Back up system for shared Macs?

[b2387692]

In addition to my MBP late 2011 17" 750GB HD (530GB free), I have a Mac Mini Server late 2011 (hardwired) with dual 500GB 7200RPM hard drives ("Server HD" with 340GB free & "Macintosh HD2" with 499GB free), which shares files with my MBP. Both machines are running OS X Lion 10.7.5, which came pre-installed (no disk). I've never used Time Machine on either machine & I don't have an external drive.

How would you setup 2 Macs like this to be backed up on an ongoing basis?
Thanks!

 

[b2387692]

Anyone with knowledge of backing multiple Macs, I'd appreciate your feedback! . Thanks!

 

[JTravers]

Enable Time Machine server on your mini and use that to backup your 17. And get an external drive to backup your mini using Time Machine.

Or get a Time Capsule to back up both.

You can also buy Carbon Copy Cloner software to clone your drives, if you want extra protection.

 

[jimmyco2008]

+1 for Time Capsules! Centralized, wireless backup- what's not to love?

 

[b2387692]

Thanks!
Hmmm? What's going on?? In Finder on my Mini, I don't see "SHARED" or my 17 but in Finder on my 17, I see "SHARED" and my Mini...?
Also, what's the difference between an external drive and Time Capsule?

 

[Rhyalus]

I love file sync free... I use it to sync folders between macs and pc's. Works like a charm...

Google for it and let me know if you can't find it.

R

 

[b2387692]

Enable Time Machine server on your mini and use that to backup your 17. And get an external drive to backup your mini using Time Machine.

Or get a Time Capsule to back up both.

You can also buy Carbon Copy Cloner software to clone your drives, if you want extra protection.

Thanks!

I got a 2TB WD My Passport Ultra external HD.

I have a clean install of OS X Lion 10.7.5 on my 17 from Internet Recovery but with the inability to get the latest auto security update, I'm looking to upgrade to Yosemite, most likely on both my Mini Server & 17.

That said, How do I...
1) enable Time Machine server on my mini and use that to backup my 17?
2) use the external drive to backup my mini using Time Machine?

 

[JTravers]

Thanks!



I got a 2TB WD My Passport Ultra external HD.



I have a clean install of OS X Lion 10.7.5 on my 17 from Internet Recovery but with the inability to get the latest auto security update, I'm looking to upgrade to Yosemite, most likely on both my Mini Server & 17.



That said, How do I...

1) enable Time Machine server on my mini and use that to backup my 17?

2) use the external drive to backup my mini using Time Machine?

Plug the external drive into your mini and create two partitions using Disk Utility. One partition is for your mini time machine backups and the other can be used as the destination for other macs on your network.

1) You have to buy the OS X Server app from the Mac App Store. Then setup the time machine service in the app and point it to one of the partitions you created on the external drive. You can google for complete instructions.
2) Open time machine preferences on your mini and add the other partition of the external drive as a backup destination.

Hope that helps. There are plenty of walkthroughs of the above on the web if you need a more detailed explanation.

 

[b2387692]

...1) You have to buy the OS X Server app from the Mac App Store...

Thanks!
I have the Mac Mini Server Mid 2011 (Macmini5,3), which I believe came preloaded with and is currently running Mac OS X Server Lion 10.7.5, so...why would I still need to download OS X Server app, which apparently cost $19.99?

 

[JTravers]

Thanks!

I have the Mac Mini Server Mid 2011 (Macmini5,3), which I believe came preloaded with and is currently running Mac OS X Server Lion 10.7.5, so...why would I still need to download OS X Server app, which apparently cost $19.99?

You wouldn't need to download it then. Just open Server.app and turn on and configure the Time Machine service.

 

[JHUFrank]

Enable Time Machine server on your mini and use that to backup your 17. And get an external drive to backup your mini using Time Machine.

Or get a Time Capsule to back up both.

You can also buy Carbon Copy Cloner software to clone your drives, if you want extra protection.

This is a real good strategy. Personally, I have a NAS which I share out on our home network as a Time Machine Destination, and all of our macs backup to it via Time Machine over wifi.

 

[maflynn]

Another vote a NAS, its designed for such things, many of them uses RAID for data duplication, and you can set up different accounts for different computers to back each one up.

 

[b2387692]

What is NAS?

 

[Weaselboy]

What is NAS?

Network Attached Storage like this.

 

[poiihy]

Thanks!
Hmmm? What's going on?? In Finder on my Mini, I don't see "SHARED" or my 17 but in Finder on my 17, I see "SHARED" and my Mini...?
Also, what's the difference between an external drive and Time Capsule?

One device has file sharing enabled and the other doesn't. Check your sharing preferences.

----------

What is NAS?

Just a bunch of hard drives connected to your network.