time capsule / samba 4 / netbsd

Apple plans to remove AFP from macOS 27, which would break legacy Time Capsule devices that only support AFP and SMB1. Time Capsule hardware was discontinued in 2018 (last model in 2013), but many units still function as NAS/Time Machine targets. Because Time Capsules run NetBSD, a community project called TimeCapsuleSMB can install Samba 4 on those devices, adding SMB3 and modern authentication so macOS 27 can connect and use them for backups. The hack supports NetBSD 4 and 6-based units, is reversible, and disables AFP/SMB1 (obsolete anyway). This underscores how open-source tooling can extend the life of discontinued hardware and protect users from vendor lock-in.

Apple plans to remove AFP from macOS 27, which would break support for legacy Time Capsule devices that only speak AFP and SMB1. Time Capsule hardware was last sold in 2013 and discontinued in 2018, but owners still relying on the built-in NAS could be cut off if they upgrade. Fortunately, every Time Capsule runs NetBSD and the open-source project TimeCapsuleSMB makes it straightforward to install Samba 4 and enable SMB3/authenticated connections, restoring compatibility with modern macOS SMB clients and Time Machine backups. The change disables AFP/SMB1 (already deprecated) and is reversible, illustrating how open-source tools can extend the life of discontinued hardware.

Apple wants to kill your Time Capsule, but they run NetBSD so they can’t

Apple is planning to drop AFP support in macOS 27, which would break compatibility with legacy Time Capsule devices that only support AFP and SMB1. Time Capsules were discontinued in 2018 (last hardware in 2013) but remain in use as inexpensive NAS/Time Machine targets. Because those devices run NetBSD, an open-source project called TimeCapsuleSMB can be installed to add Samba 4 and SMB3 support, advertise the share via Bonjour, and accept authenticated SMB3 connections from modern macOS versions. The patch is reversible, works on NetBSD 4 and 6-based units (with one extra activation step on NetBSD 4), and disables AFP/SMB1—effectively extending the useful life of old Time Capsules and illustrating how open source can preserve device functionality.