Hey. I have a MBP that I need to keep on El Capitan and a new iMac on the way. Considering how the file system is different in High Sierra, what's the best way to back up both computers using the same Time Machine? The iMac has a 3TB Fusion drive...
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Best way to use Time Machine to backup two Macs?
- Thread starter Sal Collaziano
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No need to do anything. Simply let your new iMac also backup to the same TM HDD (assume it's not full, and large enough to hold two computer's backup). The TM HDD are always in HFS+ regardless your OS and the associated file system.
Since these 2 computers may want to access it at the same time. I personally prefer to do everything via network.
Or, it can be connected to the iMac via USB / TB, but available as network drive for the MacBook Pro.
Thank you very much. This is great, then. I have a 3TB Time Machine/Capsule and my main computer, the MBP has 1TB of data on it. I'm not copying anything from the MBP over to the iMac because I want a fresh start. I just want to be able to access the MBP's files over the air and keep the notebook computer backed up.
I'm using a external 2 TB drive. I formatted it to HFS+ and created two partitions: one 1.5TB for my MacBook Pro (1TB SSD storage) and the 500GB is for my wife's MacBook Air (256GB SSD). Works great!
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If you are using a 3TB TC you should be all set. During setup, Point the new machine's TM to the TC. You will have two different TM backups on the TC. I do this now for my iMac and my MBP. Are you looking to go back in time and retrieve files from one manchines TM to the other? I am not sure this is do-able.Thank you very much. This is great, then. I have a 3TB Time Machine/Capsule and my main computer, the MBP has 1TB of data on it. I'm not copying anything from the MBP over to the iMac because I want a fresh start. I just want to be able to access the MBP's files over the air and keep the notebook computer backed up.
That said, you should see the other machine in Finder from each machine. You could easily access the drives of each to copy over files.
Thank you. Yes. For example, I have a LOT of photos in iPhoto and I'd like to take them off my MBP through it's backup in the Time Capsule. I'll probably move a few programs over as well - like Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Dreamweaver CS5 - if I can get both of them working... Maybe a few other things as well but I do want to keep my new iMac as uncluttered as possible. So I think keeping most files on my MBP and backed up through Time Machine will work well. I'll probably get one more drive for backups as a plan C if I need it...
In general, simply transfer the files via intranet is easier and faster.
Some general comments, consider using migration assistant. I have never used it, but from what I understand, you can pick and choose what you want migrated over from the old machine to the new. I don't think you are going to be able to move progress and applications from the old to the new using a time machine snapshot from the old.
For photo's, consider storing them in iCloud. Then you just sign in and they are all there on both machines. Another option is to create a folder on the TC where you can move data to from the old and retrieve it from the new. I guess the good news is that you have many options. Good luck!
Thank you. I will definitely consider using Migration assistant. That sounds like a great idea. I think I've used it before as well...