Any external drive, as long as it doesn't say that it is "Macintosh compatible", and as long as it doesn't come with backup software. That's because all USB3 drives are Macintosh compatible, but if it calls itself "Macintosh compatible" then suddenly it costs a lot more. And any backup software on the drive will just interfere with Time Machine backup, so again you pay through the nose for nothing.
Let's be clear here -- it's the backup software that comes with WD drives that is the problem. There is nothing wrong with WD drives themselves. I've seen seemingly random problems reported with drives that don't remount automatically after sleep, and that's with various brands.
Exactly. So I'm looking for one that I know remounts after sleep or after restarting. Because remounting the thing is a pain. Thats a reason I may lean towards a time capsule. Because that has to remount. Otherwise they would fix it quick
And in my view, one that you can keep intact!
First, the "all in one" that you have actually has four functions -- modem (your Internet connection to the world), router (sets up a local area network, LAN, and does Network Address Translation, NAT, between the outside world and your LAN), Ethernet switch to allow multiple hard-wired connections to your LAN, and a WiFi wireless access point. It may also have a USB port for connecting a hard drive as a NAS (Network Attached Storage). Typically any of these functions can be disabled if you don't need them -- the only one you absolutely need is the modem function.
Wow I think I got all that. Thanks for the detailed explanation. I'm going to have to read that a couple more times I think.
Looking ahead to the possibility that you won't find a drive you like and thus might get a Time Capsule to use with your all-in-one modem/router -- if you haven't fooled with changing the settings on an all-in-one, you should post the brand and model here and one or more of us can help you with the process. It can be truly bewildering (but sometimes not).
My only system that has externals always connected never sleeps (it is a server), however I would be surprised if the drives sold by Other World Computing (macsales.com) had this problem. Give them a call. I own seven of these http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB, most 3-5 years old, and they work fine.
You don't need multiple partitions if you use the Server app to create a TimeMachine server. It will create multiple sparse disk images on a single partition.
A WiFi external hard drive is actually a NAS (network attached storage) rather than a drive that is physically attached to a single computer. You would have to be sure that it supports TimeMachine. And it effectively unmounts whenever network connection is lost. The Time Capsule is a NAS + a router + a wireless access point, so would naturally cost more.
lol I hear and agree. I'm googling for while here. Looking on amazon and etc.. The only reason I like the idea of a wireless one is all the data would be acces able from anywhere in my network. I like that idea. Is there any other way to do that with a hard wired drive? Thanks for all your help by the way!
Easy. Attach it to a Mac that is always turned on. On that Mac, System Preferences -> Sharing -> Turn on "File Sharing", then under "Shared Folders" click the + Button and select the external hard drive.
In my previous post "Avoid drives with "Backup" in the name". There is the Seagate Extension drive which is cheaper and doesn't come with rubbish software. Someone else posted here quite recently with massive problems because the software on the "Backup" interfered with Time Machine.
Accessible anywhere, but from what? AFAIK it wouldn't be from you iPad or iPhone. That just leaves one device, your iMac. The external drive would be accessible from that.
I am not sure that is true any more. Well maybe it is. But I get better speedtest.net results connecting via a Time Capsule that is hard wired to a Verizon cable modem/router vs WiFiing up to the Verizon router direct. Maybe it is just a tired Verizon box.
I'm more than slightly concerned about the possibility of someone breaking in and stealing all the computer equipment they can find including my backup drive. We have a MB, a MB Pro and a Mac Mini and travel between two apartements in two different cities. A TC in both cities would minimize this fear. Better still if the backup (TC or otherwise) were hidden to some extent and not wired to a computer. I've currently got a USB 2TB drive connected to the Mini and a TC in the other appartment. My MB backs up just fine wirelessly through the network to the drive connected to the Mini. I can't think of anything more valuable to me than my data. Most physical things can be replaced.
I suppose I should say YMMV since it depends on your existing router and you connection speed. I just measured a file transfer from one Mac (connected via Wifi to an older AirPort Extreme 802.11n, to a hardwired Mac -- 740.2MB in 77 seconds which works out to 77 Mbps. My ISP is 25/25 Mbps, which I have verified, so in my case the old WiFi speed is 3x my ISP speed. I also see this in practice -- if I connect my MBP via Ethernet cable it doesn't seem to browse any faster than over WiFi, however transferring files locally is much faster when wired -- I can transfer that same file in 15 seconds.
