Preserve different TM backups on source and destination?

[Smitty51]

I thought I dad done this before but I can't find it.

How would I "Smart Update" all files between two drives preserving the different Backups.backupdb on each drive?

[dnanian]

I don't think you can do that - if the source has a Backups.backupdb, it's going to be replaced by the one on the source...and I think, if you use "Restore - all files" (which won't copy Backups.backupdb), it might remove the one on the destination.

Why would you have this kind of setup?

[Smitty51]

I would like two rotating TM backups going. Also have "other" data on the source drive that I want to SD backup to the destination. I hoped this would be faster than SDing the whole big TM on the source drive to the destination, which is what I am currently doing.

[Smitty51]

It is a bit kludgy but...Script that uses your exclude all files.dset and then add "copy" commands for each top level directories? Or would that remove Backups.backupdb?

[dnanian]

There's no difference between that and using "Restore - all files": again, that basically just doesn't copy Backups.backupdb.

I think using that might work. But, maybe you should partition the drive and keep your Time Machine backups separate?

[Smitty51]

Yes, you are correct, I should partition the drive. It will make everything much simpler. Having been around in the 1960s when I would buy and 50 megabyte drive for $10,000, it's hard for me to change. Thanks for your help.