Perplexed as to what version of USB port I need...

[Dreambird]

I purchased from Amazon.ca one of the 2TB Seagate  Backup Plus portable drives and I'd "like" to bring it with me when I go home in Oct. so I need an appropriate USB to lightning adapter to use it with the iPad. This USB port that plugs into the drive is I "think" what they call an Ultra Slim USB B but I dunno and I can't find the right adapter, short cord or anything to save my life. I was hoping someone here would have something like a portable with a port like that and know.

It looks like this one:

[Xairbusdriver]

What might you get if you type in the two connector types you need, adding this text " to " between them? The image you uploaded shows the name of the usb side and you already know the name of the other side. You just need to know whether it's female-to-female, male-to-male, or female-to-male and which end is which. Google (and DuckDuckGo) is your friend.

Of course, the most important spec is the color...

[kimmer]

If you purchased the drive you asked about in this thread, realize that the drive receives power from whatever it's plugged into -- and I'm pretty sure that iPads won't power external devices.

I don't know how good this article is, but they have info on what you can use to backup your iPad externally.

[Paddy]

As Kim notes - those Seagate drives are powered via the USB cable, and cannot be used with an iDevice which doesn't power anything external via the Lightning connector. (I have about 4 of those Seagate drives, btw)

Your best bet is to plug the drive into your Mac and then connect your iPad - which you can do via USB or wirelessly. There is various software out there to do this. Here's one option: https://www.wideanglesoftware.com/support/touchcopy/transfer-music-photos-from-ipod-iphone-to-external-hard-drive.php

Or get a flash drive with a Lightning connector and use that to transfer things to the hard drive, using the Mac: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07G23QQH5/

[Dreambird]

Yeah... Duh!!!   
I did finally figure that out... it's no big deal. I backup the iPad on my MBP relatively frequently. It all still works under iOS11.4.1 with iTunes 12.6.4.

I should see though if I can opt to backup it up somewhere else as well though...

[Xairbusdriver]

I should see though if I can opt to backup it up somewhere else as well though.

You can always backup to iCloud, that's the other standard option with iTunes.

But, once you have a backup on your MBP, you can copy that to any other disk, computer, web space you want. Of course, you won't need iTunes to do that. A "backup" is just another file, put it anywhere you want, any time you want. Just realize it may not be useful for reinstalling anything unless iTunes or your iPad can see it.

[Dreambird]

I dunno... it SAYS you can copy the backups from your finder but NOT to remove or mess with them just to copy them elsewhere... I would think if you can do that you should be able to restore them and use or what's the point? But we are talking about Apple after all. I need to look into it some more.

[Xairbusdriver]

you should be able to restore them and use or what's the point?

I don't think you are really reading my posts, maybe skimming?

it SAYS you can copy the backups from your finder but NOT to remove or mess with them just to copy them elsewhere

Yes, that's also what I said. 

[Dreambird]

Jim,

I "think" I was just re-iterating your point here:

"Just realize it may not be useful for reinstalling anything unless iTunes or your iPad can see it."

Please forgive me if I seem a bit like an airhead right now, there are some personal "life" issues at the moment that both my sister and I are dealing with that is making us both a little crazy. I did read your post... I think I just didn't quite get across the idea of moving or copying something around manually, not with iCloud or an iTunes backup which essentially happens with nothing more from you but an instruction to do it.
I was wondering if I took and copied those backup manually to another backup how would I use them... the iPad would have to see them or they'd have to be copied back... anyway... sorry to be so unclear etc. 

... what I had in mind was just storing a copy of the backups on my external... the ones that I make through iTunes... you can find them in finder to copy them. If one can do that and have them work, no iCloud involved. One way around having a secondary backup too though could be just by having a clone of my HD.
Dah!!! Sorry if I'm rambling...

[Xairbusdriver]

Sounds like you’ve figured it out.

No apologies needed! BTW, I’m not used to getting apologies, most my experience with those is in making them!