Back up multiple computers to one NAS

One NAS can protect several computers. Each computer connects to the same SMB share. MomentBackup keeps each repository under MomentBackup/<OS-hostname>.mbackup. That hostname is the computer’s system name, not the editable label shown in the app.

Set up the NAS once

Create a shared folder such as Backups. Give a normal backup user read and write access, keep guest access off, and leave SMB on only inside your local network.

The address will look like one of these:

\\nas-name\Backups on Windows
smb://nas-name/Backups on Windows, macOS, or Linux

Make sure the share has enough free space for all of the computers you plan to protect.

Connect each computer

Install MomentBackup on the first computer. During setup choose Network drive, enter the SMB address and credentials, and finish the first backup. Repeat on each computer.

Keep the computer names distinct. If two computers have the same name, give them separate NAS subfolders. Never let two live computers write to the same .mbackup folder, and do not rename or merge those folders by hand.

File History, verification, and file restore work on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Whole-computer imaging is separate and is not part of this guide.

If encryption is on, label and store each recovery key away from the computers and the NAS.

Check every computer

On each computer, wait for the first backup to finish. Open Backup Explorer, restore one small file to a new folder, and open it. Check each computer separately.

A NAS is still one physical location. Fire, theft, or a failed NAS can take every local copy at once. Add an off-site File History copy when you can; the S3 Object Lock guide covers one option.

Need a hand? Email [email protected]. Ready to start? Download MomentBackup.