Time Machine: Can it be set to only backup a USB drive?

[dmk1974]

I have a new Mac Mini that I set up as my home's main computer and media/file server. I upgraded the RAM to 16 GB and installed a 240 GB SSD drive internally. For the media files, I attached a 1 TB USB 3.0 drive.

Because I also want redundant backups of that attached USB drive, I was wondering if there's a way to set up Time Machine to ONLY backup that USB media drive to either my Time Capsule or another USB drive that I can connect every week or so. I didn't find that option (only a way to exclude my USB media drive). Or do I need some other cloning/backup software to do what I am wanting? Thanks!

 

[benwiggy]

I think you want some other software. TM is good at what it does, but it is not really configurable.

Something like Chronosync would work very well.

 

[AQUADock]

Yes you can, go into time machine settings and in options exclude all drives except your USB drive.

 

[dmk1974]

Yes you can, go into time machine settings and in options exclude all drives except your USB drive.

Thanks. On mine I didn't see a way to exclude my boot/OS drive. I'll dig around and check again.

 

[AQUADock]

Thanks. On mine I didn't see a way to exclude my boot/OS drive. I'll dig around and check again.

It should be on the sidebar under Devices.

 

[dmk1974]

It should be on the sidebar under Devices.

Ok, I see now. It wasn't automatically in the list like the USB drive originally was, I had to click the + and then pick from the finder list.

However, and I wasn't very clear at the start, I'd like to still have one TM backup that is just the boot/OS drive and then another separate TM backup that is just the USB media drive. Is there a way to set two separate TM backup operations from the same Mac?

 

[AQUADock]

Ok, I see now. It wasn't automatically in the list like the USB drive originally was, I had to click the + and then pick from the finder list.

However, and I wasn't very clear at the start, I'd like to still have one TM backup that is just the boot/OS drive and then another separate TM backup that is just the USB media drive. Is there a way to set two separate TM backup operations from the same Mac?

As far as know thats not possible, TM can only keep 1 backup at a time.

 

[dmk1974]

As far as know thats not possible, TM can only keep 1 backup at a time.

Thanks. Time Machine has always been great when I have had to backup and restore my main drive. Looks like I may have to incorporate Chronosync or Carbon Copy Cloner to add backups/synchronization specific to the attached USB drive. Both appear to be $40 and somewhat similar.

 

[dmk1974]

I am trying out Carbon Copy Cloner. Seems to be doing exactly what I wanted it to as a complement to Time Machine.