In this article, I would like to talk a fleck about backup, your desktop backup that is. Specifically, macOS. Now, if you are a Mac user you must have heard virtually Time Machine right?

TM is a built-in macOS backup app that allows yous to run backups of your Mac computer. A while back Apple also had a lineup of devices that could back up it (Fourth dimension Capsule), but in the by years decided to drop the evolution, equally there are plenty of vendors that support TM protocol, so implementing it is not that big of a bargain.

Synology has supported TM for a meliorate function of the decade (and longer), and information technology makes sense that you lot want to put your Mac data on a device that a) has a lot more storage than your computer, and b) is running a redundant setup abroad from the device you are trying to support in the offset place.

Using external drives as well as NAS units every bit fill-in devices is no mystery, in fact, information technology is so common present that all vendors support it. Let's run across how tin yous make this happen with Synology NAS, are there any limitations, and how well does it work.

Why but macOS? What almost Windows backup?

The reason for this topic is focused on macOS lone is that most Windows backup software is 3rd party and well-nigh 99% of them work using a pure SMB protocol advice with your NAS when it comes to transferring the backup. Also, there are no special elements that need to be configured on the NAS side (apart from the account and shared folder), equally oppose to TM fill-in that does require more steps and has a dedicated section to make those changes.

Time Machine initial NAS configuration

All Synology NAS models can be Time Auto destination devices, only TM backup is not configured out of the box. To practise it, you lot have to brand a few things ahead of time, earlier y'all try and set up your NAS as a TM backup target.

There are three things that need to be prepared in general:

  1. Time Car destination (a local NAS folder)
  2. Bonjour discovery service
  3. Time Automobile business relationship (your DSM business relationship that you volition utilise to connect with)

Fourth dimension Machine destination folder

Earlier you tin do annihilation, you volition demand to configure a local shared binder on your NAS where you lot desire your Mac device to perform the backup.

Note: Go on in mind that this has to be a root shared folder, not a subfolder of an existing root binder!

In the electric current DSM half-dozen/seven version, you will take the option to separate each Mac device and its fill-in, to its own root folder if you choose to practise then. Before this was not an option, so you lot had to place all your multiple Mac backups into one unmarried folder.

At present mind you, I still use information technology that way, and there is nothing wrong with that, and the reason is simple. Each Mac device has its own user account for TM backups, and each backup is a divide thin parcel epitome inside the same root folder. The signal is that there is no real reason to keep them separated unless you want to of course and you lot tin use a single folder to hold multiple backups.

Would it be safer to keep them separated? Sure. Can you lot take multiple folders on multiple volumes (slower and faster for example), yes you lot tin? So now, you accept more options, but just saying that you can go along multiple backups within a single TM root binder.

TM root folder is no different than any other folder on your NAS so its creation is also null special.

Open Control Panel > Shared Folder, click Create button and start the wizard that will allow you to create a new binder. No need to worry most permissions, as nosotros will tweak those after on when we create new accounts.

Create a new root binder for TM needs

Now that nosotros take the folder, let'due south go far a suitable TM "target" folder for your Mac device(s).

Bonjour discovery service

To allow your Mac(s) to "encounter" the NAS root folder equally a target for Time Machine, we will once again go to Control Panel > File Services > Advanced to locate the Bonjour section (protocol settings).

DSM half-dozen example of Bonjour settings

As of tardily, macOS started to move towards SMB protocol and away from their AFP. Now at the moment, y'all can however choose what protocol yous want to use for your TM tasks, and so you can select either check box options (one for SMB and one for AFP), or y'all can specify a unmarried ane (like in the image higher up). One time you have done that, proceed with setting the actual target binder.

To exercise this, click the large Set Time Motorcar Folders button (notice that it says folders, not folder), and one time y'all exercise, y'all should go a list of all the shared folders on your NAS.

Select your TM root folder(south)

Select 1 or more root folders that you want to use and click Apply.

Fourth dimension Motorcar user accounts

As I wrote at the outset there are 3 things that need to be done to brand this piece of work. At present that nosotros take fix the binder and the protocol, the only thing left is the account (or multiple accounts if y'all want/demand more than than 1).

