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Best way to backup my cMP

T

tayh

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2012
46
0
Copenhagen
Hi all!

Currently I have a 4.1 Mac pro with one 240GB SSD ( OS & applications ) and one 3TB drive ( photos, video, music, files etc. )

Im looking for a backup solution.

Im thinking about buying one 5TB Seagate external to backup both drives, but I'm not shure 5TB is enough to backup both the 240GB SSD and the 3TB drive ? 6TB externals cost almost the double of a 5TB.

What do you think? :rolleyes:
 
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One of the beauties of the cMP has is internal storage. Just add another internal drive. From what you have posted, I assume you still have two free bays.

As far as size, it really doesn't matter how big your current drives are, but how much space you have used. Without that information, it would be impossible to make a recommendation on size, but I can't see anyone needing more than 5TB of storage on one drive.

Lou
 
I think one of the Apple support documents recommends that the Time Machine disk allow for 1.5 to 2 times the space you are using for your files. This is to allow for adequate historical backup retainment in the event you need to revert to an older version of the file.

Note that this doesn't have to be based on the actual maximum disk size in your computer if you aren't even close to using it all, but is based on your actual file usage size.

Although an internal backup drive is usually adequate for most home users, keep in mind that there is a single point of failure, the power supply, which could take out all of your drives. Thus, an external stand-alone backup disk would be considered a safer alternative. Theft of your computer is also a consideration if the backup disk is internal.

I use both an internal drive for quick access, and a NAS drive (located elsewhere in the house) for safety with Time Machine, and it alternates between them every hour.
 
Thanks for your reply :)

I have used 1850GB of the 3TB drive and 140GB of the 240GB SSD.

Yes I have 2 bays free, but I like the idea of have the backup external. If someone steals my Mac Pro, there is still a chance the external drive is still under my desk?
 
CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner) is a great tool to take the backups with.

Companies like LaCie offer external USB2 or FW800 external enclosures but you might want to look at a small NAS that would hang off your router or even an AirPort in another room.
 
tayh said:
Thanks for your reply :)

I have used 1850GB of the 3TB drive and 140GB of the 240GB SSD.

Yes I have 2 bays free, but I like the idea of have the backup external. If someone steals my Mac Pro, there is still a chance the external drive is still under my desk?
Click to expand...
I buy pairs of inexpensive Seagate external USB drives (4TB drives @ $140 each) and run them as my Time Machine drives, one connected on-site and rotated with the second, stored securely off-site, every week or two. When they get full, they go into storage and are replaced with new drives, and I modify the excluded Time Machine folders to preclude excessive redundancy and to keep from filling the new drives too fast.

I would also suggest using an internal HD or two for redundant, daily up-to date backup of critical files. I keep three copies of all work files in addition to the Time Machine drives.

You only really own data when you have at least three copies.
 
DanielCoffey said:
CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner) is a great tool to take the backups with.

Companies like LaCie offer external USB2 or FW800 external enclosures but you might want to look at a small NAS that would hang off your router or even an AirPort in another room.
Click to expand...

This.

I like bootable clones for back up, much more straightforward than Time Machine
 
I think i will pass on the NAS. My computer is the same place as my Modem and stuff like that.

I think the cheapest and best option for me right now is a 5TB External drive with Carbon copy cloner on both drives.

And then maybe a extra 4-5TB internal drive just to have another backup.
 
tayh said:
I think i will pass on the NAS. My computer is the same place as my Modem and stuff like that.

I think the cheapest and best option for me right now is a 5TB External drive with Carbon copy cloner on both drives.

And then maybe a extra 4-5TB internal drive just to have another backup.
Click to expand...

You can add 2 more internal HDs at the optical bay if you're not using your DVD drive. I installed 2 HDs at the optical bay for more storage flexibility. My work files are on separate HDs from my boot drive. And use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone my boot drive. My work files are backed up twice so I have 3 copies of the files. Third copy is on an external drive. For preventive maintenance I use Disk Warrior.
 
flowrider said:
Why in heck would the OP want to do that when he has two internal HDD bays free????????

Lou
Click to expand...

This was to suggest more options to the OP on other ways he may consider in the future. Maybe for now the OP does not need this suggestion but you never know what comes along. And if I recall, in another thread you mentioned about the advantages of the classic Mac Pro's internal storage and having to put 2 more HDs at the optical bay is another.
 
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