What is time machine for?

Hi I'm new to mac and was wondering if someone could tell me what its good for.
is it just a program that helps backup my computer?

In addition, you might want to review these:
Time Machine Tutorial
Time Machine 101
How to back up and restore your files
Time Machine Features
Apple - Support - Mac OSX v10.5 Leopard Time Machine
and perhaps browse the Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions *User Tip* at the top of this forum.

Similar Messages

  • I needed a 2tb hard drive for my new iMac whats the best to work with time machine for around £100

    Any suggestions about the best 2 tb hard drive to work with my imac,compatible with time machine for around £100

    There is no such thing as "best" and "inexpensive", you either want one or the other but you cannot get both. IMHO I'd recommend OWC's Mercury Elite Pro (www.macsales.com) however because  you are on the other side of the pond you may want to consider a Lacie product. High quality, not cheap but good stuff for the most part.

  • On imac 10.6.8 using current version of Aperture.  How can I access the Aperture Library  on my external hard drive that I use with time machine for backup?  I can only access the application but not the library..

    On imac 10.6.8 using current version of Aperture.  How can I access the Aperture Library  on my external hard drive that I use with time machine for backup?  I can only access the application but not the library..

    Go into Time Machine (the program not the bundle on the extrnal disk) and using Time Machine's browser go to the Folder where the library lives. You could look in the library bundle in Time Machine but that won't really tell you much,
    If you want to make sure it truely has backed up your library you will need to restore it and open the restored library with Aperture.
    If all this still has you confused you need to read up on Time Machine in order to get a feel for how it works, for what it is doing and for how to restore files from it.

  • Time Machine for shared group folders

    Hi,
    I would like to set up time machine for a shared group folder on the server. I would like users to be able to use time machine from clients to see backup history of files in the group folder. Is this possible? How?
    Gregor

    +...would like users to be able to use time machine from clients to see backup history of files in the group folder. Is this possible? How?+
    Yes. This is possible, but it isn't touted as one of the features that sells Mac OS X Server. The advertised Time Machine server solution is to host an AFP share point on the Mac OS X Server system which clients then use as a Time Machine backup destination, similar to Time Capsule.
    But, what I think you're going for is something like this: You have a share point where multiple users can read and write, and you'd like the server to be able to backup that share point via Time Machine, but also allow its clients to connect and see those backups. This is kind of like "Time Machine for a sharepoint." Again, this isn't really touted, but it's possible. Here is an example which shows you how.
    For starters, let's say that your server's disks are well-organized. You have one volume for the server's operating system (Boot), one volume for the share points (Data), and one volume for backup (Backup). Other scenarios could work, but this configuration will make this how-to easier to understand. Let's also agree that your server's hostname is junglecat.amazon.private.
    Let's say that the share point (group folder) that we want backed-up is at /Volumes/Data/Group-Folder on the server. Let's also agree that your group members already have access to this folder - e.g. it is already a share point with an ACL entry that grants the group members read and write access.
    You'll need to configure Time Machine on the server itself first, just as if it were a client. Open System Preferences, and use the Time Machine pane to choose the Backup volume as the server's backup destination. You'll want to make sure that only the contents of the Data disk (the disk housing the Group-Folder) are backed up. Skip anything on your boot disk, as you're using Time Machine to back up just the share points. Let the server at least start its first backup, which will create the following directory:
    /Volumes/Backup/Backups.backupdb/junglecat.amazon.private
    ...where the server's Time Machine backups will be stored.
    Now use Server Admin's File Sharing section to make the /Volumes/Backup disk a share point, with these properties: Share the folder via AFP, and enable it as a Time Machine backup destination. (Your clients will not really be backing up to the folder, but they will be needing to see it as a place that Time Machine can keep a backup. This creates the .com.apple.timemachine.supported file on the share point.)
    It's also a good idea to disable guest access and add an ACL deny rule to the share point (/Volumes/Backup) which denies delete and delete_child for everyone:
    chmod +a "everyone deny delete,delete_child" /Volumes/Backup.
    This prevents people from storing other data next to the Backups.backupdb folder. The Backups.backupdb folder already contains an ACL deny rule that limits its access to read-only.
    Back on a client, mount the newly-shared Backup share point. The client's Time Machine may ask permission to use this as a backup location (because it was defined as such), but don't let it. The important thing is that the client recognized it as a backup location.
    To browse the server's Time Machine history, the client must right-click on the Time Machine icon in the Dock (or use the Time Machine menu extra) and choose "Browse Other Time Machine Disk," where the user can choose the server's backup volume. Now the client can go back in time on the server, star-field and all. If the user needs to restore a file, Time Machine will ask him/her where to save the restored copy; it will not overwrite the copy on the Group-Folder share point.
    Hope this helps!
    --Gerrit

  • HT2497 Using Time Machine for home wifi just fine. Switched to cable modem from DSL.  Now having trouble connecting laptops to wifi. ISP says it is not their fault. Mac books won't connect on their own.

