Backup 2 iMacs with the same Time Machine?

[zalle]

Hi guys, so here's what's happening:

I own both a 27" late 2013 iMac, and a 27" late 2012 iMac. They are at different locations.

I'm now using an external SSD to start both systems and it's working fine.

I carry a disk with all my files, and it has a 300GB partition, for Time Machine. My question is: Can I use the same TM backup with both computers? Since the startup disk is the same, I would thought so...

Or do I need 2 different TM backups, one for each computer?

Thanks

 

[chscag]

You can use the same Time Machine program to backup both machines but you would need to keep the individual backups separate. In other words, either partition the external backup drive or use 2 external drives one for each iMac backup.

Personally, I would use something like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper rather than Time Machine. Or both.

 

[zalle]

I'm used to Time machine, it works for me.

So I have to use 2 different backups? Ok, 2 different external drives. Should I just use the external HDD for it, OR should I create a new partition just for the Time Machine?

 

[chscag]

You can do it either way as long as you keep the backups separate.

 

[zalle]

I guess I'm doing separate 300GB partitions. This way it won't take more than that.