Good to know, thanks for that. So if I want to back up 2 Macs using Time Machine to the same external drive, I don't even require 2 separate partitions, just adequate space on one partition - even better!
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Time Machine FAQ
- Thread starter atszyman
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Good to know, thanks for that. So if I want to back up 2 Macs using Time Machine to the same external drive, I don't even require 2 separate partitions, just adequate space on one partition - even better!
For two macs, I can't say for sure. It creates a folder called like Backup.backups in the volume of your choice, but I'm not sure if this file would conflict with an already-existing one or if it would create a new one. If you're trying to backup two macs to the same partition, it might indeed require two partitions.
For two macs, I can't say for sure. It creates a folder called like Backup.backups in the volume of your choice, but I'm not sure if this file would conflict with an already-existing one or if it would create a new one. If you're trying to backup two macs to the same partition, it might indeed require two partitions.
Ah, gotcha, that makes sense. No worries, 2 partitions it is then!
For two macs, I can't say for sure. It creates a folder called like Backup.backups in the volume of your choice, but I'm not sure if this file would conflict with an already-existing one or if it would create a new one. If you're trying to backup two macs to the same partition, it might indeed require two partitions.
It does place all backups in that "Backup.backups" folder, but it also sorts backups by computer name. In other words, /<BackupVolume>/Backup.backups/<ComputerName>/" and all the backup data goes in there. I haven't tested it, but it seems like Time Machine is setup to use a single partition for multiple backups. Could be wrong, someone will have to try it.
Quick question about restoring a Time Machine backup - for anyone who knows about the beta!
What I've seen is that the Leopard installer will have the option for you to return to a Time Machine backup (hurrah!) - what I've also seen though is the option to 'ignore system files' when using Time Machine within Leopard. Would this disable the ability to actually return to this Time Machine backup from setup, or would setup simply pull these files from the DVD where required on installation?
Also - when Time Machine makes these constant backups (hourly or whatever) are these all 'returnable to' points? Or do you have set points (daily/weekly?) that are returnable to?
Sorry to ask - just intrigued about this feature, I use SuperDuper at the moment but having the automation of Time Machine would be fantastic if it meant I could return to a set point like I can with SuperDuper!
-Leemo
What I've seen is that the Leopard installer will have the option for you to return to a Time Machine backup (hurrah!) - what I've also seen though is the option to 'ignore system files' when using Time Machine within Leopard. Would this disable the ability to actually return to this Time Machine backup from setup, or would setup simply pull these files from the DVD where required on installation?
Also - when Time Machine makes these constant backups (hourly or whatever) are these all 'returnable to' points? Or do you have set points (daily/weekly?) that are returnable to?
Sorry to ask - just intrigued about this feature, I use SuperDuper at the moment but having the automation of Time Machine would be fantastic if it meant I could return to a set point like I can with SuperDuper!
-Leemo
No clue.
Every backup is 'complete'. Every backup has enough information to completely restore /all/ files that were present at the time the backup was made, even though the backups are made incrementally. It uses some nice symlink/hard link tricks to make every incremental backups behave like full ones, without wasting all the space of a full backup.
So you can restore using pretty much any point in time...
As for another question about multiple backups on the same partition... it seems to work.
In response to 16a, Apple states that there will be an option to encrypt your Time Machine backup: http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/features/timemachine.html
They also say you can use a drive connected to Airport Extreme to back up multiple computers wirelessly.
They also say you can use a drive connected to Airport Extreme to back up multiple computers wirelessly.
Yes, there will be an option to encrypt your backup data. The way I've seen it done so far is with a Sparse disk image sitting on the backup drive; its mounted, and the backup data goes in there.
Time Machine is a full backup of your data on the machine, which can also include system files if the user chooses. It isn't comparable to System Restore because it does more and is not the same in principle or execution, but (I suppose) it could be used for the same purpose as System Restore if the user planned to do so.
macbook
Will time machine be smart enough to wake up a sleeping macbook to back up? Or will I have to change the backup time to something earlier in order for it to work. I really don't want to be working on my computer when this happen while I am working in case it requires a lot of resources, which I imagine it would because, much the same spotlight requires a lot of resources when it is indexing. Will leopard make the macbooks 'light' sleepers?
Will time machine be smart enough to wake up a sleeping macbook to back up? Or will I have to change the backup time to something earlier in order for it to work. I really don't want to be working on my computer when this happen while I am working in case it requires a lot of resources, which I imagine it would because, much the same spotlight requires a lot of resources when it is indexing. Will leopard make the macbooks 'light' sleepers?
