MAC backup software

ron_rockron_rock
Posted:
in Mac Software edited January 2014
I'd like to back up my wife's MacBook, and I have a 2TB NAS on my home network. I was hoping to use Time Machine, but it seems to require the use of AirPort Express or Time Capsule. Assuming I cannot use Time Machine, does anyone have any advice on a good back up too. My budget is in the $50 range, and if possible, I'd like archiving capability like Time Machine.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    kingofsomewherehotkingofsomewherehot Posts: 4,180member
    No, Time Machine will work with any device that OSX sees as a mounted drive.
  • Reply 2 of 10
    rokcet scientistrokcet scientist Posts: 962member
    Like King says: if your wife's MacBook and your external HD(s) are on the same network you can use Time Machine to back up the MacBook.



    If your wife's MacBook is not on that network you can simply connect the MacBook to your external HD(s) through a cable. eSATA is fastest, Firewire is next fastest, USB800 is next fastest after that, USB400 is slowest. When the external HD shows up ('mounts') on the MacBook's desktop you can back up the MacBook on that external HD with Time Machine.



    If your wife's MacBook is not used for work you (she) may not need Time Machine's frequent incremental backups. Connecting and backing up once a week may be sufficient.



    Dependent on the amount of data on the MacBook (and the transfer speed) the first, complete, backup may take hours. The incremental backups later on will take only minutes per.
  • Reply 3 of 10
    ron_rockron_rock Posts: 3member
    Thank you both so much for your feedback. Her laptop is definitely on the same network as the NAS. I've actually copied files back and forth to it. I guess what's throwing me off is when I try to invoke the Time Machine app., a pop window opens and says 'can't find Apple wireless devices'. I just assumed it required AirPort Express but it sounds like I can somehow skip this window and utilize the NAS drive.
  • Reply 4 of 10
    tontontonton Posts: 14,067
    Contrary to what's posted above...



    No, you can not (natively) use a network drive for Time Machine. You can use any local USB or Firewire drive, or a Time Capsule, or a drive connected via USB to the Airport Express.



    You can, however, HACK your machine to use a network drive for Time Machine.



    I took a look and it's a simple procedure for the tech savvy, but probably too much of a pain for anyone unfamiliar with Terminal.app and such.
  • Reply 5 of 10
    kingofsomewherehotkingofsomewherehot Posts: 4,180member
    hmm... see I back up my PowerBook using Time Machine... and the ext HDD I use is attached to another iMac (on the network.) It's not connected to an Airport, just to another Mac on the same wireless network.

    So it doesn't have to be attached to an Airport... but... perhaps is does have to be attached through Apple Hardware??? ....



    I'm gonna have to bring a NAS home just to try it
  • Reply 6 of 10
    tontontonton Posts: 14,067
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post


    hmm... see I back up my PowerBook using Time Machine... and the ext HDD I use is attached to another iMac (on the network.) It's not connected to an Airport, just to another Mac on the same wireless network.

    So it doesn't have to be attached to an Airport... but... perhaps is does have to be attached through Apple Hardware??? ....



    I'm gonna have to bring a NAS home just to try it



    So I guess I'm wrong... maybe that's it... it has to be connected by USB or Firewire through Apple hardware? My Thecus NAS certainly doesn't work, and looking online I found the information that led me to the above conclusion.
  • Reply 7 of 10
    kishankishan Posts: 732member
    There are number of apps that allow you to backup the contents of a Mac Notebook to a NAS. Two I've tried are SuperDuper ($28) and ChronoSync ($40). Both work well and have many features that Time Machine does not.



    Alternatively, you could try online backup. Carbonite ($55/year) seems to be a rather popular service, but there are others.
  • Reply 8 of 10
    rokcet scientistrokcet scientist Posts: 962member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kishan View Post


    Alternatively, you could try online backup. Carbonite ($55/year) seems to be a rather popular service, but there are others.



    Online backup is not an option if a whole HD needs to be backed up: 200GB would take well over a month of uninterrupted 24/7 backing up (and how likely is over a month of uninterrupted 24/7 backing up...?). And that's only the initial backup. Incrementals would take a full 24 hours each, on average...
  • Reply 9 of 10
    ron_rockron_rock Posts: 3member
    Well, I actually did find this link http://imulus.com/blog/george/softwa...-of-a-network/) that gives a pretty good procedure to utilize Time Machine with a NAS drive. I have not been able to get it working yet, but I haven't had a lot of time to fiddle with it. I'm going to put a little more time in, but if I can't get it working, I'm going to take your advice with the 3rd party backup software you suggest. Thank you very much.
  • Reply 10 of 10
    tdg911tdg911 Posts: 7member
    Use tar/gzip and rsync along with a cron job All for free.
Sign In or Register to comment.