Post by: RHPConsult on August 29, 2012, 04:52:01 AM
I'm considering eliminating those partitions, to end the guesstimating how large each should be for their "assigned tasks". Are their any compelling reasons for such separation of the SD and TM files? Can they peacefully cohabit a single drive? I've partitioned my drives, always. Never considered any other alternative until installing MtnLion and looking to simplify my life.
- Pros
- Cons
- Don't Even Think About It(s)
- Not To Worry(ies) ? ? ? ?
Post by: Highmac on August 29, 2012, 05:46:16 AM
More tech-minded brains will no doubt add further thoughts
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 29, 2012, 08:31:25 AM
With that said, that's exactly what I have set up.
No excuses, although I do put stuff on my wife's backup drive, occasionally... With the current costs of drives, it would be prudent to have a weekly backup drive rotation with the extra drive in an off-site location. 
Maybe even at a next door neighbor's house!Since you've already done it, you know how to set it up. I'm assuming that the old setup is still in existence?
The space requirements/partition sizes remain the main variables.
Time Machine will (eventually) use all that you give it. At that point, it will start deleting the oldest back ups. With a large enough drive/partition, that could be several years. With a much smaller drive/partition, it may never exceed several months. Size is determined by your history needs.Lastly, don't forget other backups you might have in the 'cloud.' iCloud is but one place. Dropbox and similar free services are also available. Then, there are paid services like CrashPlan, etc.
SupeDuper backups tend to grow rather slowly, depending on the type you have chosen. It will basically be the minimum size of whatever you have selected for backing up. The maximum would be the entire internal drive. That becomes the base line for the size. It will only grow when you add new files/apps or when current files/apps grow in size. Size of the partition depends on how actively you add files/apps or increase their sizes. I'd say a very rough minimum partition size would be twice as large as your current used space on the internal drive. You really need to read the manual for a more detailed description of how SD works with its various methods. Simply not backing up many items that can easily be replaced by re-downloading or with Recovery Disks will help keep the minimum size down considerably.
The most difficult thing to do is deciding what is really irreplaceable, grand kids/family images excepted, of course!
Another topic for consideration, although not as much fun, would be storing the passwords and instructions for various apps that have important information on your computer. It would be wise to have that in written form and 'stored' with a trusted attorney or relative. All the backups in the world won't be of much use if you're not available to access them or even access your computer!
Or, you could use the tech "expert" Mat Honan's method?!
Post by: Highmac on August 29, 2012, 09:22:26 AM
Makes HDs cheap by comparison
Post by: jwboyd on August 29, 2012, 09:37:46 AM
The only dumb thing about it is that all three of my backup drives are right next to my computer. One really should be stored offsite, but (famous last words?) "that would be such a hassle."
I'm curious about why SuperDuper takes twice as long as CarbonCopyCloner. I can boot from either, and data recovery/restoration seems to work equally well. It's not a problem, just a curiosity.
Joe
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 29, 2012, 10:11:05 AM
QUOTE
why [does] SuperDuper takes twice as long as CarbonCopyCloner
To do what?
Post by: Highmac on August 29, 2012, 10:29:52 AM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Aug 29 2012, 04:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE
why [does] SuperDuper takes twice as long as CarbonCopyCloner
To do what? Ahh - that bit's missing
Post by: RHPConsult on August 29, 2012, 11:28:23 AM
I had more than 1 ext HD for years, plus a duplicate of all the really key docs on my MacBook. When the MB-P was given to my grandson, I concluded, probably. foolishly, that one (OWC) storage option might be enough. I've screwed-up files by my own actions on occasion, but never have had an external fail. I'll get a second today . . . I think I saw that CostCo was having a big promotion on drives right now.
Thanks for the counsel, guys. These days, I need all the "reminders" I can get!
BTW, ADB . . . I have kept a complete roster of PWs, screen names, SN's, user names, even order nrs. etc. etc. going back to the early 90s. I was thinking the other day that a ton of them are for now obsolete apps of absolutely no value whatsoever. Anyone actually remember SupePraint one of my favorites from the dim past? Or, say. FAXstf (which wasn't really worth anything when it "was")!
PS: I know, I know: There are only 2 kinds of persons in the world: those whose HDs have failed and those whose HDs are about to fail!
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 29, 2012, 12:41:41 PM
QUOTE
I have kept a complete roster of PWs, screen names, SN's, user names, even order nrs. etc. etc. going back to the early 90s.
Is that the 1890's?! I think they have a show about <that kind person> on <TV>...
Post by: jwboyd on August 29, 2012, 12:42:37 PM
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 29, 2012, 12:55:37 PM
QUOTE
To complete a backup...
Or not To complete a backup...WAIT!indeed, whether 'tis nobler...
that's the answer to your question, stupid! Or, reflecting on past comments, it is an answer to your stupid question? 
Oh, right! Well, as I was thinking, the speed difference may be related to the method you have selected in each app. Although they use different labels/terminology for similar functions, you may be able to find the clues in their respective manuals. It may be that you have one doing 'incremental' backups' and the other doing complete re-writes of your drive.
Perhaps a screen shot (or two) of your two prefs/settings would shed some light (even though it would be the reflected kind)?
Post by: Jack W on August 29, 2012, 01:14:09 PM
TM & SD! backups can co-exist on the same drive.
HOWEVER, they each must have their own partitions.
They cannot share the same partition.
I rotate an SD! backup of all my data/software/HD to my Safe Deposit Box every 2-3 weeks.
Just in case of catastrophy (fire/computer meltdown/whatever).
I keep the TM drive going here in my apartment. All my (or at least the majority of) info is safe in the SDB.
FWIW,
Jack
Post by: RHPConsult on August 29, 2012, 02:27:55 PM
I thought that probably was the case, but so many things are achanging, these days.
I'm going to follow the advice to get another drive.
DP
Post by: Xairbusdriver on August 29, 2012, 04:34:26 PM
QUOTE
TM & SD! backups can co-exist on the same drive.
HOWEVER, they each must have their own partitions.
Yep, that's why we talked about how much space would be needed for each type on each partition, <here>. So, there's not much need to buy a huge drive if it will only have is a SD/CCC clone on it. OTOH, the larger the drive, the farther back a Time Machine backup can go.HOWEVER, they each must have their own partitions.
Of course, if you start out with brand new drive(s), the 'way-back' machine will only start with that first back up. There isn't any 'history' for TM on a new drive, yet. Any TM 'history' will only be on the current drive hosting a TM backup. Now, if you want to allow TM to use the space that had been set aside for SD on that drive (I'm assuming that's what you are doing, since you mentioned you'd done it 'in the past'), simply delete that SD backup and erase that partition and adjust it's size in Disk Utility, as much as possible (it may not be possible to simply delete a partition and keep the other one
). This way, you'd need buy only a relatively small external for the SD/CCC backups while letting the current TM backups continue to grow.Frankly, I think continuing the way you've done it (two different sized partitions for TM and SD) is still the way to go. Just get another drive the same size as the current one, but either use both at the same time (TM can now use multiple drives) or use it one week and take it next door and use the other one for a week, Rinse and Repeat.