Connect to your NAS

Updated

CloudBak connects to a NAS over SMB, the same way Finder's Connect to Server does. You can do this in setup's Destination step, or later from Destination › Change….

Connect

  1. Choose Connect to Server.
  2. Next to Server, type the server and shared folder the way you would in Finder, for example nas.local/Backups or 192.168.1.20/Backups. CloudBak also accepts smb://nas.local/Backups and \\nas\Backups.
  3. Next to Username and Password, type the account you use on the NAS. Leave Username empty to connect as a guest. The password is saved in your Mac's keychain. See Your NAS password and the keychain.
  4. Click Connect.
  5. In the window that opens, choose the folder to keep backups in, or click New Folder to make one, then click Grant Access. The folder has to be on the shared folder you connected to.

Choosing the folder in that window is what gives CloudBak permission to write to it, so it can't be skipped.

The test

CloudBak then tests the folder. When it says Ready to use, it shows the Free space, the Write speed it measured, and the Volume. Click Test Again to repeat it. You can test the folder again any time with Test Connection on the Destination screen.

The test may also warn you, for example when less than 100 GB is free on the NAS.

When the folder was chosen this way, CloudBak notes: If this share disconnects during a backup, CloudBak connects to it again by itself and carries on. See If your NAS or drive disconnects.

If connecting doesn't work

  • The username or password wasn't accepted. Check the account on your NAS, and that it's allowed to use this shared folder.
  • Couldn't reach your server. Check the address, and that the NAS is turned on and on the same network as your Mac.
  • Enter the server and shared folder, like nas.local/Backups. The address needs both the server and the shared folder's name. CloudBak only connects over SMB, so an address that starts with a different protocol, such as afp://, isn't accepted.
  • CloudBak can't write to this folder. The NAS account needs permission to write to the folder you chose.
  • Choose a folder on Backups, the share you connected to. Your shared folder's name appears where this says Backups. The folder you picked is somewhere else. Click Choose Backup Folder… (or Choose Again…) and pick one inside the shared folder.

After it's connected

The Destination screen shows the Server, Account (or Guest), Backup folder and where it's Mounted at. Click Show in Finder to see the backup folder in Finder.