2 MBP to one Time Capsule

metheone · metheone #1 (**permalink**)

02-29-2012, 09:26 AM

Hi

I have tried to search but have had no luck.

I have my MBP running off a time capsule now for a fair few years and the time capsule is 650Gb full out of 1 TB

We now have another MBP and i would like to back this up to the same time capsule.

Do i just point the backups to the time capsule.

how is space divided between the 2?

Any help appreciated!

Thanks

mrplow · mrplow #2 (**permalink**)

02-29-2012, 09:34 AM

The space is allocated dynamically as required. Just just point Time machine preferences at the Time Capsule and away you go. The only issue you may have is whether 1gb is big enough

McBie · McBie #3 (**permalink**)

02-29-2012, 11:02 AM

Each MBP will create a sparsebundle file which will be visible in the finder, so your backups are separated.
However, each MBP will eat away the available storage of the other MBP as both are competing for disk space. This doesn't have to be an issue; but something to watch out for.

I ran this setup for 3 years until I decided to actually create 2 partitions on the time capsule so they have their own volume name.

Cheers ... McBie

IvanLasston · IvanLasston #4 (**permalink**)

02-29-2012, 11:14 AM

I am in the same boat as McBie. I used to point to 1 TC partition for 2 Macs. It filled up pretty quickly. My TC power supply died on me - so I pulled out the drive and bought a 2nd TC. So I actually have the 1st TC drive connected as a USB to the new TC. One machine points to the 1GB USB drive, the second machine points to the 2GB internal to the new TC. Easier to keep track of things that way.

metheone · metheone #5 (**permalink**)

02-29-2012, 05:35 PM

Ah thanks for the replies!

I didnt think you could partition TC? I have 320.79GB left on my TC. Shall i still point both at one. And they can both compete to fill it up together?

Once it is filled, the first MBP will start overwriting its backups and the Secound will overwrite its backups?

McBie · McBie #6 (**permalink**)

03-01-2012, 02:24 AM

Yes, Overwriting is not an issue as Time Machine will know in which sparsebundle file it can write.
A potential issue is when each incremental backup of one MBP is a lot bigger than the other, then there will be fierce competition for the free diskspace on the Time Capsule. -_-

Example .... if one MBP is running virtual machines and you did not exclude these from your Time Machine backup, then the incremental backups will be huge .

Have a go at it and monitor the free space.

metheone · metheone #7 (**permalink**)

03-01-2012, 06:40 AM

Yeh, will do!

Cheers!

mrplow #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 01, 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,353 Mac Specs: 27" iMac i7 (2011), iPhone5, iPad3, AppleTV2	02-29-2012, 09:34 AM The space is allocated dynamically as required. Just just point Time machine preferences at the Time Capsule and away you go. The only issue you may have is whether 1gb is big enough External hard disk acquisition addict - but admitting the problem is the first step to a robust backup Please use the reputation system if you think you've been helped - top right of this post
	QUOTE Thanks

McBie #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 26, 2008 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,836 Mac Specs: 2008 MBP 17" - 10.8.2 & iPad - iOS 5.1	03-01-2012, 02:24 AM Yes, Overwriting is not an issue as Time Machine will know in which sparsebundle file it can write. A potential issue is when each incremental backup of one MBP is a lot bigger than the other, then there will be fierce competition for the free diskspace on the Time Capsule. -_- Example .... if one MBP is running virtual machines and you did not exclude these from your Time Machine backup, then the incremental backups will be huge . Have a go at it and monitor the free space. " Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. " A. Einstein The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem. You understand ?
	QUOTE Thanks

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metheone #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 17, 2009 Location: England Posts: 12 Mac Specs: MBP 15", MBP 13", MBA 11" iPad 1 64GB & 32GB, iPad 2 32GB, iPhone 5 32Gb & 64, iPhone 4 32Gb	02-29-2012, 09:26 AM Hi I have tried to search but have had no luck. I have my MBP running off a time capsule now for a fair few years and the time capsule is 650Gb full out of 1 TB We now have another MBP and i would like to back this up to the same time capsule. Do i just point the backups to the time capsule. how is space divided between the 2? Any help appreciated! Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

IvanLasston #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 26, 2010 Location: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado Posts: 2,116 Mac Specs: 1.8 GHz i7 MBA 11" OSX 10.8.2	02-29-2012, 11:14 AM I am in the same boat as McBie. I used to point to 1 TC partition for 2 Macs. It filled up pretty quickly. My TC power supply died on me - so I pulled out the drive and bought a 2nd TC. So I actually have the 1st TC drive connected as a USB to the new TC. One machine points to the 1GB USB drive, the second machine points to the 2GB internal to the new TC. Easier to keep track of things that way.
	QUOTE Thanks

metheone #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 17, 2009 Location: England Posts: 12 Mac Specs: MBP 15", MBP 13", MBA 11" iPad 1 64GB & 32GB, iPad 2 32GB, iPhone 5 32Gb & 64, iPhone 4 32Gb	02-29-2012, 05:35 PM Ah thanks for the replies! I didnt think you could partition TC? I have 320.79GB left on my TC. Shall i still point both at one. And they can both compete to fill it up together? Once it is filled, the first MBP will start overwriting its backups and the Secound will overwrite its backups?
	QUOTE Thanks

metheone #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 17, 2009 Location: England Posts: 12 Mac Specs: MBP 15", MBP 13", MBA 11" iPad 1 64GB & 32GB, iPad 2 32GB, iPhone 5 32Gb & 64, iPhone 4 32Gb	03-01-2012, 06:40 AM Yeh, will do! Cheers!
	QUOTE Thanks

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