# BeamDisk documentation

> How to install BeamDisk, connect a Mac with Apple Silicon to iSCSI storage on a server or SAN, use the app, back up with Time Machine, tune performance, deploy it to a fleet and fix problems.

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

- [Install BeamDisk](https://beamdisk.app/docs/getting-started/install/): Get the app and turn it on, once.
- [Add your first disk](https://beamdisk.app/docs/getting-started/add-a-disk/): Connect to a target on your server and choose its disks.
- [Back up with Time Machine](https://beamdisk.app/docs/time-machine/set-up/): Use an iSCSI disk as a Time Machine destination.
- [Set up TrueNAS](https://beamdisk.app/docs/targets/truenas/): Make an iSCSI target and disk for your Mac on TrueNAS.

## 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](https://beamdisk.app/docs/reference/compatibility/).
- A wired network connection to the storage is recommended.

## Find your way

- **Getting started**: [install](https://beamdisk.app/docs/getting-started/install/), [add a disk](https://beamdisk.app/docs/getting-started/add-a-disk/), [a quick tour](https://beamdisk.app/docs/getting-started/first-look/), and [removing BeamDisk](https://beamdisk.app/docs/getting-started/uninstall/).
- **Using BeamDisk**: [the menu bar](https://beamdisk.app/docs/using/menu-bar/), [the window and the Overview](https://beamdisk.app/docs/using/overview/), [a disk's page](https://beamdisk.app/docs/using/disk-page/), [messages and notifications](https://beamdisk.app/docs/using/messages/) and [keyboard shortcuts](https://beamdisk.app/docs/using/shortcuts/).
- **Disks**: [formatting](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/format/), [connecting and ejecting](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/connect-and-eject/), [file systems](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/file-systems/), [outages](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/outages/), [power-loss protection](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/power-loss-protection/), [one Mac per disk](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/exclusive-access/), [free space](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/free-space/), [growing a disk](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/grow/) and [Spotlight](https://beamdisk.app/docs/disks/spotlight/).
- **Your storage server or SAN**: [TrueNAS](https://beamdisk.app/docs/targets/truenas/) and [what a target needs](https://beamdisk.app/docs/targets/requirements/).
- **Performance**: [Test Speed](https://beamdisk.app/docs/performance/test-speed/) and [getting the most from your network](https://beamdisk.app/docs/performance/tuning/).
- **Deploying to a fleet**: [Apple Business Manager, MDM and initiator names](https://beamdisk.app/docs/deployment/fleet/).
- **Troubleshooting**: [Add Disk can't find disks](https://beamdisk.app/docs/troubleshooting/cant-find-disks/), [a disk won't connect](https://beamdisk.app/docs/troubleshooting/wont-connect/), [disk states](https://beamdisk.app/docs/troubleshooting/disk-states/), [a disk won't eject](https://beamdisk.app/docs/troubleshooting/cant-eject/) and [getting help](https://beamdisk.app/docs/troubleshooting/get-help/).
- **Reference**: [settings](https://beamdisk.app/docs/reference/settings/), [compatibility](https://beamdisk.app/docs/reference/compatibility/) and [iSCSI terms](https://beamdisk.app/docs/reference/glossary/).