Backup on a NAS - which software do you suggest?

[Giuanniello]

There are three computers at home, a laptop, a desktop and soon another desktop to work as a media server, I would like a backup solution to back the three of them onto a NAS, the computers will be connected via wifi with exception of the media server which could be hard wired.

I never liked TimeMachine so I'd avoid it, at a time I used Synch Folders to back a single computer up but don't remember how it did the job and if it could do for my case, maybe the NAS already has a backup utility but I'd like to hear from those of you who went through such a path.

Thank you

Giovanni

 

[adrianlondon]

I use Time Machine and don't have any issues with it.

I also copy over my Documents, Music and Photos folders manually (well, using "rsync") every now and again. Once or twice a year, I rename those folders on my NAS to e.g. "2026-02-25 Documents" and start the sync afresh. I do this in case TM gets corrupted, I want to view an older version of a document, or I simply need a file on a different laptop.

 

[Bigwaff]

Arq is a pretty good product. Lots of storage backend options.

Cloud backup software for Mac and Windows : Arq

www.arqbackup.com

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I use Time Machine too, for my local backups but there are plenty of other tools out there.

I also use a cloud backup service for redundancy (direct backup of the Mac, not a "backup of the backup").

 

[doogm]

I use Arq for this to my Synology.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Arq or Carbon Copy Cloner to the Synology NAS works well.