Implications of using 2 PowerBooks
 

Just got a new 17" to replace a Pismo. I want to use the old Pismo in FireWire mode and had planned to clone the new 17" to it, but the Pismo does not have enough disk space.

After reading the help files and the posts to this forum I think I could use the PISMO for a safety clone. I haven't, however, quite got my mind wrapped around the implications in practice. If I do this and am booting from the Pismo drive, then when I go mobile would I just unmount the 17" and disconnect it?

Assuming that the 17" OS has not been modified since making the safety clone, would everything work when booted from the 17"? After using the 17" while away from the Pismo, will everything work as expected when reconnected to the PISMO? I am assuming that all I need to do is reconnect the 17" and boot it in firewire mode. the Pismo need never be shut down, right?

One more thing, is there any performance issues when running off the Pismo?

Thanks,

John

I'm confused, John. You're trying to use the Pismo as a FireWire drive, basically?

Yes. At the moment the Pismo drive has been slicked and is attached to the 17" in FireWire drive mode.

If I proceed as planned I will put a safety clone on the Pismo, select the Pismo as the startup drive and reboot the 17".

Since the 17" is the primary computer and the one that goes mobile when I leave the house, I ask the questions about implication.

John

Yeah, I don't think I'd do that. It's a lot of (hot) iron to use for a backup drive, and since to use a Safety Clone you'd need to take both computers with you, I don't think it makes much sense.

If you want a Safety Clone for the 17", I'd partition the internal drive as described in the Appendix...