External ethernet drive to plug into router for Time Machine backup

[brilliantthings]

I hate my Western Digital My Cloud device. It has lots of bloatware, I can't stand the UI and I can't work out how to format it to APFS. I can't get my Mac to recognise the APFS external HDD I've plugged into it either. So I'm going to get rid of the WD MyCloud.

I'd like to replace it with an ethernet HDD that I can plug into the ethernet port on my Orbi router and just use it as a network hard drive without WD software or anything similar. Is there a simple ethernet HDD that will do that and that I'll be able to use as a Time Machine disk?

 

[Wando64]

Not quite what you are looking for, but I am using an old Mac Mini as a server and for network TM backups.
At some point I might need to retire it so I am following this thread with interest.

 

[brilliantthings]

Yes, thanks. I'm considering a Mac mini too, but hoping I won't have to

 

[brilliantthings]

I'm starting to think that a low end Synology like the ds120j or ds220j might be best

 

[brilliantthings]

I went with Synology DS220j. I should've done it years ago.

 

[Wando64]

I went with Synology DS220j. I should've done it years ago.

How did you set it up?

 

[brilliantthings]

What do you mean exactly?

 

[Wando64]

What do you mean exactly?

I thought Synology used its own software for access to the data as opposed to being a “normal” networked drive formatted in whichever way you please.
If this was the case you would not be able to use it for TM, so clearly I must be wrong. Can you confirm which is the case?

Also, for my purpose it would be important to be able to have some disks accessed as normal data storage (as a server) and some (disks or partitions) accessed as TM.
So, for this purpose is it possible to have multiple accessible disks and/or partitions?

Thanks

 

[brilliantthings]

I’m very junior at all this, but you can use Synology for Time Machine backup or Synology Drive backup. You can also do both. I read about the disk format type somewhere and I didnt recognise it. I dont think you can change it.
I’ve had terrible trouble with TM recently even with a wired external HDD, so I have decided to go with Synology Drive. It allows much more granular control over the process. I have it backing up key folders, but it wont restore a computer like TM does. The other disadvantage is that it doesnt upload iCloud folders and files cleanly to NAS (see photo).

 

[brilliantthings]

Regarding what you would like to do with different drives or partitions, they’re not called drives or partitions, but you can do it all. It requires you to have a good understanding of RAID, which I dont have yet.

 

[brilliantthings]

And last thing for now.. the benefits of Synology over WD My Cloud: a real OS, a real CPU, decent amounts of RAM

 

[hwojtek]

I thought Synology used its own software for access to the data as opposed to being a “normal” networked drive formatted in whichever way you please.

What is a "normal" networked drive? A commercial SOHO NAS always works the same - small computer with a Linux derivative on top of a couple of SATA drives provides a streamlined experience with web interface. Be it WD, Synology, Qnap....

If this was the case you would not be able to use it for TM

I have two TimeMachines running on Ubuntu servers on an EXT4-formatted drives and another on a Mac, can't really see where your point is.

Also, for my purpose it would be important to be able to have some disks accessed as normal data storage (as a server) and some (disks or partitions) accessed as TM.

Any NAS will do it.

 

[brilliantthings]

I have two TimeMachines running on Ubuntu servers on an EXT4-formatted drives and another on a Mac, can't really see where your point is.

Wando64 isnt making a point, but asking for help and advice.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Or you can roll your own NAS with TrueNAS

Open source, enterprise class, widely in use, runs on almost any x86 HW, ZFS file system, supports TM and more.

TrueNAS - Welcome to the Open Storage Era

TrueNAS is the World's #1 Open Source Storage. Based on OpenZFS, it is trusted by millions and deployed worldwide.

www.truenas.com

 

[polyphenol]

I hate my Western Digital My Cloud device. It has lots of bloatware, I can't stand the UI and I can't work out how to format it to APFS. I can't get my Mac to recognise the APFS external HDD I've plugged into it either. So I'm going to get rid of the WD MyCloud.

I'd like to replace it with an ethernet HDD that I can plug into the ethernet port on my Orbi router and just use it as a network hard drive without WD software or anything similar. Is there a simple ethernet HDD that will do that and that I'll be able to use as a Time Machine disk?

