Two instances of Time Machine for different backup sets?

[gogreen1]

How do I create two separate instances of Time Machine on the same iMac so that one is a full backup on one external HD and another instance backs up a smaller set of different files on a different external hard drive? Both HDs would be connected to the iMac at the same time.

 

[Weaselboy]

How do I create two separate instances of Time Machine on the same iMac so that one is a full backup on one external HD and another instance backs up a smaller set of different files on a different external hard drive? Both HDs would be connected to the iMac at the same time.

You can't. TM can backup to two drives, but they will both be the same backup set. There is no way to have two, separate settings as far as what gets backed up.

 

[gogreen1]

Well, thanks, Weaselboy. I left feedback for Apple on this enhancement.

 

[Gregg2]

Are you just backing up files? I copy my most important files to the iCloud Drive and to a flash drive, AND they are included in my Time Machine backup.

 

[gogreen1]

Are you just backing up files? I copy my most important files to the iCloud Drive and to a flash drive, AND they are included in my Time Machine backup.

Yes. Just backing up files. After the new year I'll be moving from a Windows desktop PC and a Windows laptop to an iMac and a MacBook Air, so I'm just organizing all this now, including my backup scheme.

My current thinking is to have 1) full bootable clone image on an external hard drive; 2) important files backed up on iCloud (my Documents, Pictures, and Music folders, subfolders, and files; and 3) my most current project files saved to Dropbox.

Is this plan adequate?

Part 1 can be done with Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, right? Any recommendations here?

What's the best way to back up files to iCloud?

Thanks.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"Part 1 can be done with Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, right? Any recommendations here"

Yes, but you need to use either CCC or SuperDuper (TM can't do it -- this is edited thanks to Bruno's remark below, thank you Bruno!)
I recommend CCC. It's free to download and try for 30 days.

 

[Bruno09]

OP wrote:
"Part 1 can be done with Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, right? Any recommendations here"

I would rather say NO : a Time Machine backup is NOT a "full bootable clone".

CCC does a "full bootable clone".

 

[Gregg2]

Yes. Just backing up files. After the new year I'll be moving from a Windows desktop PC and a Windows laptop to an iMac and a MacBook Air, so I'm just organizing all this now, including my backup scheme.

My current thinking is to have 1) full bootable clone image on an external hard drive; 2) important files backed up on iCloud (my Documents, Pictures, and Music folders, subfolders, and files; and 3) my most current project files saved to Dropbox.

Is this plan adequate?

Part 1 can be done with Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, right? Any recommendations here?

What's the best way to back up files to iCloud?

Thanks.

That seems like sufficient adequate enough redundancy.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I do basically what the OP is describing with CCC. No complaints.

 

[gogreen1]

I'm flying blind here because I don't yet have a Mac. Still, can CCC back up to iCloud drive?

 

[Bart Kela]

Why don't you wait until you acquire your Mac. Unless you are subject to a strict timetable to leave the Windows environment, I don't see why you can't have a couple months of overlap between the two.

You were not explicitly clear that you don't have a Mac and you are awaiting one in previous threads.

You asked many vague questions about vague situations and it turns out that none of them are real or actual.

I wish I had known this because I would have bowed out of all of these.

It is time for me to step aside, let others answer whatever questions you have for the time being (before your actual Mac acquisition).

Best of luck.

 

[Weaselboy]

I'm flying blind here because I don't yet have a Mac. Still, can CCC back up to iCloud drive?

No it can't. iCloud drive is actually just a folder on your Mac that gets synced up to the iCloud servers. There is no way for CCC to directly push data up to those servers.

 

[gogreen1]

No it can't. iCloud drive is actually just a folder on your Mac that gets synced up to the iCloud servers. There is no way for CCC to directly push data up to those servers.

OK, Thanks, Weaselboy.

 

[hobowankenobi]

OK, Thanks, Weaselboy.

The other thing to consider is that backups take up space....lots of space, for versions and changes. So besides having some software that works well and you feel comfortable with, you need to decide what is the most cost effective method of cloud backup. iCloud has never been the lowest cost.

There are tons of dedicated, cross platform cloud backup solutions. Stuff like Carbonite. These are some of the most cost effective way to go.

Ultimately, we all have to decide:

1. How many layers of backup we need, and how often (risk assessment)
2. How much we expect our data set to grow over time (backup storage requirements)
3. What should be backed up to local storage (Time Machine, CCC, SuperDuper, GetBackup, etc.)
4. What should be off site storage (cloud)