Time Machine MDM payload settings for Apple devices
You can configure Time Machine settings for users of a Mac enrolled in a mobile device management (MDM) solution. Use the Time Machine payload to define the location and options for Time Machine backups on managed Mac computers.
The Time Machine payload supports the following. For more information, see Payload information.
Supported payload identifier: com.apple.MCX.TimeMachine
Supported operating systems and channels: macOS device.
Supported enrollment methods: Device Enrollment, Automated Device Enrollment.
Duplicates allowed: False—only one Time Machine payload can be delivered to a device.
You can use the settings in the table below with the Time Machine payload.
Setting | Description | Required | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Backup location | URL of the backup destination. | Yes | |||||||||
Back up all volumes | All mounted volumes can be backed up by default. If unchecked, only the Startup Volume is backed up. | No | |||||||||
Back up system files and folders | macOS system files and folders can be backed up. | No | |||||||||
Enable automatic backups | Backups can be handled automatically, instead of having users perform them manually. | No | |||||||||
Enable local snapshots | Time Machine creates local backup snapshots if the backup destination is offline (OS X 10.8 or later). | No | |||||||||
Backup size limit | Enter a limit in megabytes for the size of the backup. Leaving this value blank or entering a zero places no limit on the amount of data backed up. | No | |||||||||
Paths to skip | Enter additional volumes and locations to exclude from the backup. | No | |||||||||
Note: Each MDM vendor implements these settings differently. To learn how Time Machine settings are applied to your devices, consult your MDM vendor’s documentation.