Can Time Machine be setup for multiple backup profiles?

Discussion in 'Mac Apps and Mac App Store' started by Black Diesel, Mar 15, 2011.

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  1. Black Diesel, Mar 15, 2011

    Black Diesel macrumors member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    #1
    I have several external HD's but I don't have one that's big enough to back up ALL of my data on one drive...So, I'm wondering if Time Machine can be configured to do the following:

    Here's what I have:

    Mac
    External HD1
    External HD2
    External HD3
    External HD4

    It's impossible to backup Mac+HD1+HD2+HD3 onto HD4 because HD4 is not big enough...so, is it possible to backup my Mac+External HD1 onto External HD2, AND ALSO do a SEPARATE backup for Mac+External HD3 onto External HD4? This is the only way I'll be able to make sure all my data is backed up.

    Let me know.
    Thanks
     
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  2. datmr, Mar 15, 2011

    datmr macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2011
    #2
    Also consider selling them and using the money to buy a larger one. I know second hard HD don't sell for much, but you do have FOUR.

    Also you could manually back up the app installers onto DVD or something, and use time machine just for data.
     
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  3. Jolly Giant, Mar 16, 2011

    Jolly Giant macrumors 6502a

    Jolly Giant

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    Location:
    Hamburg, Germany
    #3
    you can't use TM for such a setup, however, ChronoSync should be up to the task.
     
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  4. Black Diesel, Mar 16, 2011

    Black Diesel thread starter macrumors member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    #4
    Thanks Jolly Giant, this is what I was looking for. Looks like this will allow me to sync files/folder in between my iMac and MBP too.

    Someone else suggested i sell my HD's but I can't do that considering I have all Lacie 1TB, 1.5TB, and 2TB HD's.
     
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  5. datmr, Mar 16, 2011

    datmr macrumors newbie

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    #5
    Off the wall question, considering that 2 TB is very large for a hard drive and that you have a 2 TB external, would re-organising your data amongst the four drives free up a large enough volume for you to use for backup?

    Another option is to get one of those external disk 'enclosures' that can fit more than 1 drive and span them so they appear as a single (larger) partition (i.e. RAID 0 stripe set of 2 TB made from 2x 1TB drives). I personally am not a fan of unmirrored stripe, but YMMV.

    Just tossing some ideas out there, that's all.
     
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  6. Black Diesel, Mar 16, 2011

    Black Diesel thread starter macrumors member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    #6
    I've already reorganized my data and I'm now to the point where I can backup most of my stuff but not all of it without buying new drives. I really need one of those 8TB RAID enclosures but that's out of the question right now. I have 100's of thousand of RAW files and I ran out of space. I'm going to look into chronosync to backup as much data as I can.
     
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