Time Machine backup frequency

[Eric S.]

I back up manually approximately once a week. Mostly my data is changing on my laptops, which are not constantly connected to the TM volume.

 

[prss14]

I apologize to Dangerfish for not detailing my exact usage so that he will not fear for my safety. Thanks for the concern, though. What I found when streaming HD movies from iTunes to my Apple TV the TM backups would kick in and there would be a jump in the movie. There were also times when TM would just make streaming youtube videos take longer. When I am just watching a movie for wasting time on the internet I don't need the extra backup. I now have no problems with this anymore.

Regarding the seatbelt and worrying about wearing it out. I have yet to own or ride in a car, regardless of age where the seatbelt didn't work due to overuse. However, there has been concern (some unwarrantedly extreme in my opinion, but concern) about TC dying after only 18 months or so. I did some research and found that is seems the poor ventilation and heat buildup is what is causing the TC failures. Some people perform some major surgery on their TC with great success in reducing the temps. I just took the bottom pad off and put a usb fan underneath so my warranty won't be gone just in case. I can tell you that now even when performing backups now the temps is much cooler than before.

As hourly backups create a lot more writes and consequently increased heat. I figured I could handle hitting the backup now on my own. If I lose something it won't be Apple's fault it will be mine. Many people can't remember to do this. I am not one of those people. When I purchase a new album on iTunes I hit backup now as soon as the download is complete. You don't sound like one of those people. That is ok. The TM software works perfectly for you then. It also works perfectly for me as well.

Anyway, I love my TC and TM.

 

[AdamA9]

Mine is constant. I have a Time Capsule and my current state is always up to date and backed up. Any changes I make and they're saved to the TC. It's interested when I download something, I see the TC updating to save it 🙂

How do you go about making it backup constantly? I can't find a setting for that.

The second response does not make sense with the first one. Adama9 says he downloads a file and it immediately backs it up. You are saying it's configured for it. As I understand it, it only backs up hourly, not constantly.

I have 3 macs with 3 external hard drives, and they all backup hourly. I was trying to figure out if there is a way to do them more frequently. AdamA9 says so. Is he wrong?

I must apologise for the mis-information. I checked this, and it appears I'm on hourly back-ups. It must have been coincidence that when ever I was downloading or changing something, the back-up started. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Le Big Mac]

That is good to know because our iMac has a lot of down time when we are at work so it will be in sleep mode and not really requiring any backups. That is enough for me to change back to the factory settings.

On the other hand it's rather frustrating using Time Machine Editor, which I have scheduled to perform backups in the middle of the night, because it means that the backup isn't performed until I get on my computer in the morning.

 

[deboni]

Time Machine could be improved

I like Time Machine, and use it on my Time Capsule and also on external drives, for different machines. It's a good baseline part of a more comprehensive backup strategy. However, I know a couple ways in which it could be improved - made "smarter".

First, I've seen Time Machine on an older machines (i.e., an iMac G5) slow the machine down a lot during backups. This makes me think that the backup process could be "niced", to reduce its impact, perhaps dynamically, based on what else is happening on the machine, at the time.

And second, every time a machine is woken up from an overnight sleep state, TM starts to back up immediately, because it's been longer than the critical time interval since the last backup. This could be prevented if the most recent backup were done "close" to the time the system was put to sleep.

Others likely could suggest other improvements...

Tom

 

[dangerfish]

I apologize to Dangerfish for not detailing my exact usage so that he will not fear for my safety. Thanks for the concern, though.

While I do care about your safety🙂, I am sorry my overt over exaggeration comparing backing up to wearing a seatbelt was not obvious enough. It certainly wasnt meant to be taken literally. But I am glad your backup solution works for you. There certainly isnt anything wrong with wanting to have control over when your backups occur. But for those who are curious, the TC works very well as it was intended to as a set it and forget it backup solution. Mine has been running for a couple of years without a problem.

 

[talmy]

On the other hand it's rather frustrating using Time Machine Editor, which I have scheduled to perform backups in the middle of the night, because it means that the backup isn't performed until I get on my computer in the morning.

You can configure your Mac to wake up shortly before the scheduled time.

First, I've seen Time Machine on an older machines (i.e., an iMac G5) slow the machine down a lot during backups.

Apple improved the performance of TimeMachine a lot with Snow Leopard. Unfortunately it doesn't work on a G5. 🙁

And second, every time a machine is woken up from an overnight sleep state, TM starts to back up immediately, because it's been longer than the critical time interval since the last backup.

Configure your Mac to wake up shortly before you do!

This is done from System Preferences, Energy Saver, Schedule...

 

[MadCow42]

I was curious to what frequency you are using Time Machine to run it's backups? I am asking I guess with the use of the editors for Time Machine. Once an hour seems excessive to me and was thinking more like once a day.

I agree with this... once an hour seems to be too often, especially if the backup process hinders machine performance while its running.

I used to find that an issue when I had a drive hooked up by USB for backup. Strangely, by converting to a SLOWER drive setup, it seems to have solved the problem. I assume that the system is speed-limited by how fast it can write to the backup drive. If you make that slower, the backup process is less system-intensive (albeit for a longer duration).

My setup? Move the drive to be attached to my Airport Extreme in the basement instead. Cooler, quieter, and as close to an "off-site" backup as I can get at home. 🙂

Still - I'd like to change the backup frequency to daily at 3am... but there doesn't seem to be a pref for that.

MadCow.