Pimping my Time Machine
April 2, 2008 |
Back in October, upon the release of Apple’s OS X 10.5 Leopard, I started backing up my computer regularly for the first time in my life thanks to Apple’s Time Machine feature. Of course I was only backing up my iMac and figuring that since I sync my MacBook and iMac, the MacBook was being backed up through the iMac. Makes sense right? A few things have happened to change this view.
- Apple released the Time Capsule which made me realize that I should be backing up the MacBook. Laptops need loving too.
- The 120 GB external drive I used for my iMac’s Time Machine filled to capacity thanks to reimporting all of my CDs in Lossless format.
- Apple updated the AirPort Extreme firmware as well as the Time Machine software to allow backing up to AirPort Disks (external hard drives connected to AirPort Extreme base-stations).
So, a few hundred dollars and two boxes from NewEgg later, my hardcore backup system is now in place. It consists of a 750 GB Western Digital MyBook Studio hard drive connected to a Belkin USB hub which is connected to the AirPort Extreme. Oddly, Time Machine wouldn’t recognize the MyBook despite having the folder open in Finder. I don’t know why, but once I created a new folder on the MyBook drive Time Machine instantly acknowledged the drive and was ready to play nice.
Right now the iMac’s 99 GB initial backup is being beamed through the system to the MyBook where it will sit in case I ever need it. Once it’s done (it’s been going for a good couple hours) I’ll fire up the MacBook and do the same thing, which will probably continue all night long. Now, should something catastrophic happen, I should be good to go.