Connecting a hard drive to the network for backing up the mac with CCC

[michelangelo]

I use the internal hard drive (HD) of my Time Capsule (1st generation 802.11n) as my primary backup for two macs. These macs are a macbookpro and an imac. These backups are incremental, made with Time Machine. Both macs are connected wirelessly to my network. This network is made of a router wired to the Time Capsule. The Time Capsule is used as a bridge. Nothing is connected so far to its USB connector.

In addition to the above incremental backups I have been convinced reading posts on this forum (http://www.mac-forums.com/switcher-hangout/245794-official-backup-faq-start.html) that I would be better off initiating a secondary backup plan for both macs with Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) on a separate HD, accessible through my network and bootable in case of dire need. As I see it, CCC could typically mirror on a separate HD: mac-1 each sunday night and mac-2 each monday night. The question is :

Is this a worthwhile objective (cost for two macs: only one HD and one license of CCC) ?

Can I locate both bootable clones on the same HD (or do I need two separate HDs) ?

Can I connect this (these two) HD to the wireless network using my existing Time Capsule) ?

How am I supposed to do that ?

I also have an Airport Extreme 3rd generation (802.11n), also used as bridge behind the router, on the same network. Nothing is connected so far to its USB connector. Would using it instead of the Time Capsule be a better option ?

Any better option ?

TIA

 

[pm-r]

I'm assuming I'm understanding your method, and adding a second HD and using CCC, CCC will want and need a separate partition volume for each clone.

You should be able to use the USB ports on either your AirPort Extreme or AirPort Time Capsule to attach your external HD after all the newer AirPort Extreme is basically a AirPort Time Capsule but without a hard drive.

I'd have to double check that CCC can work over such a connection. I'm not positive it can.

 

[michelangelo]

I'm assuming I'm understanding your method, and adding a second HD and using CCC, CCC will want and need a separate partition volume for each clone.

Good. So I would create two partitions: one for each mac to be cloned.

You should be able to use the USB ports on either your AirPort Extreme or AirPort Time Capsule to attach your external HD after all the newer AirPort Extreme is basically a AirPort Time Capsule but without a hard drive.

Thanks. So I would use the time Capsule (after the first backup, made by a direct connection for speed).

I'd have to double check that CCC can work over such a connection. I'm not positive it can.

I verified on CCC knowledge base and they confirm. The backup would be in the form of a disk image (like the one used by Time Machine on the Time Capsule inner drive).

Thanks, this helps a lot.

 

[pm-r]

The main point is to have a recent working backup of your data, at least anything important, so make sure to check it's all actually working properly when you get it all setup.

 

[RavingMac]

IMO a better solution is to get a portable HD for each machine (actually I have 2 for each that I periodically swap out). Backing up to a networked drive protects you from data loss due to HD crash, but doesn't protect from theft, fire, flood or other sources of loss.
For best protection you need some sort of remote data repository. We keep a clone for each of our Macs in our Bank Safety Deposit Box. Periodically swapping the drives protects from major loss due to fire or other catastrophe.

 

[pm-r]

Actually I was thinking of adding such a similar suggestion earlier but I didn't want to discourage any backup plan too much.

 

[michelangelo]

Thanks, pm-r and RavingMac. So I will use two separate drives and will (except for the first backup where I would connect the backup drive directly to the mac) connect them to the USB connection of the time Capsule via a USB 2.0 powered hub which I will also need to purchase. Thanks, again.