Laptop Setup Guide

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📦 Nice-to-Have: NAS Backup with Time Machine (macOS) ​

This section describes how to configure Time Machine on your MacBook to use Renuo's NAS (Network Attached Storage) over SMB as the backup destination. This gives you automatic versioned backups of your system and data.

Setup Steps ​

  1. Retrieve credentials from 1Password

    • Open 1Password.
    • Find the entry [Renuo-NAS] Backup User.
    • Copy the:
      1. Username
      2. Password
      3. Server Address

    Example placeholders:

    • Server Address: smb://NAS_ADDRESS/laptop_backups
    • Username: backupuser
    • Password: ••••••••

    👉 Tip: You can also click the smb:// link directly in 1Password to open the connection prompt directly without following step 2 but ensure to use username and password combo provided in 1PW. If you do so, you can skip to step 3.

  1. Connect to the SMB share

    • If needed manually: In Finder, press ⌘ + K (Go → Connect to Server).
    • Enter the server address, e.g.:
      smb://NAS_ADDRESS/laptop_backups
    • Click Connect.
    • When prompted, enter the username and password you copied from 1Password.
    • Optionally, check “Remember this password in my keychain”.

    ⚠️ If macOS asks which volume to mount, choose laptop_backups.

  1. Enable the share for Time Machine

    • Ensure the NAS share is mounted (visible under Locations in Finder).
    • Open System Settings → General → Time Machine
      (on older macOS: System Preferences → Time Machine).
    • Click Add Backup Disk… (or Select Backup Disk…).
    • From the list, select the NAS share: laptop_backups on NAS_ADDRESS.
    • Click Set Up Disk.
    • enter the NAS username/password again (from 1Password).

  1. Configure backup options

    • Enable Encryption (recommended).
      • When prompted, set a strong password you can remember.
      • ⚠️ This password protects your backup — do not share it with anyone, and store it safely (e.g., in 1Password, personal vault).
    • Set Disk Usage Limit to custom and with the slider set a quota around 2TB.
    • Click Done.

  1. First backup

    • The initial backup may take several hours depending on your data size.
    • Keep your Mac powered and connected to the network (preferably wired if possible).

✅ That’s it! Your Mac will now back up regularly to the shared NAS folder, keeping your system and files protected.