Overview

Time Machine works well with a Synology NAS when you create a dedicated SMB share and apply quotas.

Use individual accounts so you can audit access and manage storage per user.

Prerequisites and planning

Decide who will use Time Machine and how much space each Mac can consume.

• Create a user on the NAS for each Mac
• Calculate a quota per user based on internal drive size and growth
• Update DSM to the latest stable version

Create the Time Machine share

Create a new shared folder and enable the Time Machine service on SMB.

• Create a shared folder named TimeMachine or similar
• Enable the share for Time Machine in File Services
• Assign per user quotas and permissions
• Enable SMB signing only if required and supported by clients

Configure Time Machine on macOS

Point each Mac at the NAS and start the first backup during low usage hours.

• Open Time Machine settings and choose Select Backup Disk
• Pick the NAS share and authenticate with the user created for that Mac
• Start the initial backup while on wired Ethernet where possible
• Verify the next scheduled backup completes automatically

Quotas and retention planning

Quotas prevent a single Mac from consuming all NAS space.

• Set a quota near 150 to 200 percent of the Mac internal drive size
• Keep snapshots on the NAS for quick rollback of the backup share
• Review space use quarterly and adjust quotas as staff change

Network and performance tips

Most issues are path or WiFi related rather than Time Machine itself.

• Use wired Ethernet for the first backup
• Adopt 2.5 GbE on the NAS and main Mac for faster transfers
• Avoid heavy WiFi use during large backups

Troubleshooting checklist

Use this list if backups stall or fail.

• Verify credentials and share permissions
• Check that the NAS share is still selected in Time Machine
• Review network links and switch port status
• Create a test file restore to confirm integrity

FAQs

Helpful answers to common questions.

• Is encryption supported? Yes at the Time Machine level when enabled on the Mac
• Do we need AFP? Use SMB for current macOS versions
• Can multiple Macs back up to the same share? Yes with per user accounts and quotas