Tip: Using Time Machine and Parallels

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When using Time Machine, you should disable backing up of your Parallels folder. Why? Because Time Machine backs up files of any size that have changed, meaning that if you make even a single character change in your Parallels Virtual machine, Time Machine will back up the ENTIRE thing, which can mean gigabytes of data and an enormous amount of disk consumption and activity.

The better way to handle your Parallels data?

In Time Machines Preferences, choose your Parallels folder for exclusion.

Then, in Parallels itself, choose to enable Snap Shots. On occasion (perhaps daily) make a fresh snap shot, so if you do experience data issues you can revert back.

Then, using a pre-defined time frame, backup your Parallels folder to your external drive.

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George 11/05/2007 10:44 AM 1 point
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Very useful and valuable tip. Thanks for sharing that information. Better than all of us finding out the hard way.

Could you answer a related question for me? Is it a reasonable thing to do to have a file folder on the Mac internal HD with Time Machine used inside of it, for quick recovery and accessability (since it really isn't intended to be a backup program per se) and then have an external drive that is for the exclusive purpose of having a reliable backup disk?
OR
Is it smarter to spend the extra $$ and get TWO external drives; one dedicated to Time Machine and one to the backup program?

I would very much appreciate your views on this.

Thanks a lot for your help and sharing your tips.

George

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