Might help to get the best answers if you let us know what sort of capacity you need. And why you want to go via your router rather than just plug in a drive.

I, too, have hated various storage devices over the years.

 

[Wando64]

What is a "normal" networked drive?

A drive that that can be Mapped using the Connect to Server finder option using SMB.

I have two TimeMachines running on Ubuntu servers on an EXT4-formatted drives and another on a Mac, can't really see where your point is.

As you can see from my earlier posts I also have TM running on networked drives attached to a Mac Mini server.
With my question I was specifically asking about the Synology system purchased by the OP.
I wasn't trying to "make a point", indeed I assumed that the information I was given about the limitations of Synology proprietary OS was probably incorrect.

Any NAS will do it.

Once again I was asking whether the specific Synology system purchased by the OP allows for multiple drives and/or partitions to be attached/created.
Any professional grade NAS would do this, but cheaper/smaller solutions designed for home use (such as the WD My Cloud drive previously used by the OP) maybe don't?

 

[Wando64]

I have found the technical specifications sheet for the DS220j (quite impressive for the price) and that answered most of my questions.
I am still unsure as to whether multiple separate drives (internal and/or external) and/or partitions are allowed.
If anybody know the answer to this, I would be grateful for their advice.
Thanks.

 

[brilliantthings]

multiple separate drives (internal and/or external) and/or partitions are allowed. But be aware that only a very small number of specific internal and external drive models are supported. I had to buy a new internal. See this page for supported drives.

Compatibility List | Synology Inc.

Synology strives to improve product compatibility. Check out our compatibility list before purchasing the peripherals you need.

www.synology.com

 

[brilliantthings]

Might help to get the best answers if you let us know what sort of capacity you need. And why you want to go via your router rather than just plug in a drive.

I, too, have hated various storage devices over the years.

I have bought a Synology. See my later post.

 

[McScooby]

Other option would've been to pull the drive out the MyCloud & buy a used Time Capsule to act as a caddy & connect via ethernet to the router, these things are tanks.

 

[brilliantthings]

That wouldn't help me avoid TM though

 

[brilliantthings]

What is a "normal" networked drive? A commercial SOHO NAS always works the same - small computer with a Linux derivative on top of a couple of SATA drives provides a streamlined experience with web interface. Be it WD, Synology, Qnap....



I have two TimeMachines running on Ubuntu servers on an EXT4-formatted drives and another on a Mac, can't really see where your point is.



Any NAS will do it.

Just as a side note. It looks to me like the point of this reply is just an attempt to demonstrate superior knowledge of the topic. And the tone is unpleasant. In any case, it doesn't answer any of the questions asked.
Maybe I'm missing something but this doesn't feel like what we're trying to achieve here.

 

[brilliantthings]

Or you can roll your own NAS with TrueNAS

Open source, enterprise class, widely in use, runs on almost any x86 HW, ZFS file system, supports TM and more.

TrueNAS - Welcome to the Open Storage Era

TrueNAS is the World's #1 Open Source Storage. Based on OpenZFS, it is trusted by millions and deployed worldwide.

www.truenas.com

What's an example of the hardware I might use for this?

 

[McScooby]

That wouldn't help me avoid TM though

Thought your purpose was to use time machine, if not a Nas or carbon copy cloner would be the only other route.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

What's an example of the hardware I might use for this?

You can repurpose an old x86 machine. Stay away from HW RAID controllers and Intel NICs are more likely to work without issues. As with anything FreeBSD based, it’s always better to check hardware compatibility before you buy new HW. Or you can eliminate all the questions and just buy a new NAS from the parent company https://www.ixsystems.com/

Myself, I had two QNAP Intel NAS units that I got fed up with the QNAP QTS vulnerabilities and hard coded credentials, and installed TrueNAS CORE on my 2 QNAP TS-x53A. First on an external SSD, then replaced the OEM built in flash DOM and installed on a larger one. You can run TrueNAS on a USB flash drive for a demo test, but consumer USB flash drives will not hold up long term.

I was so impressed with TrueNAS, I bought a third used QNAP NAS off eBay to work as my TrueNAS SCALE (Debian based) development test NAS.