Carbon Copy Cloner 7 - Users Thread

[Realityck]

That eligibility link goes to a CCC 6 upgrade page, and I can find nothing CCC 7 on the site.

Edit; I don't see very much I need in Realityck's post on ccc7 that I would need anyway, except the changed-folder-name optimization. CCC6 does all I need, and perfectly.

CCC 7 represents a new software development cycle that the developer included only when checking for beta updates. The web site shows nothing concerning CCC 7 information, but will be updated sometime in the next 3 months. This beta testing doesn't remove your existing CCC 6 application, only adds the CCC 7 beta 1 so feedback can be provided to the developer as it is being used in advance of its release to public.

 

[Sciuriware]

CCC 7 represents a new software development cycle that the developer included only when checking for beta updates. The web site shows nothing concerning CCC 7 information, but will be updated sometime in the next 3 months. This beta testing doesn't remove your existing CCC 6 application, only adds the CCC 7 beta 1 so feedback can be provided to the developer as it is being used in advance of its release to public.

Speaking for myself only, I would like to pay for a good product that will keep us up
with all future 'surprises' APPLE has in mind. I do not expect a total rewrite of CCC.
Nor am I waiting for a fully different approach. Stability should be preserved.
;JOOP!

 

[gilby101]

Is this just me, or is this a CCC bug/functionality issue?

I have a CCC backups of Photos libraries with "Respect macOS Exclusions" enabled in the Task Filter. But CCC ignores the com_apple_backup_excludeItem extended attribute which is set on some of the folders and subfolders inside the library. Instead it backs up everything in the library. This seems unnecessary.

In comparison TM does not backup those folders. And restores of a Photos library create a usable Photos library where the excluded folders get recreated.

 

[Realityck]

Is this just me, or is this a CCC bug/functionality issue?

I have a CCC backups of Photos libraries with "Respect macOS Exclusions" enabled in the Task Filter. But CCC ignores the com_apple_backup_excludeItem extended attribute which is set on some of the folders and subfolders inside the library. Instead it backs up everything in the library. This seems unnecessary.

In comparison TM does not backup those folders. And restores of a Photos library create a usable Photos library where the excluded folders get recreated.

referencing

Configure the task filter to exclude files and folders from a task - Bombich Software

chirp.bombich.com

======
Apple offers a method to third-party applications for flagging specific files to be excluded from Time Machine backups. When backing up to a locally-attached volume, CCC ignores these exclusion flags by default. You can check the Respect macOS exclusions checkbox in the sidebar to change that behavior. Note that CCC automatically enables this option when backing up a locally-attached source to a network volume destination to reduce the amount of unnecessary content being evaluated in NAS backup tasks.

CCC will show these excluded items in the Task Filter window when the Respect macOS exclusions setting is enabled. If you would like to get a complete list of files flagged in this manner, though, you can paste the following into the Terminal application (replace "/Users/yourname" with any folder you want to search within):

find /Users/yourname -xattrname "com.apple.metadata:com_apple_backup_excludeItem"
=================
If you find CCC whatever version you are using not doing a thorough ignore of that respect MacOS exclusions flag then
let the dev know. Send him a message. Under CCC help pull down menu use either Ask a question about CCC or Report a problem options. You might want to test it also in CCC 7 beta also to see if it acts the same.

 

[gilby101]

Under CCC help pull down menu use either Ask a question about CCC or Report a problem options. You might want to test it also in CCC 7 beta also to see if it acts the same.

I will leave the beta for now, but I am reporting it as a problem.

 

[gilby101]

I have a CCC backups of Photos libraries with "Respect macOS Exclusions" enabled in the Task Filter. But CCC ignores the com_apple_backup_excludeItem extended attribute which is set on some of the folders and subfolders inside the library. Instead it backs up everything in the library. This seems unnecessary.

Under CCC help pull down menu use either Ask a question about CCC or Report a problem options.

