BeamDisk documentation
BeamDisk connects a Mac with Apple Silicon to iSCSI storage on a server or SAN. The disk shows up in Finder, Disk Utility and Time Machine like a drive plugged into the Mac, with no kernel extension and no change to the Mac’s security settings.
Start here
Section titled “Start here”Install BeamDiskGet the app and turn it on, once.
Add your first diskConnect to a target on your server and choose its disks.
Back up with Time MachineUse an iSCSI disk as a Time Machine destination.
Set up TrueNASMake an iSCSI target and disk for your Mac on TrueNAS.
What you need
Section titled “What you need”- A Mac with Apple Silicon on macOS 27 or later.
- An iSCSI target on a storage server or SAN. BeamDisk is tested with TrueNAS; see Compatibility.
- A wired network connection to the storage is recommended.
Find your way
Section titled “Find your way”- Getting started: install, add a disk, a quick tour, and removing BeamDisk.
- Using BeamDisk: the menu bar, the window and the Overview, a disk’s page, messages and notifications and keyboard shortcuts.
- Disks: formatting, connecting and ejecting, file systems, outages, power-loss protection, one Mac per disk, free space, growing a disk and Spotlight.
- Your storage server or SAN: TrueNAS and what a target needs.
- Performance: Test Speed and getting the most from your network.
- Deploying to a fleet: Apple Business Manager, MDM and initiator names.
- Troubleshooting: Add Disk can’t find disks, a disk won’t connect, disk states, a disk won’t eject and getting help.
- Reference: settings, compatibility and iSCSI terms.