.. _backup-mac:

==================
Mac Network Folder
==================

.. contents::
  :depth: 2 
  :local:

Setup a Network Folder
----------------------

#. Identify or create a folder you would like to use to store your Start9 server's backups.

    .. tip:: You can select an external drive or folder within an external drive connected to your Mac if you'd like.

#. Go to **System Settings**:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-2.png
        :width: 50%
        :alt: System settings

#. Click on **General** then **Sharing**:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-3.png
        :width: 50%
        :alt: general-sharing

#. Click the **info** icon:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-4.png
        :width: 50%
        :alt: enable-cifs

#. Click the toggle to enable file sharing and the **"+"** icon and select the folder you would like to make backups to:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-5.png
        :width: 50%
        :alt: click-plus

#. Once added, click **Options**:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-6.png
        :width: 50%
        :alt: ventura-folder-added
    
#. Enable SMB sharing for the user you want to use and then click **Done**.

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-7.png
        :width: 50%
        :alt: ventura-smb

#. You can now move on to connecting your server.

        .. tip:: You can find the hostname at the bottom of sharing window.  You will need this in the next step.


Connect Your Server
-------------------

#. Go to the **System** tab and click **Create Backup**:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-8.png
        :width: 60%
        :alt: system-create-backup

#. Click **Open New**:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-9.png
        :width: 60%
        :alt: open-new

#. You will now see the following:

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-10.png
        :width: 60%
        :alt: cifs-blank

    Enter the credentials as follows:

    * **Hostname** - This is the name of your computer.

      .. tip:: Sometimes it can be unclear what your Mac's hostname is. Check the tip in Step 8 of the section above to find it.  On some versions of Mac, you may need to open up Terminal and type `hostname` as below:
    
          .. figure:: /_static/images/cifs/hostname-terminal-mac.png
              :width: 35%
              :alt: hostname-terminal-mac

    * **Path** - This is the *name of the shared folder* you are using and **not** the full directory path.

        .. tip:: If you copied the share name from the Mac computer and it contained a space, macOS will have replaced the space with the string "%20".  Please re-replace `%20` with a space in this `Path` field.

    * **Username** - This is the user on the remote machine that you used to create the shared directory.
    * **Password** - This is the password to the above user.

    .. figure:: /_static/images/backups/backup-macos-11.png
        :width: 60%

    .. note:: If you are on MacOS Catalina (version 10.15.7), and the backup fails, please `see this Apple support thread <https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253970425>`_.  If the provided solution still doesn't work, SMB file sharing probably will not work for this old Mac.  Consider backing up to a USB thumb drive instead.

    .. note:: If you recently updated to MacOS Ventura (version 13.2), and you cannot get the share to connect:

        #. Turn off file sharing switch in **General > Sharing**
        #. Restart macOS
        #. Turn on file sharing switch in **General > Sharing**

#. Click **Connect**.

That's it!  You can now :ref:`create encrypted, private backups<backup-create>` of all your Start9 server's data to your Mac.