Servers and Bonjour computers in macOS 26 Sidebar

[DC41]

All other macOS 26 Finder Sidebar complaints aside... I've run into an annoying issue. Is there anyway to keep a server/computer listed in the Locations column even when it's disconnected?

I have three Synology NASs. Two of them have happily lived in the side bar for years whether they were connected or not. Click on them, and they would connect using keychain credentials. After updating to macOS 26 I added a third. I connect to it using the menu "Go->Connect to Server..." and connect with no problem. The issue is it doesn't stay there as the other two do. If I disconnect or reboot, it's gone.

Playing around with Finder Settings I've found that Finder considers the first two NASs as Bonjour computers. It considers the new one as a connected server. Could that be the problem? The File System settings in DSM is exactly the same on all three machines including Bonjour enabled.

What must I do to keep the new NAS's icon in the Finder Sidebar even if it's disconnected?

Thanks!

PS. And why can't they fix the icon issue on connected machines?! It's been using the document icon for them for 5 years now!

 

[Bigwaff]

I have three Synology NASs. Two of them have happily lived in the side bar for years whether they were connected or not. Click on them, and they would connect using keychain credentials. After updating to macOS 26 I added a third. I connect to it using the menu "Go->Connect to Server..." and connect with no problem. The issue is it doesn't stay there as the other two do. If I disconnect or reboot, it's gone.

Are you connecting the original two using AFP and the third SMB?
Download Discovery and browse the Bonjour services on your local network.

‎Discovery - DNS-SD Browser

‎Discovery is a utility that displays all of the Bonjour services available on the local network or on Wide-Area Bonjour domains. Use it to debug your latest program, detect computers connected to your network, or just keep tabs on what services are available. Perfect for network admins or...

itunes.apple.com

 

[DC41]

Are you connecting the original two using AFP and the third SMB?
Download Discovery and browse the Bonjour services on your local network.

‎Discovery - DNS-SD Browser

‎Discovery is a utility that displays all of the Bonjour services available on the local network or on Wide-Area Bonjour domains. Use it to debug your latest program, detect computers connected to your network, or just keep tabs on what services are available. Perfect for network admins or...

itunes.apple.com

No, all three are SMB, but I noticed in Discovery the two that stay connected have what appears to be a IPv6 address. The new NAS does not. I wonder if something in the new settings isn't assigning it, or if something on the MacBook has change.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[nmt1900]

Check if IPv6 is enabled on active network interface of third NAS. "Auto" should be appropriate setting for most of typical situations.

 

[DC41]

Check if IPv6 is enabled on active network interface of third NAS. "Auto" should be appropriate setting for most of typical situations.

Well, the new NAS has a IPv6 address like the other two, but the behavior hasn't changed. Finder still sees it as a connected server and the other two as bonjour computers.

I wonder if I have some sort of startup setting on the MacBook that places those two there during boot. I'll play around with an AI chatboot to see if I can get something useful out of it.

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[nmt1900]

Is Bonjour enabled on this third NAS? Or maybe Synology's own firewall is in the way?

 

[DC41]

Is Bonjour enabled on this third NAS? Or maybe Synology's own firewall is in the way?

Yes, it is enabled and as far as I can tell it's set up exactly like the other two.

Now for the fun news! Somehow in all my fiddling I caused the two older NASs to disappear from the sidebar. Now the only way to get to any of the three is to mount them first. I created a shortcut that does just that, so I'll just run it each time I boot. Ah! Progress!

 

[Bigwaff]

Now the only way to get to any of the three is to mount them first. I created a shortcut that does just that, so I'll just run it each time I boot.

You can make the network shares automatically mount on user login. First, mount the share and save the credentials in the Keychain when prompted. Then go to Settings > General > Login Items and add the network share using the "+" button. When Finder window opens, navigate to the share in the Finder side bar and select it.