Macs and Synology NAS

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Level 1

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Macs and Synology NAS

I set up my Synology DS213j this weekend and began the process of setting up Time Machine backups from my two MacBook Airs and Mac Mini (which serves as iTunes content server). The mini is pretty much dedicated to music/movies, while the Airs currently hold pretty much pictures and some other application files. I was able to successfully back up both Airs using Time Machine, but kept getting an error when trying to start Time Machine backups for the Mini ("The backup disk is not in Mac OS Extended (journaled) format, which is required." )

Any help you can provide on this? I'm not sure why two of the three can be backed up, while the other can't. I'm sure it's something in the way I've set up the NAS, but can't isolate it based on what I've read in the Synology documentation or their forums. Do I need to start over with the NAS setup?

Thanks in advance!

Posted on Aug 17, 2015 12:59 PM

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Answer 1

iW00

Level 6

8,542 points

Aug 17, 2015 1:52 PM in response to Boatboy24

As per Mac Basics: Time Machine backs up your Mac - Apple Support

Apple's Time Machine Backups works with these 3 types of drives:

Boatboy24 wrote:

Before you can use Time Machine, you need to select a backup destination. You can back up your files to:

an external hard drive (sold separately) connected to a USB, FireWire, or ThunderBolt port on your Mac

an external hard drive (sold separately) connected to the USB port of an AirPort Extreme 802.11ac

an AirPort Time Capsule or OS X Server on your network

Apple do not recommend to use NAS drives as a destination for Time Machine Backups. It is possible, and many NAS drives manufacturers in order to drive they sales up advertise they products as capable to store Time Machine Backups. Problems starts when something doesn't work as it should as Apple will not help you with it but the drive manufacturer will claim that there is nothing wrong with they product and you are left on your own...

On Synology page you have step-by-step instructions how to setup they product to backup your macs. If they don't work, then I would suggest to give them a call...

My advise however would be to get a USB HDD too and have additional Time Machine Backup done the way how Apple recommends and what is more important, offers support if anything is wrong...

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