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Draythor

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 12, 2006
427
0
Exeter University, UK
Is there a HD that I can hook up to a router that will allow me to use it in the same way as a time machine? I don't need 1TB of space or a massive hole in my wallet!
 
I suppose you could use any Network attached storage (NAS) device, external drive with ethernet, or router that allows you to hook up a Hard drive to it.

Unfortunately, none of these drives are officially supported with time machine. But you can enable it by following these directions:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/10/how-to-enable-time-machine-on-unsupported-volumes/

(directions are in thousands of places, engadget was the first one I came across).
 
Is there a HD that I can hook up to a router that will allow me to use it in the same way as a time machine? I don't need 1TB of space or a massive hole in my wallet!

I'm very unhappy with my time capsule. I have a 500GB, which I got the week it came out, and I'm using three computers with it (and have to set up a fourth) for my whole family. I'm a bit unhappy with it. I'm considering wiping the thing, getting a Airport Extreme, and hooking up at least one HD to it, and do backups with CarbonCopy Cloner. The time machine technology can't handle the load of four different computers, and I need to upgrade the HD which I can't do since it's built in and Apple does NOT make it easy. I think you should do a simple NAS set up and use carbon copy.
 
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This is encouraging. A couple of years ago Netgear made a similar box which was NOT Mac compatible. It relied on proprietary software for connection and configuration and only ran under Windows.
 
This is encouraging. A couple of years ago Netgear made a similar box which was NOT Mac compatible. It relied on proprietary software for connection and configuration and only ran under Windows.

Maybe you are right. ReadyNAS used to be a product of Infrant Technologies Inc. which Netgear acquired in mid 2007. I was so tempted to purchase this based on the ratings in Amazon, but since I own a TC I ended up buying Drobo for my backup and storage needs.
 
I'm surprised no one mentioned this.
Airport Extreme + USB HDD
Works almost the same as Time Capsule, plus it's more upgradeable. I'm using it right now.
 
I'm surprised no one mentioned this.
Airport Extreme + USB HDD
Works almost the same as Time Capsule, plus it's more upgradeable. I'm using it right now.

+1, hook up a USB hub and run as many HDD as you wish. I have two hooked up to my Airport extreme. A 350 GB for time machine and a Western Digital My Book 750GB mirrored for my movies, programs and junk.

When I upgrade my 250GB laptop drive, I'll buy an enclosure and add that to my Airport extreme.
 
I'm surprised no one mentioned this.
Airport Extreme + USB HDD
Works almost the same as Time Capsule, plus it's more upgradeable. I'm using it right now.

What I use too. While it is a good solution I would canvass around to find a proven HD to use. I use a WD drive and, while it works, it frequently causes Time Machine to return errors that spoil the experience a little. No reason why it shouldn't work fine with the right drive though.
 
Quick question..

Can I use thisAirPort Express Base Station w/ AirTunes (802.11n) + any USB hard drive, with Apple Time Machine on a MacBook?

21xadwf8wdL._SL500_AA250_.jpg
 
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Hi, is it wireless? If so, do you have a link to the one you have please? Thanks.

It's not wireless, so I have it wired (via ethernet cable) to the wireless router that I got from Verizon as part of my FiOS hookup. This is the one I bought: http://www.synology.com/us/products/DS109/index.php.

It works great. I've used it to set up an itunes network share (not as elegant as home share, since I can't copy files from computer to computer) that also functions for Internet streaming, and Synology also has an iPhone/iPod Touch app that allows you to stream to that device (you'll need to do some tweaking to make the streaming functions work, mainly related to static vs. dynamic dns).
 
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