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Two Macs, One Firewire HD, Good Program to Auto Backup Both Machines?
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: College Station, TX
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I have a 1.5 GHz PowerBook G4 and my wife has a black MacBook. I bought a 320 GB Western Digital "MyBook" external Firewire (400 and 800) hard drive a few months ago when we got the wife's MacBook. However, I have yet been able to get the external set up properly to do regular backups using the supplied Retrospect Express software. What I'm wondering is, is there a software program out there that would allow me to leave the external connect to both my Mac and my wife's Mac and have it perform regularly scheduled backups on each? Of course, I'd like to connect mine to the FW800 port and hers to the FW400 port, but I could daisy chain them with FW400 if need be. Anyhow, any help on picking a software program that could do this (if there is one) and getting it set up would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Apple user since 1987
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Dec 2000
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I don't think you can have two computers in a FireWire chain sharing a device like that. Your best bet would be to hook the machine up to the PowerBook (since it has FW800), and to use file sharing to allow the MacBook to access it.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
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No, you can't connect a Firewire drive to two computers like that.
Connect it to the less portable Mac and share it over the network for the other machine to back up to.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Washington, DC
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Isn't that what CharlesS said?
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: College Station, TX
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OK, that's fine. I'll hook the HD up to my AlBook and share to the wife's BlackBook. That having been said...how do I do it? The Retrospect software never worked right and for some reason didn't seem to think that the external FW HD was a viable volume (or something to that effect). Thanks in advance again for your help guys...file sharing and automatic backups are two things I've never done before.
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Apple user since 1987
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: College Station, TX
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Anybody?
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Apple user since 1987
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hilbert space
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I can only recommend Time Machine -- which is built right into Leopard. Best backup solution I've seen so far (for consumers, that is).
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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Time Machine is well worth it. Upgrade both machines with a Leopard household license - it's worth it just for that, plus you'll like the rest of leopard.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 888500128
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Originally Posted by STAT
The Retrospect software never worked right and for some reason didn't seem to think that the external FW HD was a viable volume (or something to that effect).
Sounds like the external drive is not Mac-formatted?
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jul 2007
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I have a similar drive hooked up to my G4 sawtooth and use Time Machine to back up improtant folders. Our G4 powerbook is also backed up via Time Machine to the same drive.
Simply make sure file sharing is enabled, mount the drive on the portable and choose the drive for Time Machine backup. Backup will occur when the drive is available. If your desktop goes to sleep the backup drive may not be available.
It's very easy to set up. Easy to optimize and seems to work.
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