    Changed from DSL to cable modem. Now Mac book pro won't connect to wifi - Time Machine?
    One Mac ok, other not. Help?

    Thanks. We have been using an existing Time Machine for wifi.  Cable modem replaced DSL router and was hooked up to Time Machine. What's odd is that 3 computers and iPad2 are connecting to home wifi just fine, using exact same network and password as before. My Mac book pro and an older iPad are not. IPhones are also connecting to home wifi just fine. I managed to get my Mac book pro hooked one time by copying ip address from a Mac that was working (entered manually) then turning that one off. That's not what I need.
    The error message is "no ip address".

  • What is Time Machine really Backing Up?

    I have two internal HD's one 750gig that has Leopard on it, & a second HD that is 500gigs.
    I have Time Machine backing up everything. I have noticed this for some time now, & have watched it
    very carefully what is new on my system this month, beside a few texted emails, I have nothing new, no new programs, no new photos or no new music or videos. So what is Time Machine backing up?
    I plugged in my external HD & let Time Machine start backing up, it stated it was backing up 5.2gigs of WHAT! is my question.
    Thanks

    If you have photos, then editing any photos will also require an update. You didn't mention which email client you are using. Are you using VMWare or Parallels? To see what folders/files are being updated, you can try:
    www.charlessoft.com/timetracker.zip

  • How can i find missing backup on Time Machine (for Mac)?, How can i find missing backup on Time Machine (for Mac)?

    I backed up my computer on August 8th 2010 with Time Machine. I'm absolutely certain I did. But some reason there's a gap. I have a backup of my computer from just before that date, and just after that date, but August 8th is missing.
    Is there any way to recover my files from this date? What's happening? It can't have started automatically deleting files because I have backups from as far back as June 2010 (when I started using time machine).
    Thank you

    See:
    A  whole  lot  about  Time  Machine for help with TM problems.  Also you can select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "time machine" to locate articles on how to use TM.  See also Mac 101- Time Machine.

  • Can anyone tell me what this Time Machine error means? The network backup disk does not support the required AFP features?

    Can anyone tell me what this Time Machine error means? The network backup disk does not support the required AFP features?

    AFP - Apple Filing Protocol
    The Network Attached Storage (NAS) that you are pointing Time Machine at does not have the features needed by Time Machine in order to do its Thing.  Time Machine needs some specific features that are not typically available on generic networked storage devices.
    There are manufactures that support the Mac OS X HFS+ file system formats and implement all the needed AFP protocol packets necessary so that they can be used with Time Machine, but apparently yours does not.
    If you are not using a networked mounted volume for Time Machine, then more information will be needed about your Time Machine setup.

  • Thinking about using Time Machine for the first time...

    I just assume that updates are inherently good to have, regardless of what it's for. I figure that the developers know a lot more than I do regarding the optimization or improvement of their own software, so I simply allow their download. I'm thinking about using my Time Machine for the first time and reverting back to the pre-9.1 install, if that's even possible. Things were working fine for me and now there are all kinds of issues with communication between my Axiom Pro 61 and Logic. Nothing responds through Hypercontrol anymore, and I don't expect any updates from M-Audio until at least 2012. Anyone else thinking about taking this route?

    Yes, I did. I opened that version immediately after I discovered that 9.1 had that effect and the controller was still inoperative. Of course, I still have MIDI input and PB/Mod wheel control, but that's about it. Everything else would need to be manually loaded, which the Pro series is supposed to do automatically. I haven't restarted my iMac yet, nor have I tried removing the keyboard from the computer altogether and perhaps reconnecting it. Maybe that would reset it...

