Backup/Storage query

[TechEd]

Ok, before I start, this may seem a dumb question to some but I am an absolute newbie having just moved to Apple and buying my very first MacBook Pro (and loving it).
Being a photographer, I bought a 2 terabyte remote drive to store my photos using Lightroom - will there be any problems using this same drive as a backup using Time Machine. I assume it will be OK but thought I should check, just in case. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dafke]

You can when you split the drive into 2 partitions. But I wouldn't do that because you'll have part of your RAWs and the backup of the data on the same drive; if this drive fails you'll loose your RAWs.

 

[OreoCookie]

Technically, no. But then you effectively would not back up your photos. It is better if you separated the backup drive from the drive containing the photos.

 

[dwig]

Good backup strategies need to cover all possible failures.

There are two major classes of failure that you want protection from:

1. Logical data failure - bad disk write due to power failure or Stupid-Human-Trick (duh, I didn't mean to overwrite that file...)
2. Hardware failure

Splitting a HD into two partitions to use one for primary data and the other for Time Machine offers very good protection for #1, but doesn't protect from #2. Simply using two separate HDs also offers good protection for #1 and adequate protection for #2, but doesn't cover for major hardware failure (e.g. house fire, CPU fries and corrupts all connected drives, ...).

IMHO, if 1tb is enough space, then partition your current 2tb to use 1/2 for images and 1/2 for TM AND buy another 2tb drive. The first split drive gives you minute by minute protection for #1. To get protection for #2, partition that second HD into 2 partitions, A and B, and use it for a monthly backup of the the image partition on the first drive and then disconnect it and store it in a fireproof file cabinet. Use the A partition one month and the B partition the next month to have a semi-offsite backup as protection for #2. Using the two partitions alternately means you don't have to destroy all your backups to get room for a new backup.

 

[TechEd]

Thanks for your replies everyone - Dwig in particular. Your suggestion seems to cover all the bases (issues that I need covered anyway) so I'm going to give that a try. Thank you.