as per your instructions, in Bridge mode to extend the existing network. I'm running the most updated version of Mavericks on my MBPro. Any suggestions you might have will be, as always, very much appreciated! Sincerely, Phyllis Sommers

Want to use Time Machine as wireless back up only - no internet

Im searching everywhere and unable to locate how to set up my TM as a wireless back up only. Im already hooked up to the internet and only want to use the backup feature in TM. Can someone give me directions or point me to the thread? thanks

Welcome to the discussion area!
By TM, I take it that you mean Time Capsule, correct?
If you want to backup using wireless only to the Time Capsule, you have two basic configuration choices to consider:
1) Connect the Time Capsule to your existing wireless router using an ethernet connection, and turn off the wireless on the Time Capsule. Backups will occur over your current wireless network. For most users, this is the easiest and most reliable way to configure a Time Capsule for back ups.
2) Configure the Time Capsule to "join a wireless network". In this configuration, the Time Capsule can be located virtually anywhere that it can receive a good wireless signal because it becomes in effect, only a wireless backup device.
Configuring the Time Capsule to "join" a wireless network can be quite tricky, even for experienced users because you must know the exact type of security the wireless network is using. It sounds simple, but different manufacturers use different names for the same thing, and it can be a challenge to get the device configured correctly without multiple tries. If you already have an Apple main router, this will be much easier to configure.
Post back for more details.
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

Using Time Capsule for backup storage as well as Time Machine back-up

Just set up Time Capsule and used Time Machine to back up files. All working OK with new backups as well, but I need to transfer files from an external hard drive to Time Capsule.
Read on Apple site, "Note: Time Machine works best if you use your back-up disk only for Time Machine backups. If you keep files on your bckup disk, Time Machine won't backup those files and the space available for Time Machine backups will be reduced.
What I really need is to have Time Machine backup everything. I don't have enough internal hard drive space on my MacBook Pro to transfer files from the external hard drive to the computer so that Time Machine could read them and back them up. How can this be accomplished? Is there another way? Thank you.

1. "Use Disk Utility in your Applications > Utilities folder to check the format of the disk. Mac OS Extended (Journaled"
I did this and the external disk is formated corectly. Thank you!
I "Entered Time Machine" again and found the external drive listed (Yes!) I reviewed files including photos and some video files and all were accessable except my iPhoto files. Note: I have been using iPhoto Manager (3rd party software) to organize my iPhoto picutres for some time now on the external drive. My internal hard drive, 125 GB, filled up years ago, so I got this program and moved the iPhoto images off the internal drive. I can see the information for the files, i.e. size, created date, lst modified date, but cannot get acess to the picutres. When I try the same procedure with my external drive I can get into the files and get access to the photos.
Is there a way to gain access to these pictures?
2. I also saw that my Applications folder had been backed up as well, but none of the Apple software, Adobe CS programs, Flash, Final Cut Pro are there. I am wondering if it is because this is an institutional college set-up machine and they installed the original software. There is a "Tech" folder that I do not have access to on the machine. I can update the college installed software and add software myself. All of the software I have added over the years seems to be there in the backup.
So is this simply not accessable except via "Tech"?

Time capsule for back-up only. How do you turn off the flashing amber light?

I am using time capsule to back up my work computer. I use internet through an ethernet cable, no wireless (it's my desktop work computer!), so don't need the airport - just back up on time machine.
I figured out (although there is NO information in the time capsule manual) how to set up the time capsule to wirelessly back up my computer, but because I don't have it plugged into the modem, and I haven't set up an airport connection, it blinks amber at me. How do I make it know that it is as set up as I want it to be, so it will be a steady green? Should I edit the airport utility options so that wireless network mode and/or router mode are "OFF"? If I set wireless mode to off, will my computer still "see" the time capsule and back up using time machine?
This might just be finicky on my part, but the flashing light is annoying me!

If you set up the Time Capsule to back up wirelessly, it functions only as a wireless hard drive...with no routing capabilities at all. In other words, the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule are not enabled, even though you might have an Ethernet cable connected.
Try opening Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the Time Capsule icon, then click directly on the amber dot
AirPort Utility will display a message with information about why the amber dot is flashing. It might be something like a message that a firmware update is available for the Time Capsule.
Should I edit the airport utility options so that wireless network mode and/or router mode are "OFF"?
No, since the Time Capsule will no longer connect wirelessly if you do this.

My hard drive an my i.mac recently failed. Fortunately I had everything back up to my Time capsule. How do I start back ups again to this same capsule using Time Machine.

My hard drive on my i.mac recently failed. Fortunately it was backed up to Time Capsule using Time Machine. I had a new hard drive installed. and reinstalled my data from the Time Capsule How do I begin backups again using the same Time Capsule? I want to back up my current hard drive with all current content. I don't necessarily need what was on the old hard drive and pre-crash Time Capsule as everything there is currently residing on my i.mac's hard drive. I just want to start my backups again. Thank you.

How do I begin backups again using the same Time Capsule?
Open System Preferences (gear icon on the dock)
Open Time Machine
Turn Time Machine "ON"
Click Select Disk
Choose your Time Capsule
Click Use This Disk
The first backup will begin in a few minutes.
If you decide to delete your old backups, do this before you back up the "new" Mac as listed above.
Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the Time Capsule icon, then click Edit in the smaller window that appears
Click the Disks tab at the top of the window
Click Erase
Choose the Quick Erase option
Click Erase Disk
The operation will only take a minute or two.....then, you can set up the first backup of the Mac as listed above.

Using Time Capsule as back up only vs Time Capsule as Router

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