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Maybe for compute, but not for storage. Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS in the way I can use Time Machine, for example? (Rhetorical question; t

by lxgr 1y ago

Maybe for compute, but not for storage. Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS in the way I can use Time Machine, for example? (Rhetorical question; the answer is obviously that they want to sell more iCloud storage for that all-important services revenue).

hiatus 1y ago
Synology supports exactly that, and I'm sure they're not the only one.
- lxgr 1y ago
  Full iOS backups directly to local external storage, without another computer in the mix? I’d be very surprised if that were true.
  - GeekyBear 1y ago
    Here's one example of a third party tool. > Step-by-Step Guide: How to Backup iPhone to Synology NAS https://www.ubackup.com/phone-backup/backup-iphone-to-synology.html https://www.ubackup.com/phone-backup/backup-iphone-to-synolo...
    - oefrha 1y ago
      Did you actually read what you linked, or did you just paste in a random link from a search engine? There are two methods presented: one only backs up the camera roll; the other requires plugging into a computer and manually clicking around, at which point you might as well use the first party backup built into Finder (or iTunes on Windows? Is that still a thing?), no random third party application needed. I also highly doubt their “backup every single content” claim. It’s also a sneaky marketing article for that third party application, following the common SEO practice of giving you a half-ass solution capturing a frequent search term (in this case, “backup iPhone to Synology”), then plug their own questionable thing as the better solution.
    - lxgr 1y ago
      > Preparation. How to set up Synology NAS on PC That’s a guide on how to backup an iPhone to a NAS using a computer. Unsurprisingly, a reasonably capable general-purpose OS supports network file systems in a way transparent to applications, but that doesn’t help people using only an iOS device.
tonyedgecombe 1y ago
>Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS You can backup your iPhone using Finder. Finder -> Locations -> Your iPhone -> Backup all the data on this iPhone to your Mac. Once you have done this you can find the backup in "Manage Backups", right click on an entry and select "Show in Finder". From there you can copy it to your NAS. Not as smooth as a Time Machine backup but it is possible.
- lxgr 1y ago
  > Not as smooth as a Time Machine backup but it is possible I’d personally call it “absurdly clunky and intentionally impractical for a big chunk of Apple’s user base”.
throw0101d 1y ago
> Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS in the way I can use Time Machine, for example? When I connect my iPhone to my iMac it does to a local backup to a file, which then gets backed up via Time Machine (and SuperDuper/CarbonCopyCloner). "How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with your Mac": * https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108796 https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108796 There's also a checkbox for 'Wifi syncing' so a cable isn't necessarily needed.
- lxgr 1y ago
  That’s exactly my point: Why on Earth do I need a separate computer to mediate the backup? iOS natively supports SMB over any network connection including wired Ethernet, mounting encrypted APFS volumes on USB storage devices at 10 Gbps etc. It’s Apples explicit vision that an iPad Pro can replace a Mac even for some professional users. Why don’t these deserve local backups?
  - GeekyBear 1y ago
    How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? Apple already provides first party software to handle iDevice backups on Windows or Mac. Backing up an Android device to a PC using adb is significantly more difficult, especially for the less technically minded.
    - lxgr 1y ago
      > How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? That’s arguably the wrong question: I bet a lot more would own one if they could easily backup their iOS devices to it.
      - hnaccount_rng 1y ago
        The number of people that would but a NAS over just spending the 5$/month for storage is well below a percent and if you combine that with the requirement of not having a PC/Mac you may well end up in the hundreds… There aren’t that many people that are willing to own a device from a company but not trusting that company with their data

by lxgr 1y ago

hiatus 1y ago

Synology supports exactly that, and I'm sure they're not the only one.

lxgr 1y ago
Full iOS backups directly to local external storage, without another computer in the mix? I’d be very surprised if that were true.
- GeekyBear 1y ago
  Here's one example of a third party tool. > Step-by-Step Guide: How to Backup iPhone to Synology NAS https://www.ubackup.com/phone-backup/backup-iphone-to-synology.html https://www.ubackup.com/phone-backup/backup-iphone-to-synolo...
  - oefrha 1y ago
    Did you actually read what you linked, or did you just paste in a random link from a search engine? There are two methods presented: one only backs up the camera roll; the other requires plugging into a computer and manually clicking around, at which point you might as well use the first party backup built into Finder (or iTunes on Windows? Is that still a thing?), no random third party application needed. I also highly doubt their “backup every single content” claim. It’s also a sneaky marketing article for that third party application, following the common SEO practice of giving you a half-ass solution capturing a frequent search term (in this case, “backup iPhone to Synology”), then plug their own questionable thing as the better solution.
  - lxgr 1y ago
    > Preparation. How to set up Synology NAS on PC That’s a guide on how to backup an iPhone to a NAS using a computer. Unsurprisingly, a reasonably capable general-purpose OS supports network file systems in a way transparent to applications, but that doesn’t help people using only an iOS device.

tonyedgecombe 1y ago

>Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS You can backup your iPhone using Finder. Finder -> Locations -> Your iPhone -> Backup all the data on this iPhone to your Mac. Once you have done this you can find the backup in "Manage Backups", right click on an entry and select "Show in Finder". From there you can copy it to your NAS. Not as smooth as a Time Machine backup but it is possible.

lxgr 1y ago
> Not as smooth as a Time Machine backup but it is possible I’d personally call it “absurdly clunky and intentionally impractical for a big chunk of Apple’s user base”.

throw0101d 1y ago

> Why can’t I backup an iOS device to a local NAS in the way I can use Time Machine, for example? When I connect my iPhone to my iMac it does to a local backup to a file, which then gets backed up via Time Machine (and SuperDuper/CarbonCopyCloner). "How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with your Mac": * https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108796 https://support.apple.com/en-ca/108796 There's also a checkbox for 'Wifi syncing' so a cable isn't necessarily needed.

lxgr 1y ago
That’s exactly my point: Why on Earth do I need a separate computer to mediate the backup? iOS natively supports SMB over any network connection including wired Ethernet, mounting encrypted APFS volumes on USB storage devices at 10 Gbps etc. It’s Apples explicit vision that an iPad Pro can replace a Mac even for some professional users. Why don’t these deserve local backups?
- GeekyBear 1y ago
  How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? Apple already provides first party software to handle iDevice backups on Windows or Mac. Backing up an Android device to a PC using adb is significantly more difficult, especially for the less technically minded.
  - lxgr 1y ago
    > How many people own a NAS, but not a PC or Mac? That’s arguably the wrong question: I bet a lot more would own one if they could easily backup their iOS devices to it.
    - hnaccount_rng 1y ago
      The number of people that would but a NAS over just spending the 5$/month for storage is well below a percent and if you combine that with the requirement of not having a PC/Mac you may well end up in the hundreds… There aren’t that many people that are willing to own a device from a company but not trusting that company with their data