Just reporting that I contacted Support and Mike replied showing me how to "Respect macOS Exclusions" inside packages. It is doubly tricky for folders inside packages! All the information needed is in the support pages. Excluding items that exist within a bundle file

CCC "like TM" backups of Photos library, do recover as expected. I have tested that!

Mike strongly feels that macOS excludes too many things from TM backups and so does not make "Respect macOS Exclusions" the default. So this is a deliberate design decision. I accept the reasons for this, but will mostly continue to use the options to do exclusions like TM. Just glad, there is the choice.

 

[0134168]

Just reporting that I contacted Support and Mike replied showing me how to "Respect macOS Exclusions" inside packages. It is doubly tricky for folders inside packages! All the information needed is in the support pages. Excluding items that exist within a bundle file

CCC "like TM" backups of Photos library, do recover as expected. I have tested that!

Mike strongly feels that macOS excludes too many things from TM backups and so does not make "Respect macOS Exclusions" the default. So this is a deliberate design decision. I accept the reasons for this, but will mostly continue to use the options to do exclusions like TM. Just glad, there is the choice.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[dai-leung]

CCC 7 beta 1 (8007)l is now available to install and use for 90 days

Is the beta test by invitation only? If not, any idea how does one participate?

 

[Realityck]

Is the beta test by invitation only? If not, any idea how does one participate?

No, open to all. Go to settings in CCC 6 go to updates tab, enable "Inform me of beta releases" checkbox. You should see a trial button for CCC 7 bottom right, when you check for updates..

 

[dai-leung]

You should see a trial button for CCC 7 bottom right, when you check for updates

Thanks, but don’t see the trial button. The trial could be for invitation only or only for users with advanced technical ability.

 

[gilby101]

Thanks, but don’t see the trial button.

This is what I see:

 

[dai-leung]

Realityck and gilby101, thank you both for your help. I had to upgrade to the latest CCC6. After I did that than the CCC7 trial button does show up as indicated by both of you.​

But before I did that I have 2 questions to ask both of you:
Q1) I have many CCC snapshots on CCC6's external backup drive, any idea if I switch to CCC7 will it make these snapshots disappeared or just continue like nothing has happened?
Q2) If CCC7 gives me problem, will I be able to switch back to CCC6

 

[dai-leung]

A question about the "CCC Snapshots" button, at the bottom of the CCC snapshot table.

I use Time Machine to back up onto an external APFS backup drive. On the CCC snapshot table page, there are many snapshots on this drive; they were created without enabling the "CCC Snapshots" button (this button was "Off"), at the bottom of the CCC snapshot table. I then enabled this button to "on". I expected CCC to create additional snapshots made by CCC and with the CCC logo, in addition to those created by Time Machine with the Time Machine logo. However, this is not what has happened. Turning that button "on" or "off" seems to have no effect.

Has anyone used this button and got different results than I got?

 

[gilby101]

I use Time Machine to back up onto an external APFS backup drive. On the CCC snapshot table page, there are many snapshots on this drive; they were created without enabling the "CCC Snapshots" button (this button was "Off"), at the bottom of the CCC snapshot table. I then enabled this button to "on". I expected CCC to create additional snapshots made by CCC and with the CCC logo, in addition to those created by Time Machine with the Time Machine logo. However, this is not what has happened. Turning that button "on" or "off" seems to have no effect.

As you have discovered, CCC can 'see' snapshots created by TM (on a TM volume) as well as those on a CCC backup volume. But a TM backup volume can only be modified by TM. And, CCC can only make snapshotted backups to a volume created for CCC to use. Do not attempt mix CCC and TM backups. What you are attempting shows how wise Apple has been to make sure that other software can't modify a TM disk.

 

[dai-leung]

Thanks, what you said make good sense! So that button should not be there.

 

[dai-leung]

I found that Turning on the "CCC Snapshots" button on the TM backup drives, not only will not produced CCC snapshots but has some undesirable effects: (1) the Mac freezed, and (2) CCC fails to make backup. I tested 3 times, same results.

