You can not partition the drive. It is designed to be open to all the computers that will backup to it. Time Machine will take care of which files belong to which computer.
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Time Capsule - can you partition the drive?
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You can not partition the drive. It is designed to be open to all the computers that will backup to it. Time Machine will take care of which files belong to which computer.
OK, I thought I understood things but reading this thread has me confused. If I don't partition the drive, can I still use it for general storage (both Mac and PC)? This is implied on the website:
"Time Capsule with Time Machine in Leopard is the ideal backup solution. But that doesnt mean Tiger, Windows XP, and Windows Vista users cant enjoy the benefits of Time Capsule, too. Because it mounts as a wireless hard drive, Tiger and Windows users simply access Time Capsule directly from the wireless network for exchanging and storing files quickly and easily."
If this all works as described without partitioning, what is the main reason/impetus to want to partition?
"Time Capsule with Time Machine in Leopard is the ideal backup solution. But that doesnt mean Tiger, Windows XP, and Windows Vista users cant enjoy the benefits of Time Capsule, too. Because it mounts as a wireless hard drive, Tiger and Windows users simply access Time Capsule directly from the wireless network for exchanging and storing files quickly and easily."
If this all works as described without partitioning, what is the main reason/impetus to want to partition?
Well, if you don not partition ( assuming you could ) time machine will fill up all the drive on TC (assuming you have massive data to backup) before it starts deleting old backups and then you will end up with no space for your other files. but if you partition your space for your other files will not be touched and Time machine will be bounded by the partition, and start deleting old backups sooner
Can you limit read and write access to both TMachine backups and other directories by account? We have a guest accounts in the house and don't want people accessing the Time Capsule drive but do want to allow them to READ the music drive to be hung off of its USB port.
So it sounds like you can't partition the TC drive, which doesn't make sense to me. I wanted to use it as,well, you know - an external HD. Besides backing up my iMac, I'd like to store media on it. If I can't do that, why do I need a TC? Wireless router? Got one already. What I don't have yet is a HD to back up/store crap from my Mac.
I guess I'll be returning mine once it's received. Sigh...Apple.
Another question: can you set how often Time Machine creates a back up? I really only need to back up once a week.
I guess I'll be returning mine once it's received. Sigh...Apple.
Another question: can you set how often Time Machine creates a back up? I really only need to back up once a week.
If I'm willing to spend the money....
I'm assuming this would be an ideal way to use Time Capsule.
Hook up an external USB drive to TC for storing files to be accessed by both Mac and PC (especially interested in music for Itunes and pics for Iphoto). Use the Time Capsule internal drive for Time Machine back-up for my current MBA and my future Mac desktop.
The downside to this is the extra money, but if I'm willing to part with the cash would people think this is the ideal way to use TC or are there better alternatives?
Thanks.
I'm assuming this would be an ideal way to use Time Capsule.
Hook up an external USB drive to TC for storing files to be accessed by both Mac and PC (especially interested in music for Itunes and pics for Iphoto). Use the Time Capsule internal drive for Time Machine back-up for my current MBA and my future Mac desktop.
The downside to this is the extra money, but if I'm willing to part with the cash would people think this is the ideal way to use TC or are there better alternatives?
Thanks.
darwinian: A NAS is like a mini server to the connected Mac or PC. You can use rsync, Time Machine or whatever backup application that you like. A NAS's native disk format (HFS+, FAT32, etc.) does not matter to your Mac or PC because the computer doesn't actually access that drive directly but rather through this mini server (TC). To your backup application, it's just another volume.
Amblinman: For the same reason, you can use the TC volume to store your media files or other stuff as well. It is not exclusively for Time Machine backup. The only issue is that after a while (how long depending on how large your backup target is and how often you make changes) the TM backup files may fill up the disk. This could take a long time to happen but when it does, you may simply deleted order TM backup files to free up some space.
Amblinman: For the same reason, you can use the TC volume to store your media files or other stuff as well. It is not exclusively for Time Machine backup. The only issue is that after a while (how long depending on how large your backup target is and how often you make changes) the TM backup files may fill up the disk. This could take a long time to happen but when it does, you may simply deleted order TM backup files to free up some space.
No, you cannot directly partition the Time Capsule. This is not really its intended function.
You can store data on the TC just like any other networked volume, but eventually, given enough time, Time Machine will use all of the space available. Now, with that said, depending on what you do with your Mac that could be a very long time. On my Mac Pro, I have an internal 500GB HD dedicated to Time Machine. Its been going since Oct. 27, 2007 and there is still over 155GB of free space on the Time Machine drive.
If you already have a wireless router and just want a backup device and external HD, why did you bother to buy a Time Capsule? You could have accomplished everything with a USB or FireWire drive hanging off your iMac. You could then partition to your heart's content and share over the network the volumes you want.
As for setting Time Machine backup intervals - there is no direct way to do this (though I think there is a terminal hack); its designed for "zero-click" configuration. Turn it on and it just goes. Backs up just files that change once per hour for a week (or is it a day?), weekly backups for a month, and monthly backups for as long as space is available. Time Capsule is designed as a convenient way to handle backups for a house full of Macs. Yes, you can share other files as well, but Time Machine will eventually use all the space on the internal HD (as its designed to do). If you want to keep a dedicated media partition to share, you can connect an external USB drive to the TC.
However, for advanced file sharing/distribution, the Time Capsule is not the product you want.
True, my NAS can do scheduled downloading, uploading, even BT, which Time Capsule is not capable.
Thanks for the info.
Why did I order it? My router is over two years old and I just bought my iMac, so I was looking for an upgraded router and needed a new external HD. I thought TC would be an easy, elegant solution.
