Shutdown with time machine

[Techcomm]

Just wondering the proper procedure for disconnecting the time machine drive when unplugging and moving my MacBook Pro.
Can I just shut down the mac and then disconnect the cables and re connect them later or should I eject the time machine drive first?
If I eject the drive will it automatically recognize it as the time machine drive when re-connected?
Thanks everyone for your help in these forums. Your time is really appreciated.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Eject the drive first. If you don't and put your Mac to sleep disconnecting the drive then will wake up your Mac and give you an error. If you shut it down you can disconnect them when it's off without issue as they won't mount when you boot it back up.

TM is made to be plugged and unplugged. It'll remember.

 

[rkaufmann87]

Eject the drive first. If you don't and put your Mac to sleep disconnecting the drive then will wake up your Mac and give you an error. If you shut it down you can disconnect them when it's off without issue as they won't mount when you boot it back up.

TM is made to be plugged and unplugged. It'll remember.

It certainly a good idea to eject TM before shutting down but it's not necessary. Part of the shut down process of OS X is to dismount the drives therefore it's fine to shutdown and unplug your EHD.