How do MacBook owners manage time machine backups on external USB disks?

[FireBlade93RR]

at work i have a TB3 dock with an external USB drive for TM, it back up automatically to it.

when i'm at home i have my synology NAS where it backs up there automatically.

 

[Clevans]

I have my external hard drive plugged into our AirPort Extreme router and it automatically backs up from my MBP to it

 

[nutmac]

How do MacBook owners manage time machine backups on external USB disks?

I don't. As you said, plugging in hard disk is a real hassle. And when you enable Time Machine, macOS Catalina creates local snapshots that can take up a lot of storage space.

And for me, Time Machine over wireless network (to Mac mini) just isn't fast enough.

So in the end, I have 3 approaches.

1. Store as much data on the cloud as possible. Most of my user data is stored on the iCloud.
2. Mac mini for large storage, such as media library. It is backed up to Backblaze.
3. Occasional Carbon Copy Cloner backup, especially when upgrading macOS.

 

[phas3]

I just plug them in when I remember. I backup to a NAS primarily (every hour), and then I have a few external USBs that I just update on a regular basis. Time Machine will remind you when it's been 10 days or whatever. Use meaningful names for your volumes if it helps. I have one that I keep it an overnight bag and the name of the volume reflects that, so it's clear when it pops up to remind me. It's not something I worry about, the system works great for me.

what NAS do you have? Thinking of doing this as well.

 

[Howard2k]

what NAS do you have? Thinking of doing this as well.

I have a Synology DS218j. They go on sale quite cheap now and then.

 

[0388279]

Hi,

I continuously TM back-up my 2016 MBP through a 2018 Mac Mini that has a bare USB drive in a docking station. When everything is hard wired together the TM back-up are very fast. Even when I am connected to the my network via WiFi, the TM back-ups are fast enough to be almost transparent.

Also, every couple of weeks I attach a 5 GB USB drive directly to my MBP to provide another TM back-up.

Don