Partitioning external storage

[JayKay2021]

As far as I read so far, time machine backups require apple specific formatting of external storage.

If I also want to use the external storage as exchange medium for windows and Mac systems, I need something like ExFAT.

Is it a good solution to partition the external storage in 50/50? 50% Apple format specific for TM, rest with ExFAT? Which program do you use for this and would you recommend this approach?

best wishes

 

[Fishrrman]

DON'T do this.

If you're going to use time machine (I prefer other backup apps), you'd do best to dedicate an ENTIRE DRIVE to being the tm backup.

Less problems that way.

In fact, I would not partition ANY drive (even for just data storage) into combined Mac/non-Mac format schemes. Again, a lot less trouble if something goes wrong...

 

[JayKay2021]

Thanks for your reply. Do you use CCC? Is is reliable enough to omit TM backups?

Plus, could I use external store for such backups plus some manually backupped files? If I stay within apple format?

 

[AMacisforlife]

I use CCC and find it very reliable. But I also use Time Machine on a separate drive in case either backup drive fails.