2 external drives - 1 clone, 1 time machine backup - smart or stupid?

[wrldwzrd89]

Is it a good idea to maintain both a clone of the system and a Time Machine backup drive? The clone drive is the same size as the system drive. The Time Machine drive I picked (which currently isn't used for anything) is about 3x larger than the system drive.

One possible complicating factor is that I have the Mac set up with separate admin and day-to-day accounts.

 

[skinnylegs]

Redudancy is always a good thing. I think you are smart.

 

[kalex]

of course its a good idea. drives are very cheap and it doesn't hurt to have another layer of backup.

take this scenario

ur main drive craps out. if you only have time macine backup, you have to boot off Leopard DVD and then do restore from Time Machine. its not the fastest as i have experienced it myself.

if you have a cloned drive all you have to do is boot of it and replace your internal drive with new one. after u get new one just clone it again and put it inside.

much faster than restoring from time machine

 

[srl7741]

Redudancy is always a good thing. I think you are smart.

I agree with that also. I have 3 of everything. One of which is not in the same location. I should be ok even in the worst scenario.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Thanks, guys. I went ahead and set it up.