  • How to restart base station from airport utility? I used to be able to do it remotely  I currently use a Mac Pro 10.8.4 and have a time machine for wireless 6.3 (630.34). Sometimes I cannot connect to the internet and use network preferences to diagnose t

    How to restart base station from airport utility? I used to be able to do it remotely
    I currently use a Mac Pro 10.8.4 and have a time machine for wireless 6.3 (630.34). Sometimes I cannot connect to the internet and use network preferences to diagnose the issue. This results in being told to restart the wireless. The airport utility includes the drop down option of restarting but is not clickable so I can't choose it.
    With my prior macbook and same time capsule, etc  if i had problems connecting to the internet I would run network diagnostics to help out. This included clicking on the airport utility ---> base station --> restart. This worked most of the time.
    Bottom line, is there something I am missing in not being able to restart the wi-fi remotely? ]
    Thanks in advance

    You are likely forgetting a step.
    Open AirPort Utility
    Click on the Time Capsule icon
    Click Edit in the small window that appears
    Now click the Base Station menu.....top of the screen....not the Base Station "tab" in the center of the screen
    Click Restart

  • Time Machine for multiple macs - NAS or DAS attached to my iMac, which I then share?

    Greetings
    I currently have three macs - MBA, MBP and an iMac (newest generation). I'd like to use Time Machine for all of them.
    Is it better to set up a NAS for Time Machine or can I use DAS that I woudl share (external HDD) attached to my iMac if they are all on the same network?
    Also, is there any need for something like a Drobo or an external RAID array, if it's mostly for backing up and not for video editing? It would be used as a mnusic server to some degree. I've used a Drobo in the past (2nd gen) and find that I've spent a lot of time troubleshooting and fiddling with it over the years.
    Thanks,
    John

    I am looking to add a Seagate NAS TM compatible to my network.  I have 8 TB of storage w multiple Macs that I would like to backup to a NAS device.
    Any advice would be welcome.
    http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/network-storage/business/business-st orage-8-bay-rackmount-nas/

  • Our iMac (intel, 11.2) freezes up when using Time Machine for Back Ups.  We have 16GB of RAM and the BU drive is 1 TB on firewire.

    Our iMac (intel, 11.2) freezes up when using Time Machine for Back Ups.  We have 16GB of RAM and the BU drive is 1 TB on firewire.

    See Pondini's TM FAQs for starters.

  • What is time machine and how i can use it

    what is time machine and how i can use it ?

    Hope you may find these articles helpful.
    https://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Machine_(OS_X)
    Best.

  • When installing maverick mailboxes disappeared, only have current emails. All the folders and content missing. Could anyone be of help. I do have Time Machine for backup.

    When installing maverick mailboxes disappeared, only have current emails. All the folders and content missing. Could anyone be of help. I do have Time Machine for backup.

    Solved the problem by clicking the gray triangle next to "On My Mac" and drilled down!

  • I am going to back up to Time Machine for the first time

    which I know sounds nuts. I was manually doing it for the past 6 months- don't ask  why.
    Do I have to completely wipe out my Lacie and do any formatting to it? Or do I just delete everything from it and set my Time Machine to default backup to that drive and go from there as if I'm doing it for the first time?
    Also, I don't keep my EHD attached constantly to my laptop- I assume that is not a problem and whenever I hook it up, I can then ask TM to go to work?
    Sorry for the basic questions- appreciate the help!
    Thanks,
    Bernice

    I haven't burned a CD in years. My old MacBook doesn't have a DVD burner.
    The biggest issue is the size of your various drives. For Time Machine, your Time Machine drive should be three times the size of the drive you are backing up. If you don't quite have that (and I don't), you can get away with three times the amount of data you are backing up. Whichever configuration gives you that equation should be the one you use for Time Machine. You can partition one of the external drives so that one partition is big enough for Time Machine and the other is used for other purposes, such as archives. I have one external drive configured like that. If you don't have enough room to partition, then dedicate one drive to Time Machine and the other to archives and/or clones.
    Some people feel it is very important to maintain a long Time Machine history and migrate that to new drives. I don't quite understant that. I use Time Machine for backups, nothing more. I blow away all my backups on a fairly regular basis and start a fresh one. I don't need six month old versions of files. If I accidentally delete a file, I will notice sooner than that. If I have a hardware failure, I only need the last backup.
    I currently have those bootable clones only because my MacBook is in a funky state right now (long story) and my MacBook Pro is a work machine bound to an Active Directory domain. I can't rebuild that system by myself without IT from work and that would be difficult for me (longer story). I don't consider bootable clones to be a regular part of my backup strategy. They are useful snapshots and archives for specific times when I feel I need them.

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