Hi all, First time poster here.
I’ve done searches on this topic and only found this topic as an IP issue using this as a network drive.
I’ve got my drive connected to my macbook pro - snow leopard via Ethernet cable - not as network (was way to slow on my DSL network to create initial backup).
The main backup drive is found and able to back up to with no issues.
I want to activate the ‘backup drive’ to back up my main backup drive.
The drive is visible in the finder, but when I click on it I show ‘connection failed’.
Any thoughts/ideas? I’m new with this type of drive and the WD Backup Software as well.
I’ve used Time Machine in the past… Separate discussion I’m sure, but does anyone think one is better than the other? Time Machine of WD Backup?
Thanks for the assist… If this is discussed somewhere else feel free to just shoot me the link.
Thanks,
R
You’re slightly confusing.
You have your unit connected to your computer directly through ethernet cable and you want to backup your computer’s internal drive. Is this correct?
If it is, then install the Anywhere Backup that comes with it and use it to back up, or use Time Machine, either one will do what you desire to do.
And the connection failed that you’re getting, you get it at the moment that you attempt what exactly?
Thanks for the response. I apologize for the delay in replying to your inquiry.
I’m backing up my computer internal hard drive to the My Book External Drive. This drive is supposed to Mirror itself automatically (I think). I want to check the mirror drive to ensure it is indeed saving an additional backup there.
Thanks!
R
Still no solutions. Was hoping someone might know how I can do this… thanks.
OK dude, I think you got something wrong in here. The MBW won’t mirror itself UNLESS you have selection the mirror option on the configuration page, and that will split the capacity of the drive in 2 so if you see the full space then it’s not mirrored.
On the other hand, if it is mirrored then you CAN’T see the mirrored volume because the RAID volume won’t let you, instead the drive will be seen only as one. If you are looking at something called “backup” on finder then that is most likely the backup share for Time Machine, and that is ALWAYS present on the drive no matter what RAID settings you have since that has nothing to do with it.
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Thanks for the response PizzaMatrix. I gave kudos.
What I’m seeing on my MAC in FInder on the left under ‘Shared’ is ‘MYBookWorld’ and below that is ‘MyBookWorld-Backup’.
When I click on MyBookWorld it brings me into the drive and I can see all my backed up files there.
When I clodk on MyBookWorld-Backup I can’t view anything. At the top of the finder window it says Connection Failed.
Now, I open the WD Anywhere Backup Software and choose what I’d like to backup under ‘Change Backup Items’. In ‘Change Backup Settings’ it allows me to choose the number of additional versions I’d like to make of each file, but I don’t choose any additional.
There is no option to choose ‘mirror’.
Is there a different configuration page I should be seeing or a different software I should be using? I can share screen shots if that will help.
Thanks again for the assist.
Just as I suspected =)
MyBookWorld-Backup is the Time Machine share, if you are not using Time Machine with the drive then that folder will be empty, and you can’t connect to it on Finder because it is protected for Time machine use only.
And the option to mirror is not on Anywhere backup, it’s on the configuration page of the MBW itself, which you can access by typing the IP address of the MBW --or-- the name of your mybookworld ending in “.local” (drivenameexample.local) on Safari or your browser. It will ask you for the administrator password, then go to adv mode> storage> volumes and RAID management so you can change the RAID type to mirror. That will kill all present data, just so you know.
Anywhere backup has nothing to do with that configuration because it is an internal configuration of the MBW itself, not controlled by any backup software. It doesn’t matter your RAID type, the MyBookWorld-Backup folder will ALWAYS be empty if you are not using Time Machine. So again, REGARDLESS of using RAID 1 (Mirror) or the full drive (Span/Raid 0 'Stripe") you will always see those 2 folders since they are not affected by volumes, and again in RAID 1 you only have HALF the capacity available for use.
Lastly, even on mirror mode, the drive is NOT “backing itself up”, it’s just adding fault tolerance in case of single drive failure. If the enclosure (White casing) or the controller card fails, you still lose all your data. A real backup means having the same data on 2 separate and independent devices at the same time, RAID 1 (Mirror) is not a backup.
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Very interesting. I seriously wanted a ‘mirror’ as a backup. I had an external drive housing 800+gig of music which died. I was hoping this solution would alleviate the need to create a backup of my drive by ‘mirroring’ the data I backup.
So, what is ‘Fault Tolerance’? What is the advantage of a Raid 1?
IF I wanted to set up Time Machine can I use that as well and it will use the ‘mirror’ drive?
Also,to update the configuration as you’ve outlined - I’ve been using the admin login for myworldbook. Since I’m not using it as a network drive (it’s hadwired via ethernet) I don’t know what the IP address is or ‘name’ of myworldbook is. It’s been over a year since I set it up, and apparently I set it up incorrectly at that. Sigh…
I do really appreciate that you’re taking the time to help me out. Obviously I’m a newb with the whole backup thing.
BTW - I’m on DSL and found using my drive as a network drive was just WAY too slow to use for backup. Particulary for the initial backups which it clocked at over a week to complete. So, I just plugged it in and keep it close to the mac.
If there’s a better way to discuss this I’m all ears too - not sure there’s a chat board on here, but IM in Yahoo or FB is cool by me.
Thanks again PizzaMatrix!
Strange1 wrote:
Very interesting. I seriously wanted a ‘mirror’ as a backup. I had an external drive housing 800+gig of music which died. I was hoping this solution would alleviate the need to create a backup of my drive by ‘mirroring’ the data I backup.
So, what is ‘Fault Tolerance’? What is the advantage of a Raid 1?
It just means that if 1 drive dies, then data is still present on the other drive as mirror of the first drive. This allows for the dead drive to be replaced and then the remaining drive will rebuild the mirror (RAID 1) and copy the data to the new one automatically. This means that if 1 drive fails all is good, replace the bad drive and the good one will fill the new drive so they both have the same data again, but if both drives fail at once, or if the case or controller are the ones to die then the data is gone since nothing can protect the data on that case.
Strange1 wrote:
IF I wanted to set up Time Machine can I use that as well and it will use the ‘mirror’ drive?
Yes, and if you’re on mirror then even though you will only see 1 MBW-B folder for Time Machine, the data would actually be copied to the 2 drives at once since they will work together as one volume.
Strange1 wrote:
Also,to update the configuration as you’ve outlined - I’ve been using the admin login for myworldbook. Since I’m not using it as a network drive (it’s hadwired via ethernet) I don’t know what the IP address is or ‘name’ of myworldbook is. It’s been over a year since I set it up, and apparently I set it up incorrectly at that. Sigh…
If nothing has been changed from the default configuration, then the name of your MBW should be “mybookworld”, you can test this on Network utility. Close all applications and you should see “Go” on your desk trat on the top, then go to Utilities> network utility> Go to the PING tab> type “mybookworld.local” and click on PING. If the device name is the default then you should get the replies with the IP address of the drive (Also confirming “mybookworld” as the device name). You can also force the default name by resetting the MBW with a paperclip using a button on the back (It just reset network settings, data will remain).
Your router should also give you the IP address of your MBW if it’s detected.