Amount backed up

8. Number of files backed up. T2M2 analyses the number of files which each backup is reported to have backed up. These vary widely, so the figures reported here give a total number across all the backups in the period, together with a range, minimum to maximum, for each backup, as

backed up a total of 444 files, range 191 to 253 in each backup,

or a simpler message if only one backup has completed in the period examined.

Very large or very small numbers should alert you to potential problems. The total gives you an idea of overall backup activity in the period. These aren’t given for all versions of macOS: for Big Sur, for example, you should use the more detailed report from the ➜ APFS button.

9. Amount of data backed up. T2M2 presents a different analysis of the quantities of files reported as being backed up, listing each in order. Again very low or high figures should raise your suspicions. These are reported as

total data for each backup was 8.5 MB, 63.3 MB.

and are given in time order, the oldest backup first. A simpler version is used if only one backup has been completed. These aren’t given for all versions of macOS: for Big Sur, for example, you should use the more detailed report from the ➜ APFS button.

10. Time in minutes taken for each auto backup. A similar sequence of times, in whole minutes (ignore the decimal), is given for completed automatic backups, which you can compare with the amounts of data backed up. There is only a loose correlation between larger backups taking longer times, but this can again alert your suspicions. Time taken is a fair indicator of the performance of the whole backup system, and can be used to assess, for example, the penalty of backing up over WiFi or to a slower external disk. This is reported as

Times taken for each auto backup were 4.0, 2.0 minutes,

➜ Intervals and totals

➜ Interpret result

The Eclectic Light Company – https://eclecticlight.co