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Set Up Second Time Capsule for Mac Mini

Gary, I’d like your view of setting up a second (separate) Time Capsule for a new Mac Mini. I have a Time Capsule now and use it for my MacBook Pro. Soon, I will be getting a Mac Mini as part of my setup and will want to set it up with Time Machine. I have no problem buying a second Time Capsule to use With the mini. Do you have thoughts on whether this is a good or bad idea?
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Mike wheless

Comments: 5 Responses to “Set Up Second Time Capsule for Mac Mini”

    12 years ago

    Why not just get an external USB drive to back the Mac mini up to?
    Doing it over wifi would be difficult (configuring two separate networks, possibly) and the data transfer speed over wifi is much much slower than using USB.
    Plus, the expense. Much cheaper to just get an external USB drive for $100 or so.
    Time Capsule makes sense for a MacBook, as you don't need to remember to plug it in to the USB drive on a daily or hourly basis. But for an iMac or Mac mini, just use an external drive.

    Michael Wheless
    12 years ago

    Thanks for the cost-saving suggestion. The convenience of the Time Capsule is what I was thinking of. I failed to take into account the wifi use. Works fine with the MacBook. With the mini it is just as easy, as it will be set aside and takes up so little space.

    Jim Fassino
    12 years ago

    Will Time Machine work with the USB drive like it does with Time Capsule? I want to do the same thing with my iMac, my MacBook Pro backs up to my Time Capsule.

    Thanks

      12 years ago

      Yes. In fact it was designed for USB drives originally. It worked with them before Time Capsules existed.

    Dave
    12 years ago

    Gary, once again, gives good advice. An external USB (.5-1TB) drive works seamlessly with Time Machine. WiFi is for wifi. Not for backing up gigabytes of data. Just click "backup now" tab, and have a cup of tea while "it" does what it's supposed to.

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