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Question regarding Time Machine

CrackedButter

CrackedButter

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 15, 2003
3,221
0
51st State of America
Does anybody here use 2 hard drives at the same time to make Time Machine backups? Say for example daisy chaining 2 firewire drives but not so they back each other up, but backing up the main drive on say the laptop?

Does anybody have this setup or know if it can be done or do you just have 2 Time Machine drives that need to be regularly swapped in order to do the job?
 
If I'm not mistaken, you'd need two hard drives set up in a RAID 1 configuration to achieve what you're looking for. Time Machine can only back up to one target disk at a time, so you'll be looking at switching between the two for every backup you do. A RAID 1 setup will do that automatically since they'll be seen as one drive by TM, yet contain identical information on both drives.
 
Okay that sounds great thanks. But what it still be effective if both disks are different sizes? I have a 320GB now and want to buy a 500GB drive. Of course one will fill up faster than the other. What happens then?
 
From what I've read in forums, it seems that it's fine but you will be limited to the smaller size. So you'll only have 320 GB total and you won't be able to use the rest of the 500 GB drive.
 
skorpien said:
From what I've read in forums, it seems that it's fine but you will be limited to the smaller size. So you'll only have 320 GB total and you won't be able to use the rest of the 500 GB drive.
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I have done this before at my work. The best way, if not the only way (not sure), is to set it up with a RAID configuration and Time Machine will recognize the one drive. It is very easy to do. Just use Disk Utility to set up the RAID and Time Machine will recognize it.
 
This is all very educational and quite sad as I need the extra capacity of the larger drive, methinks I'm going to have to buy 2 of them to be totally safe with my data. Thanks again.
 
CrackedButter said:
This is all very educational and quite sad as I need the extra capacity of the larger drive, methinks I'm going to have to buy 2 of them to be totally safe with my data. Thanks again.
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Honestly, a 500GB drive dedicated to Time Machine should be plenty and will last you a while, assuming your Macs HDD (or SSD?) is a reasonable size. You should be fine!! :)
 
Slowstick said:
Honestly, a 500GB drive dedicated to Time Machine should be plenty and will last you a while, assuming your Macs HDD (or SSD?) is a reasonable size. You should be fine!! :)
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I think he is more concerned with duplicity. If I understand correctly, the OP would like to have two backups in case one fails. It makes sense that it would be limited to the smaller of the drives since if you exceed the 320GB, the smaller drive won't be able to store additional data. I agree that your best bet's getting the two 500GB. You can keep the 320GB in an enclosure and use for mobile storage or something.
 
skorpien said:
I think he is more concerned with duplicity. If I understand correctly, the OP would like to have two backups in case one fails. It makes sense that it would be limited to the smaller of the drives since if you exceed the 320GB, the smaller drive won't be able to store additional data. I agree that your best bet's getting the two 500GB. You can keep the 320GB in an enclosure and use for mobile storage or something.
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I agree, however I was just suggesting. Btw, if those are internal drives, may I suggest a NAS enclosure? It might make your life easier. With a NAS that connects via USB to your Mac (for Time Machine) will give you a lot more features and options in regard to connectivity and overall drive setup options.
 
Slowstick said:
I agree, however I was just suggesting. Btw, if those are internal drives, may I suggest a NAS enclosure? It might make your life easier. With a NAS that connects via USB to your Mac (for Time Machine) will give you a lot more features and options in regard to connectivity and overall drive setup options.
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The thing is I like to be hard to myself. I don't want multiple cables running from my laptop. At the moment all I have is a Freecom ToughDrive as my TM, it runs solely off the firewire port. Daisy chaining them would be great for me and now I have a better understanding of what I need to do, I can buy 2, 2.5" 500GB drives, stuff them into Macally enclosures and run both my backups off that 1 cable.

I know its easier to buy a Drobo or any other type of NAS enclosure but I just don't have the space for such a device where I live. Thanks again.
 
CrackedButter said:
The thing is I like to be hard to myself. I don't want multiple cables running from my laptop. At the moment all I have is a Freecom ToughDrive as my TM, it runs solely off the firewire port. Daisy chaining them would be great for me and now I have a better understanding of what I need to do, I can buy 2, 2.5" 500GB drives, stuff them into Macally enclosures and run both my backups off that 1 cable.

I know its easier to buy a Drobo or any other type of NAS enclosure but I just don't have the space for such a device where I live. Thanks again.
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No problem and good luck!!!:D:D
 
For those interested, I've got the first 500GB drive and there is a picture of the Macally enclosure on my blog. I have 2 drives totaling 820GB's running off 1 FW400 cable, yum!
 
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