Alternatives to Time Machine, Need Backup Solution for Emails Only.

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Scott_RatnerScott_Ratner
Posted:
in Mac Software
Hello, My name is Scott and I own a small business of developing software for multiple platforms. We all here work on Mac and are concerned with one major problem and that is Time Machine Backup. Time Machine backs up the entire map database that is available. We have a huge amount of emails coming in as we also run support for our software. So what I basically have in mind is that if we could set Time Machine to backup only our emails and not the other stuff. Secondly, if that is not possible then what are the other alternatives for Time Machine backup available? We all here use Apple Mail as the primary email client for the exchange of emails.

Kindly let me know all the possible solutions. Thanks

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    kingofsomewherehotkingofsomewherehot Posts: 4,185member
    I believe Time machine will allow you to choose or exclude various folders on your mac from the backup process.  That would be one option.
    If you truly want a more robust app, "Carbon Copy Cloner" is an excellent backup app. (not free, but reasonably priced.)
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  • Reply 2 of 5
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,583moderator
    Hello, My name is Scott and I own a small business of developing software for multiple platforms. We all here work on Mac and are concerned with one major problem and that is Time Machine Backup. Time Machine backs up the entire map database that is available. We have a huge amount of emails coming in as we also run support for our software. So what I basically have in mind is that if we could set Time Machine to backup only our emails and not the other stuff. Secondly, if that is not possible then what are the other alternatives for Time Machine backup available? We all here use Apple Mail as the primary email client for the exchange of emails.

    Kindly let me know all the possible solutions. Thanks
    Emails are all sent and received through a server. If you have access to your email server, backing up all the emails can be done at the server level rather than on individual machines. You can check if your email server provider offers backup options.

    For individual machines, you can exclude folders from Time Machine backups:

    https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18847

    Your Mail is stored in /Users/username/Library/Mail and /Users/username/Library/Mail Downloads. Just exclude everything that's not those.

    There's 3rd party software that gives more control over what to backup like Carbon Copy Cloner ( https://bombich.com ) but you might have to buy a license for every machine and you have to setup backup schedules manually and make sure it's running.
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  • Reply 3 of 5
    Scott_Ratnerscott_ratner Posts: 2member
    Hello guys, thanks for providing your solutions. I can see that both of you have mentioned Carbon Copy Cloner. It's once again an app that backs up everything same as TIme Machine. I have to work out and exclude the folder I don't want to backup. Is there something specific to emails only as I have mentioned in the heading of this thread.

    Thanks
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  • Reply 4 of 5
    kingofsomewherehotkingofsomewherehot Posts: 4,185member
    These are one time set-ups.... once you set the program up right, it backs up only what you told it to on the preset schedule... you don't have to KEEP telling it what to do.  That's pretty much how ALL backup apps work.
    It sounds like what you really want/need is an IT guy (gal?) to manage your computer(s). ;)

    edited September 2017
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  • Reply 5 of 5
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,583moderator
    Hello guys, thanks for providing your solutions. I can see that both of you have mentioned Carbon Copy Cloner. It's once again an app that backs up everything same as TIme Machine. I have to work out and exclude the folder I don't want to backup. Is there something specific to emails only as I have mentioned in the heading of this thread.

    Thanks
    The Mail folders are the ones mentioned above so you'd just uncheck everything first using the checkbox at the top then select /Users/username/Library/Mail and /Users/username/Library/Mail Downloads. Save the backup procedure and you don't have to think about it again. CCC doesn't do version control the same way as Time Machine where you can get old copies, it just stores the latest copy but you can choose to keep the changes by turning on the SafetyNet feature and the changes will be stored in another folder.
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