• Synology

    Sync Cloud Content To Synology

    A Synology can act as a local file server that is used to share a folder from a cloud account. You can use accounts with from Backblaze, Google Drive, Amazon, Alibaba, Dropbox, Azure, and others. This means you can use a Synology to provide LAN access to cloud solutions. Before you do, make sure you understand that if changes are made in the cloud and on a client computer at the same time, that you will end up not knowing which is right and so file-locking issues will come up. It’s best to use this strategy for home environments or come up with another mechanism for locking files.  If you…

  • Mac OS X,  Mac Security

    Use Backblaze to Backup Mac

    Backblaze is a great cloud and on-prem backup tool for Mac and Windows. You can download Backblaze at https://secure.backblaze.com/download.htm. Once downloaded, extract the DMG and open the Backblaze Installer. At the Installer screen, enter your existing credentials or create a new account and click Install Now.The drive will then be analyzed for backup.By default, once the analysis is complete, the computer will immediately start backing up to the Backblaze cloud. Let’s click on the Settings button to configure how the Backblaze app will work.This opens the Backblaze System Preference pane. At the Settings tab, you’ll see a list of drives to back up and an option to set when to receive warnings…

  • Mac OS X,  Network Infrastructure

    Replace Time Machine Server on macOS Server with WD’s MyCloud.com

    The past couple of years has forced me to rethink many of my recommendations for how you backup computers in small office and home environments. Previously, I would have said that you could use a disk attached to an Apple AirPort. But the AirPort Base Station is no longer being made. Previously, I would have said you could use Time Machine Server, a service built into macOS Server in 5.4 and below. But that service is no longer being made in macOS Server by Apple and is now found in the Sharing System Preference pane . Previously, I might have even said to use the home edition of CrashPlan, which…

  • Mac OS X Server

    Backup the Settings on macOS Server 5.4 Running on High Sierra

    In past versions of this guide, I covered Time Machine Server. Here, we’re going to look at backing up the settings of a macOS Server using Bender. To do so, we’re going to install a little app called Bender from the great folks at Robot Cloud. You can download that from http://robotcloud.screenstepslive.com/s/2459/m/5322/l/94467-bender-automated-backup-of-os-x-server-settings. Once downloaded, run the package installer. At the Welcome to Bender screen, click Continue. Agree to the licensing agreement by clicking the Continue button. Click Agree again (assuming of course that you agree to the license). Choose who you wish to install the software for and click Continue. I’d go ahead and install Bender at the default location,…

  • Mac OS X Server

    Upgrade macOS Server

    The latest version of macOS Server (5.4) is now available to be installed. To do so, first backup your server. Then, backup your server again, making sure you have a functional, bootable clone. Once you’re sure you have a solid backup of your server, open the App Store and search for Server. When you find the Server app, click on it.  Once downloaded, you’ll be prompted that the Server app has been replaced.Go into Applications and open the Server app. When prompted, click on Install (or Open if the server is already installed). The download will begin. Once complete, you’ll see a notice that the “Server app replacement detected.” Click OK.…

  • Mac OS X Server

    Backup macOS Server 5.2 Settings On Sierra

    We covered using Time Machine Server previously. Here, we’re going to look at backing up the settings of an OS X Server. To do so, we’re going to install a little app called Bender from the great folks at Robot Cloud. You can download that from http://robotcloud.screenstepslive.com/s/2459/m/5322/l/94467-bender-automated-backup-of-os-x-server-settings. Once downloaded, run the package installer. At the Welcome to Bender screen, click Continue. Agree to the licensing agreement by clicking the Continue button. Click Agree again (assuming of course that you agree to the license). Choose who you wish to install the software for and click Continue. I’d go ahead and install Bender at the default location, so click Install. Once the…

  • Mac OS X,  Unix

    Quick Script Backups In OS X

    When I’m working on a little bash script, I’ll often make a backup, each time I save and test. Then I can revert back, if I need to. The syntax I’ll use is to cp and then curly-bracket the output into .bak files (that’s a 90s era file extension I use for such nonsense): cp filename.sh{,.bak} So if I’m writing a script called MYSCRIPT.sh: cp MYSCRIPT.sh{,.bak} The resultant backup of the script is MYSCRIPT.sh.bak.

  • SQL

    Use SELECT INTO To Copy Data Between Tables

    You can use the SELECT INTO statement finds data and then copies that data between tables or databases. To do so, use the following syntax: SELECT * INTO newtablename FROM tablename; So to copy that Customers table to a new table called Customers2: SELECT * INTO Customers2 FROM Customers; Or to copy only certain columns into Customers2, we’d use the following: SELECT ID,Site INTO Customers2 FROM Customers;

  • iPhone

    Create A Backup In Apple Configurator 2

    One of the more common tasks performed in Apple Configurator is to create a backup of a device and restore that backup to multiple devices. This backs up the icon placement on screens, the settings on the device and anything not stored in the operating system or secure enclave of a device. Once you’ve created a backup, you can assign that backup to a blueprint or deploy the backup to individual devices. To create a backup, first open Apple Configurator 2 and tether a device to the computer running Apple Configurator. Next, right-click on a device and then choose the Back Up option. Once you unlock the device (if locked) the…

  • Mac OS X Server,  Time Machine

    Use Time Machine Server in OS X Server 5

    The Time Machine service in OS X Server 5 hasn’t changed much from the service in previous operating systems. To enable the Time Machine service, open the Server app, click on Time Machine in the SERVICES sidebar. If the service hasn’t been enabled to date, the ON/OFF switch will be in the OFF position and no “Backup destination” will be shown in the Settings pane. Click on the ON button to see the New Destination screen, used to configure a list of volumes as a destinations for Time Machine backups. The selection volume should be large enough to have space for all of the users that can potentially use the Time…