Can anyone think of any good reason Apple wouldn't want you partitioning it? I understand making this easy for the average consumer, but allowing the option if someone wants it doesn't sound as though it would be in conflict with that philosophy.
Thanks to all for the replies to my inquiry as well. My experience with FAT32 formatted volumes on OS X has not been pleasant. Normally it's not a problem, just to clarify, but the few strange problems I have encountered make me wary nonetheless. So hopefully it's not FAT32.
The appeal of NAS or NDAS is that I can access the drive without it being physically attached. The appeal of Time Capsule specifically is that presumably it will integrate nicely into the OS X way of things.
If the latter is really true, then there really ought to be no reason why Disk Utility or diskutil shouldn't be able to play with the drive. I guess I'll have to hunt (wait?) for a thorough technical review before going all in.
The appeal of NAS or NDAS is that I can access the drive without it being physically attached. The appeal of Time Capsule specifically is that presumably it will integrate nicely into the OS X way of things.
If the latter is really true, then there really ought to be no reason why Disk Utility or diskutil shouldn't be able to play with the drive. I guess I'll have to hunt (wait?) for a thorough technical review before going all in.
Yes. You can partition the drive and limit access to different sections. This is a nice feature for security.
So Can You Safely Partition the Time Capsule Drive or not?? I feel like there are conflicting responses! :-(
@prominence: The internal HD cannot be partitioned. Period. As for the external USB drive, you have to first connect it directly (via USB) to a Mac or PC and partitioned it that way before using it with TC. Partitioning cannot be done if you hook it up directly to a TC. Actually Disk Utility does not work with any hard drives through TC.
Everyone please note that Apple only officially supports one partition (according to this Airport Extreme support doc; I can't find a TC support doc on this but I assume they handle USB similarly). Based on the user reports regarding Airport Extreme, the majority of people had no problem mounting multiple partitions, but some did have trouble doing so.
Everyone please note that Apple only officially supports one partition (according to this Airport Extreme support doc; I can't find a TC support doc on this but I assume they handle USB similarly). Based on the user reports regarding Airport Extreme, the majority of people had no problem mounting multiple partitions, but some did have trouble doing so.
It seems there are some misconceptions about what TC is and isn't. Beside being a wireless station, an Ethernet hub and a print server, TC also serves as a NAS (network-attached storage). The internal drive and any USB disks that you attached to TC are shared over network to any connected Macs or PCs.
Therefore, a NAS is like a server, not a real disk that your computer can directly access. This is why Disk Utility cannot format or partition any internal or external disks of TC. Airport Utility is the only tool for you to manage those TC drives. For the same reason, you CAN share a HFS+ formated hard drive with Windows machine via TC. Why? Because all your PC sees is a network server, not a HFS+ disk.
This is how a NAS works in a minimal setup:
Mac/PC <--(network access)--> TC <--(hardware access)--> hard drive
For a more complex diagram and more detailed explanations, see Wikipedia's definition on NAS.
Therefore, a NAS is like a server, not a real disk that your computer can directly access. This is why Disk Utility cannot format or partition any internal or external disks of TC. Airport Utility is the only tool for you to manage those TC drives. For the same reason, you CAN share a HFS+ formated hard drive with Windows machine via TC. Why? Because all your PC sees is a network server, not a HFS+ disk.
This is how a NAS works in a minimal setup:
Mac/PC <--(network access)--> TC <--(hardware access)--> hard drive
For a more complex diagram and more detailed explanations, see Wikipedia's definition on NAS.
So the consensus is that you can store "other data" on the TC in addition to your TM backups. The only problem is that TM will eat up disk space and you don't have a dedicated portion (partition) of disk space for other data. Now this is my question, why is this such a big deal?
If you have say a 500GB TC and you throw on it 100GB of data (iTunes, iPhoto, misc) then TC will just use the left over 400GB for backups correct? Once it reaches the max left over (400GB) it will just start to delete older backups NOT your other data that is taking up the 100GB. If this is the case then you have your pseudo partition. Is this line of thought wrong?
If you have say a 500GB TC and you throw on it 100GB of data (iTunes, iPhoto, misc) then TC will just use the left over 400GB for backups correct? Once it reaches the max left over (400GB) it will just start to delete older backups NOT your other data that is taking up the 100GB. If this is the case then you have your pseudo partition. Is this line of thought wrong?
I second that, I don't see the point in partitioning it either, just make a folder and use that next to yo TM stuff
The big misconception I had was that you still have access to the drive for "regular" use. For some reason I thought once a drive is designated for Time Machine, Time Machine is the only thing that can access it. So, I am happy to hear that is not the case. Thanks for all the help everyone. Now, I just need to save up some money so I can go buy a TC.
That's mean that you can set some shared folder with differents permissions to different users?
I'm looking for this info to buy a TC...
No ... the USB port on the TC is a host port and so is the port on your mac. You can't connect two host ports together.
In your scenario - what happens when you want to add another song or photograph? or maybe 100 more songs or 50 more photographs. I doubt that Time machine will just give you back the space you need - I'm guessing you will see a disc full message.
Charlie
In your scenario above, is TC intelligent enought to backup the 100GB of data you just copied onto it as well as backing up all the other MACs in your network? I guess there wouldnt be much point since if there is a disk failure on the HDD in the TC then its going to screw up both your 400GB of backups and 100GB of copied ("nas") data.
I have a question about Time machine, sorry didn't want to start another thread, but can you use it with any hard drive. i mean i have an external that has a lot of data on it but i don't want to use time machine on it for my lappy becaue i'm afraid it will wipe the data that's already on there. does it do that or does it just use the free space, also if it uses the free space, can you allocate how much of that drive it can use? or does it jsut create a folder within that drive or something