This article will show you how to back up data from your Mac to Synology NAS using Apple's Time Machine, a backup utility included with macOS 10.5 and above.

• Set up DSM for Time Machine
• Back up to your NAS via Time Machine

Set up DSM for Time Machine

Create a shared folder for Time Machine backup:

1. Sign in to DSM using an administrator account.
2. Go to Control Panel > Shared Folder and click Create.
3. Enter a name for the shared folder (e.g., "Time Machine Folder") and select a location (if multiple volumes exist).
   
4. We do not recommend enabling the recycle bin feature or using encrypted shared folders as your Time Machine destination. Click Next.¹
5. Configure advanced settings for the shared folder as needed and then click Next.
6. Continue through the wizard to complete the process.

Set the shared folder as the backup target:

1. Go to Control Panel > File Services.
2. Do one of the following:
   • DSM 7.0 and above: Go to the SMB tab and select Enable SMB service checkbox.²
   • DSM 6.2 and below: Go to the SMB/AFP/NFS tab and select Enable SMB service.²
3. Go to the Advanced tab, and select Enable Bonjour service discovery, and Enable Bonjour Time Machine broadcast via SMB.
4. Then, click on the Set Time Machine Folders button.
5. Choose the shared folder that you just created from the Time Machine menu and save your settings.
6. Go to the SMB tab and click the Advanced Settings button to make sure the configurations are set as following:
   • Maximum SMB protocol: SMB3
   • Enable Opportunistic Locking is selected
   • Enable SMB2 lease is selected
   • Enable SMB durable handles (Cross-protocol file locking will be disabled) is selected

7. Apply changes after completing the setup.

Create user and set quota:

1. Create a DSM user account for Time Machine.
2. Set a quota for your backup data.

Back up to your NAS via Time Machine

These steps may vary depending on your macOS version. Refer to Apple's Time Machine tutorial for more details.

1. Open Time Machine on your Mac:
   • For macOS Ventura 13 or above: From the Apple menu, go to System Settings > General > Time Machine.
   • For macOS Monterey 12 or below: From the Apple menu, go to System Preferences > Time Machine.
2. Click Add Backup Disk or Select Backup Disk, depending on your macOS version.
   
3. Choose the shared folder that you created (e.g., Time Machine Folder on "Server name of your Synology NAS.local") and click Set up Disk or Use Disk, depending on your macOS version.
4. Enter the username and password for the user you created earlier and click Connect. For macOS Ventura 13 or above, you can also choose to encrypt your backup data.
5. Time Machine will start backing up your data.