Strongly recommend you DO NOT get Synology routers to replace Apple TimeCapsule

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Strongly recommend you DO NOT get Synology routers to replace Apple TimeCapsule

A little off-topic, for which I'm sorry. I wanted to replace my combo of 3TB TimeCapsule + AP router (with 4TB USB disk), as a dual-backup Time Machine (after all, this is what Apple now suggests).

I bought a Synology 2600ac router + 2x Synology MR2200ac mesh routers, and configured them all as access points. Now, if you have just one 2600ac router with a USB disk plugged in, you will have no issues.

As soon as you add one or more 2200 mesh routers, the following happens:

1) You will lose all Bonjour services on the 2600 with disk. This makes setting up Time Machine backups nasty.

2) *NONE* of the 2200 routers will recognise their own USB 3.0 ports (so no extra backup disks). Seriously, WTF??

Look, the mesh network works fine as far as wi-fi and Internet access goes. You are pretty much stuffed if you want it to replace your old Apple network gear.

I actually resorted to re-installing my old 3TB TimeCapsule, with wi-fi disabled, plugged in via Ethernet, as a "NAS" TimeMachine backup!

Be very wary!!

Posted on Feb 4, 2019 6:36 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,244 points

Feb 4, 2019 1:00 PM in response to Michael Sanders2

A little off-topic, for which I'm sorry.

Since Apple no longer make Airport routers we are all stuck at finding replacements so it is helpful to have first hand experience of the various alternatives. Certainly I have recommended the synology as a suitable replacement.. at least the RT2600AC which I have used successfully or the older RT1900AC.

Did you use the older firmware on the Synology before you updated to the mesh system?

You should inform Synology of the issue as they have been fairly responsive to issues.

I actually resorted to re-installing my old 3TB TimeCapsule, with wi-fi disabled, plugged in via Ethernet, as a "NAS" TimeMachine backup!

As long as the old TC still works it should be fine but they do have a very finite lifespan.

I have run the RT1900AC as a WAP in a wired network.. I would say the bonjour issue has to do with not handling it properly over the wireless links. Could you run ethernet to the MR2200AC points?

Synology do include Time Machine as part of the specs for the MR2200AC.. although of course it is a far less powerful router than the two proper routers.

https://www.synology.com/en-global/products/MR2200ac#specs

I've had success with Ubiquiti Unifi access points, and with better coverage than the AirPort Extreme devices had provided.

Yes.. A lot of us have decided Ubiquiti is the way to go.. it is no where near as easy to configure as the Synology.. and you do need to wire the UAP which is far superior to mesh but a lot more expensive for people without wiring or impossible when people live in rental or concrete box apartments.

Not surprising ubiquiti have no USB ports for doing Time Machine backups so it is ends up a system where you then need to add a suitable NAS.. oddly enough the Synology still being one of the best.

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Answer 2

Feb 5, 2019 2:33 AM in response to LaPastenague

Thank you both for your helpful replies, and the recommendation for Ubiquiti.

I can confirm that the latest SRM supports Time Machine/AFP on the MR2200ac but NOT on mesh. But, despite another few hours of experiments today, the 2200 simply won't share the subnet with the 2600 for Bonjour (and this is with a gig Ethernet backhaul).

The first of the routers to boot "grabs" all Bonjour capability (between the routers - other Bonjour services work fine); the disk sharing does work for both, but it is necessary to access the disk of the "losing" router via IP address for both AFP and SMB - not acceptable for reliable backups!

I agree that the 2600 is a great all-round router. And with AFP and SMB switched off on the 2200 it works well as a Time Machine and SMB server.

Once I hear back from Synology I'll drop a new comment.

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Answer 3

Feb 5, 2019 2:03 PM in response to Michael Sanders2

I can confirm that the latest SRM supports Time Machine/AFP on the MR2200ac but NOT on mesh.

Perhaps take the MR2200 off mesh system.. and since you have ethernet backhaul to them run it as WAP instead. You lose very little in this setup .. mesh should have slightly better handoff but that is still something that clients control more than routers.

As mentioned I had no issues running the Synology in WAP mode.. which was all that was possible with older 1.1 SRM.

Once I hear back from Synology I'll drop a new comment.

Yes please do.. since Synology comes up fairly often as a good substitute and certainly in a single router setup still works fine.. it is just people cannot use the mesh system with it.

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Answer 4

Feb 20, 2019 3:26 AM in response to LaPastenague

Oh dear. I seem to have upset Synology support (see quote below). Someone is having a bad day. At least they are going to refer my bug complaint to the software developers...

"I just tried to offer a solution on how to do a Time Machine Backup, which works

There is absolutely no need for you to become aggressive just as you did when you could not connect to the Mesh devices.

It would be more productive to keep polite exchanges, thank you."

Hmm. My "aggression" was to state that if they refused to investigate the issue of Bonjour not working, I would post their unhelpful attitude on both the Apple and Synology forums. Well, to avoid inflaming the issue, I shall restrict myself to this Apple forum (for now). In summary: if you connect 2 or more Synology routers in ANY network configuration (where ALL are setup as access points only), then Bonjour/Zeroconf works erratically or stops working completely.

Yes, you *can* make Time Machine work on their routers, but only by assigning a fixed IP address to the routers and manually mounting each share so that Time Machine can "discover" them.

Of course, Bonjour is there to avoid this sort of messiness. With Bonjour, you do not need to mount a network share in order for ™ to discover it. The irony is that Synology NAS boxes implement Bonjour *perfectly*. I am using one right now as a Time Machine server with an external 4TB USB drive!

FYI, I am so confident in my diagnosis that I have offered to fly a Synology expert to Australia and examine my network. Of course they pay if I am correct.

More info when I hear from their S/W developers. Regards, Mick.

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Answer 5

Feb 4, 2019 10:07 AM in response to Michael Sanders2

I've had success with Ubiquiti Unifi access points, and with better coverage than the AirPort Extreme devices had provided.

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