12-03-2009, 11:15 PM
I believe a Time Machine folder and a bootable, updateable clone managed by SuperDuper can exist on the same partition is possible. Two backups, if you will, on one volume.
SuperDuper seems to know a drive is a Time Machine drive *only when* specifically designated as a TM backup drive from within TM preferences.
Normally, Time Machine seems to keep itself to it's folder, Backups.backupdb. In the bowels of the documentation for SuperDuper, it notes that SuperDuper is smart enough not to erase a Time Machine backup; however, it is my experience that my Mac looses awareness of which drive is designated a Time Machine drive. SuperDuper does, in this case, erase my TM backup. If the designated TM drive is selected in TM preferences (and the icon on the desktop representing this drive changes to the blue-green Time Machine icon), SuperDuper clones *along side* the backup folder.
For instance, I usually use a USB external drive for my Time Machine backup, keeping the drive unplugged most of the time and backing up purposefully, every few days. (I don't want a backup every hour every day.) When I replug my drive it mounts, but does not mount with the Time Machine icon. That happens only when I specifically set that drive as a backup in Time Machine preferences. If I don't do this Time Machine *will* work as expected, but SuperDuper has no notion that the drive I direct it to is a Time Machine backup and would erase my TM backup, to make a clone.
I think.
SuperDuper seems to know a drive is a Time Machine drive *only when* specifically designated as a TM backup drive from within TM preferences.
Normally, Time Machine seems to keep itself to it's folder, Backups.backupdb. In the bowels of the documentation for SuperDuper, it notes that SuperDuper is smart enough not to erase a Time Machine backup; however, it is my experience that my Mac looses awareness of which drive is designated a Time Machine drive. SuperDuper does, in this case, erase my TM backup. If the designated TM drive is selected in TM preferences (and the icon on the desktop representing this drive changes to the blue-green Time Machine icon), SuperDuper clones *along side* the backup folder.
For instance, I usually use a USB external drive for my Time Machine backup, keeping the drive unplugged most of the time and backing up purposefully, every few days. (I don't want a backup every hour every day.) When I replug my drive it mounts, but does not mount with the Time Machine icon. That happens only when I specifically set that drive as a backup in Time Machine preferences. If I don't do this Time Machine *will* work as expected, but SuperDuper has no notion that the drive I direct it to is a Time Machine backup and would erase my TM backup, to make a clone.
I think.