Agreed, it seems to be System Restore + Previous Versions + Backup all in one tool.
tuffluffjimmy said:
You can't set the backup time. After the initial backup, it is all incrementally done, so unless you are doing a lot of video work, it won't take a lot of time to backup.
What size of an external drive would I need to buy? I currently have about 40GB now, and if I upgrade to a larger drive, that might get up to around 100GB.
Right now, I have a 160GB just sitting around that I was thinking of buying an enclosure for to use for Time Machine. Would this be enough, or should I just wait and get one of those 300/500GB monsters?
Right now, I have a 160GB just sitting around that I was thinking of buying an enclosure for to use for Time Machine. Would this be enough, or should I just wait and get one of those 300/500GB monsters?
Can files be recovered without the main system?
Hi all, apologies if this is a beginner's question... what happens if (knock on wood) my MacBook is destroyed/stolen. Would I be able to recover files that were saved to an external hard drive via Time Machine using a different computer?
e.g. If I had my PhD thesis on my external (back up) hard drive, but it's saved via Time Machine, would I be able to access this file if I plugged in someone else's Mac to my back up drive, or do I need to have the SAME Mac that originally saved the files?
Cheers,
Henry
Hi all, apologies if this is a beginner's question... what happens if (knock on wood) my MacBook is destroyed/stolen. Would I be able to recover files that were saved to an external hard drive via Time Machine using a different computer?
e.g. If I had my PhD thesis on my external (back up) hard drive, but it's saved via Time Machine, would I be able to access this file if I plugged in someone else's Mac to my back up drive, or do I need to have the SAME Mac that originally saved the files?
Cheers,
Henry
Good question, I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to this as well.
Further to this, has it been explained yet whether Time Machine only backs up your files, or does it act as a complete system backup as well? Along the lines of Henry's example above, what if my Mac's HDD dies? Will I be able to fully restore my complete system to a new HDD/new machine, or only my personal files? Just wondering if I will still need a utility like SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner in addition to Time Machine...
Yes, when you stick in the install disc there is a option to restore from a previous Time Machine back up.So if your hard drive or something dies you can go back to exactly as it was last back up.(If you can access files from another computer I don't know although I'll try when I get a chance)
Good to know, thanks. I thought this would be the case, but you never know.
Sounds like Time Machine will be able to handle all my back-up needs then, excellent...
It's great as far as I can see,it backs up hourly for the last 24 hrs then keeps daily backups for a month then weekly back ups 'til you run out of space,I'm assuming it'll give you the option to delete the oldest back ups when that happens.I'm one of those people who knows it's best to back up regularly and has SuperDuper to do it but it's too much hassle.
You're mostly right, it keeps hourly for 24 hours, then daily for a week, then weekly for a month, than monthly until you run out of space. (this info is from the new screen shots of the latest build... and no im not a developer)
It's great as far as I can see,it backs up hourly for the last 24 hrs then keeps daily backups for a month then weekly back ups 'til you run out of space,I'm assuming it'll give you the option to delete the oldest back ups when that happens.I'm one of those people who knows it's best to back up regularly and has SuperDuper to do it but it's too much hassle.
Apologies if this has been addressed before, but can you limit how much space Time Machine will take up? The reason I ask is due to your comment, "...then weekly back ups 'til you run out of space".
What I'm getting at is that if I want to set aside, let's say, only 200 GB of a 500 GB external drive for Time Machine to backup my Mac, can I do that, or will it slowly fill up the entire external drive? Or is the solution to this to partition the drive, so it can only max out the partition?
O.K. I tried this and if you have a dedicated partition yes you can access all your files from another Mac. I don't know if you have it using space with other stuff on a partition as it creates a sparse bundle,presumably if you can mount a image you can access the files.(assuming you haven't encrypted it and have administrator status etc)
Shard,on a shared partition I think it will just grow until it uses up all the space unless you delete manually so a separate partition wold be the way to go.
One thing I'm still not clear on with this; will MacBook/MacBook Pro owners be able to take full advantage of time machine? It seems like most of the scenarios I've read with Time Machine assume having some sort of external storage device available to write backups too, but I can think of plenty of scenarios where I'd be on my MacBook or MacBook Pro for significant periods of time without being able to hook up to an external drive. But I'd still love the TM functionality of going "back in time" to be able to find earlier versions of documents, etc.
I'm just not quite sure how one would best take advantage of this functionality with a portable Mac that doesn't regularly have an external hard drive available.
I'm just not quite sure how one would best take advantage of this functionality with a portable Mac that doesn't regularly have an external hard drive available.
Well, at home, you could have a network drive to do full backups on. All you'd really have to do is leave your MacBook in the house. Away from home, it might create a small partition to backup small amounts of data changes to, such as erasing a contact, or something like that. I guess time will tell.