macOS Time Machine - Backing up over the LAN

Some interesting experimentation, whilst tinkering with a full Time Machine backup of my MacBook Pro, via Ethernet, to a Synology DiskStation DS414.

The actual client/server network connectivity is using Server Message Block (SMB) as the former Apple Filing System (AFS) has been deprecated.

As this was a FULL backup, the time to completion, even over 1,000 Mb/s Ethernet was going to take a while …..

These two articles were of much use: -

Speed Up Time Machine by Removing Low Process Priority Throttling

Time Machine backup is s-l-o-w

both of which taught me to turn off throttling, via the command: -

sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=0

plus this: -

Turn off packet signing for SMB 2 and SMB 3 connections

which showed me how to TEMPORARILY turn off SSL/TLS packet signing.

Note the warning: -

If you turn off packet signing, you lower the security of the SMB connection. Turn off packet signing only if both the client and server are on a secure network.

Here be dragons ….

I did also confirm that the DS414 *DID* have Gigabit Ethernet enabled: -

and that my Mac's Ethernet card was similarly performant: -

Fun times !