Synology NAS - no longer works with TimeMachine

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Original Thread about by initial disappointment

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...


Today I got a popup in macOS that stated the TmeMachine Backups to my Synology NAS had failed... So I started investigating - despite me starting from scratch and the MacBook being connected to the NAS using ethernet each time it tries to create a new backup I eventually get a popup stating that it lost connection and failed.

time_machine said:

"TimeMachine could't complete the backup to "TimeMachineMBP-M1" the network disk disconnected while backing up"

ChatGPT suggests that SMB + TimeMachine is unreliable for large transfers and that I should use a thunderbolt usb drive instead.

I am trying to resist giving the NAS some percussive maintenance (with a lump hammer).

[Megaflow]

I can’t help, but I am very interested in the responses because my old ReadyNAD Duo does not work with Time Machine and I am only a few weeks away from purchasing a DS223

[Inbox]

Has there been any updates to either macOS or the Synology Nas?

From my experience updating macOS can mess up lots of settings.

Also worth checking the Synology forums.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

I have another backup running … if it works i will post up a solution…

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Ok it is now about 20% complete - so got a lot further....

What I have tried

1. Initially I suspected the Anchor Dock (its 3 years old and I have read they suffer from poor reliability) ...
2. I then tried WiFi but SMB over WiFi would not connect (just hung) even though I can see the NAS and check the port is open from terminal .. conclusion - looks like SMB over WiFi is failing no idea why
3. I then tried an ethernet dongle with the cable plugged into the same switch as the NAS... same failure as with the Anchor Dock
4. Latest try Go To Settings -> Security + Privacy -> Full Disk Access -> add TimeMachine

I believe that the issue is down to macOS adding a new "security" feature - not sure why they would block their own backup software from accessing the disk drive

Between each attempt I fully wiped the destination folder on the NAS and removed the backup location from TimeMachine and re-added it.

Looks like I was wrong to the blame the NAS - pity the error message (from macOS) wasn't a bit more informative

[vaud]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

I believe that the issue is down to macOS adding a new "security" feature - not sure why they would block their own backup software from accessing the disk drive

Security by default isnt a bad strategy, but security without context and end user advice is also bad...

[Inbox]

vaud said:

jesusbuiltmycar said:

I believe that the issue is down to macOS adding a new "security" feature - not sure why they would block their own backup software from accessing the disk drive

Security by default isnt a bad strategy, but security without context and end user advice is also bad...

This would not surprise me one bit with Apple, security isn't the issue its finding out things have been broken randomly and the head scratching trying work out why and the time it wastes.

[vaud]

Inbox said:

This would not surprise me one bit with Apple, security isn't the issue its finding out things have been broken randomly and the head scratching trying work out why and the time it wastes.

Indeed. Many times I have spent ages with Google and AI tools figuring out that they changed something but I didnt...

[jimothyc]

Depends how you've got it set up, but if you're using AFP then it's recommended to switch to Smb now.

From the apple docs.

Network-attached storage (NAS) device
Time Machine can back up to a third-party NAS device that supports Time Machine over the SMB network protocol. Check the documentation of your NAS device for help setting it up for use with Time Machine.

Time Machine backup to NAS devices over Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) is not recommended and won't be supported in a future version of macOS.