Simply as with the root binder, making a TM user business relationship on your NAS is nothing special. This is a "user" class account that will have its own username and countersign, and the just thing special virtually information technology is the quota (more on this later).

So, caput over to Command Panel > User > User (tab), click the Create button, and beginning the creation of a new DSM account. Easy right?

The of import elements here are:

  1. User groups - select this user as a "users" class account
  2. Permissions - deny access to all folders other than the TM root binder
  3. Quota - exist sure to configure the quota for this user (more later)

Quota and group membership

The fob with DSM TM user accounts is that those accounts must exist "users" class accounts, or they will exist able to see the whole volume and its size and fill upwardly the entire NAS over fourth dimension. To get around this, we need to limit them to the "users" grade grouping, and on acme of this, configure a quota.

Quota is configured on the User quota tab. Merely go to the Quota tab, and in the quota column of your TM root folder, input the maximum value that you lot want this specific user to have on your folder.

You lot can select the unit cavalcade likewise and change from GB to TB if you choose to do so.

My rule of thumb is 2-3x more space than your electric current macOS occupied space. This volition give you some breathing room and will permit for multiple incremental (delta) backups to happen over time.

Once you lot are done, click OK to save the changes for your electric current user. Repeat this process for any other business relationship/folder that y'all accept left.

Time Machine macOS configuration and backup process

The hard role is done. The only thing left to do now is to configure your macOS devices to connect to your NAS TM folder(s) and start bankroll up.

In your Mac's System Preferences > Time Machine section, yous can configure your TM destination too as have an overview of the process.

macOS eleven (Big Sur) Time Motorcar preferences

Click on the Select Deejay button, to locate the TM folder on your NAS.

TM root folder that you have configured has been listed

Select the folder, enter your username and password when prompted and yous are done!

Depending on the size of the fill-in, protocol of pick, and the fact that your Mac device is using a cablevision or wifi connection, the backup volition complete in a matter of minutes or days, then exist patient.

By default, TM backups are scheduled to start each hour merely you can customize them with tertiary party tools to maybe have them less frequent if y'all want.

Problems and troubleshoot

Like any other service or app, TM has its issues. Always had. The main one is that from fourth dimension to time, macOS will let you know that the integrity of the backup is not ok and it will crave you to completely redo your whole backup from scratch.

Now, this might non sound like a big problem but for some it is. The reason is that if you want to get into the history version of your backups, once you do a fresh ane, no history. Personally, I don't find this a large trouble and the primary reason is that backup should be there when yous need it, non something that volition be your "archive" place. Yous take your NAS for that.

So, every bit a suggestion, practise regular backups, simply keep in mind that it would be a good idea to have your backups backed up some more. What I mean past this, is that your valuable information should be backed up not just by Time Motorcar, only some other app or means in case your TM fails you at whatever bespeak.

As an example, I utilise the Acronis True Image platform to do an epitome-based backup of my Mac calculator, on acme of my Fourth dimension Car backups. To superlative information technology all, all data that I need backing up is non fifty-fifty on my Mac, information technology lives on my NAS and has a iii-2-i backup scenario in place.

The point is yous tin never have too many backups, and TM might (and probably will) give you lot problems at ane bespeak in time, so all-time to have a "backup solution" in case that happens.

Personally, I have never had a problem with TM and needed to restore information in the by 15y, about 3 times (and by data I mean specific files). This is the reason that to engagement I notwithstanding use information technology until something better comes along.

Conclusion

Backup, fill-in, fill-in. It's only a thing of fourth dimension when you lot will demand it, then best to accept it and to brand sure it's a functional backup.

Synology has Agile Fill-in for Business every bit their NAS platform for desktop calculator backups that work with Windows and recently with Linux-based Bone.

macOS is in the pipeline and was promised that DSM vii (at 1 bespeak) volition bring macOS support to ABB. This is what I am waiting for as a potential TM substitute, but at the moment there is no public beta of this service. When this changes I'll be certain to brand a postal service well-nigh it after some testing.

As always, feel free to comment on the topic and permit me know your TM/NAS experiences.