Resilio Sync Setup for IOS 8+ Clients (legacy)

Intended Audience

This post will be of interest if you want to use Resilio Sync to back up the camera folder on IOS 8+ clients to a legacy FreeNAS server (version 11.1 or below).

A later version of this post using a modern FreeNAS server (version 11.2 or above) can be found here.

Assumptions

1. The reader has a working knowledge of FreeNAS.
2. The Resilio Sync plugin has been installed on the FreeNAS server. If not, refer to this post first.

Overview

The instruction here is for setting up the Resilio sync client software on IOS 8.0 or later clients to back up photos from them on to a FreeNAS server. The app screens that follow refer to the version of the IOS sync client indicated in the screenshot below.

Step 1: Install and start the sync client.

When starting the client, you will be prompted for a user name. I like to use a device identifier. While on this screen, switch off Use mobile data for sync so you’re only backing up when connected to wifi.

Edit: Since rebuilding my Resilio backups, recognising that I have a client-server backup arrangement using Resilio, I’ve resorted to the sync name ‘resilio’ across all devices.

Next, you will be presented with the client UI.

Step 2: Add a location to backup.

Click the + button in the top right corner and then select Camera backup.

Step 3: Request session connection with the sync server

Click on Set up backup and then select a means of delivering the session request to the server.

Step 4: Establish a session connection on the server.

From the sync server, select Manual connection from Options and then enter the link or key for the session request.

Step 5: Create storage location for the backup.

After clicking Next, the sync server will suggest a backup location under /media.

Step 6: Initiate the backup

Click Connect and you will be returned to the server sync WebUI. The status will say Connecting…

A notification will be flagged on the client UI.

Click on the notification and then select the tick to initiate backup

Backup activity can be observed from the Folders screen of the client UI and from the sync server desktop WebUI.

There are a number of limitations in using the sync client on IOS. In particular, backup will only work if the camera app is open and in the foreground.

References

1. Sync Interface on IOS Devices
2. Sync for IOS Perculiarities

Revision History

1. Use sync name resilio across all devices (170619)