 

[Realityck]

I found that Turning on the "CCC Snapshots" button on the TM backup drives, not only will not produced CCC snapshots but has some undesirable effects: (1) the Mac freezed, and (2) CCC fails to make backup. I tested 3 times, same results.

Can I use CCC to copy a Time Machine backup? - Bombich Software

bombich.com

Can I use CCC to copy a Time Machine backup?​

No. Copying a Time Machine backup volume with anything other than the Finder is not supported (by us, nor Apple); CCC specifically disallows copying anything to or from a Time Machine backup volume. Apple does not document a procedure for making copies of Time Machine volumes.

Can I use CCC to restore content from a Time Machine backup?​

Generally, no. If you want to restore content from a Time Machine backup, you should use Apple's Time Machine interface for that purpose. If you see a Time Machine snapshot in CCC's Snapshots table, however, you may restore files from that snapshot.

Can I use the same backup disk for both CCC and Time Machine backups?​

Yes, you may use the same physical device, however you should created dedicated volumes on the device for each backup.

 

[dai-leung]

I am glad that technically advanced members Realityck, gilby101 have further clarified this issue. This button should not have been there. It is confusing and harmful. Even after I switched off the button, It still causes the Mac to freeze every time I turn on the Mac and I had to restore from a snapshot taken before enabling this button. This is a rare overlook by CCC.

 

[dai-leung]

With the help of Realityck and gilby101, just downloaded CCC7 few hours ago and found the maximum number of snapshots on a backup drive is only three
I tested on 2 drives, one HD and one SSD. both have the same results.

I created a file on the desktop, then duplicated it 10 times. Each time when I duplicated it, I did a backup. After 10 backups, the snapshots on the backup drive are given in the picture.

Did anyone get the same result?

I suspect that if I did the experiment on a drive that already had many CCC6 snapshots, I might not have encountered this problem.

 

[gilby101]

I created a file on the desktop, then duplicated it 10 times. Each time when I duplicated it, I did a backup. After 10 backups, the snapshots on the backup drive are given in the picture.

What does it say just below your screenshot? Probably includes something like: Keep hourly snapshots for 24 hours.
And over what time interval did you do your test? From your description, only a short time.
That means CCC will thin the snapshots to one per hour. So for a rapid sequence of backups, not all be kept.

 

[0134168]

I never use snapshots. Always disable them.

 

[gilby101]

This button should not have been there. It is confusing and harmful. Even after I switched off the button, It still causes the Mac to freeze every time I turn on the Mac and I had to restore from a snapshot taken before enabling this button.

I agree it would better if this button was not there for TM volumes. You should report this to CCC Support.

 

[dai-leung]

I never use snapshots. Always disable them.

I have somewhat different experience. Recently I have done many restore experiments by following Gilby101’s advice. Restore a Mac using Snapshot is the best ever happened to the restore world, especially for non-computer trained Mac users. It restore to the state captured by the snapshot perfectly by a simple click. It is super-easy and super-fast. No computer training or experience are required. It is a paradigm shift. It is the modern way of restoring a Mac.

Another great capability of Snapshot is it allows testing software super-conveniently. And in my case, i had used it to test Chronosync, ARQ, CCC7, OS updates.

To my knowledge, only CCC offers the capability of restore from a snapshot. (TM has to use the migration assistant, which is more complicated and has a problem.)

 

[dai-leung]

That means CCC will thin the snapshots to one per hour. So for a rapid sequence of backups, not all be kept.

Sharp thinking and observant! But don't see the reason why CCC should limit snapshot to only 1 per hour. Last night, I had 3 snapshots on the backup drive. this morning (8 hrs from the last snapshot taken), I backup'ed again, checked again, there were still 3 snapshots; one old snapshot was deleted to make room for the new one. Plse note time of snapshot in pic. It seems that this may indeed be an issue.

My Suggestion: don't use CCC7 on your regular backup drive, yet.

 

[dai-leung]

Apology: Regular "hourly snapshots" does work.