The decision’s been made. Here’s everything you need to evaluate the setup and get FamilyCloud running.
This page covers what FamilyCloud actually requires to run, how to set it up from scratch, and how to migrate an existing photo/media library. If you’re here because someone in your family shared this link, you’re in the right place.
System requirements
Any Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later). macOS Sequoia 15.3 or later.
Recommended: Mac mini M4 for always-on server use. 6W idle, fanless under normal media workloads.
8 GB minimum. 16 GB recommended for libraries over 500 GB or simultaneous streams above 3.
External USB-C or Thunderbolt drives. FamilyCloud spans multiple volumes automatically. Internal SSD is used for the app and index only — not media storage.
Ethernet recommended, not required. Minimum 10 Mbps upload for remote streaming. 25 Mbps recommended for 4K.
Standard residential ISP. No static IP required. No port forwarding required. FamilyCloud uses CGNAT hole-punching for remote access. Works on Starlink, CGNAT cable, and standard fiber.
Hardware
~$800
total
~$1,618
total
Configure as RAID 5 (24 TB usable, 1 drive fault-tolerant) or JBOD with FamilyCloud software RAID.
~$610–$710
per node
Installation
Download
Download FamilyCloud from skyfiresystems.com/familycloud.
Install
Move FamilyCloud.app to /Applications. Launch it.
First-run wizard
Add family members
Go to Settings → Members. Each member gets an invite link. They install the FamilyCloud app on their device and enter the invite code.
Configure phone backup
On each member's device, enable auto-backup in the FamilyCloud mobile app. Backup runs on Wi-Fi only by default.
Migration
FamilyCloud will discover media in any folder you point it to. Add your existing Plex media folder as a watched library in FamilyCloud → Settings → Media Sources. Plex can continue running in parallel — both will index the same files.
Multi-site
Set up the primary node first (complete steps above).
On the secondary machine, download and install FamilyCloud.
In primary FamilyCloud → Settings → Multi-site → Add Node. Generate a pairing code.
On the secondary machine, enter the pairing code. The two nodes establish an encrypted peer-to-peer sync connection.
Initial sync: FamilyCloud copies the full library to the secondary node. Depending on library size and connection speed, this may take several hours to days on first run. Subsequent syncs are incremental.
Failover is automatic: if the primary goes offline, remote clients switch to the secondary node within 60 seconds.
Access control
Full system access. Can manage all settings, members, and storage. First account created during setup.
Can manage members and view system settings. Cannot change encryption or storage configuration.
Full library access. Can upload, share, and manage their own content. Cannot manage other members.
Can see the shared library and auto-backup their own device. Cannot upload or manage content. Ideal for grandparents, distant relatives, or children's accounts.
Roles are assigned per invite. An admin can change a member’s role at any time.
Networking
No inbound rules required
FamilyCloud does not require any inbound firewall rules or port forwarding. Outbound HTTPS (port 443) only.
CGNAT hole-punching relay
The CGNAT hole-punching relay is operated by Skyfire — it establishes the connection path but never sees the content. All media is end-to-end encrypted.
Air-gapped / LAN-only mode
For air-gapped or strictly firewalled environments, FamilyCloud can be configured for LAN-only mode (no remote access), which requires no outbound connection whatsoever.
Recovery
Point-in-time history
FamilyCloud maintains a 30-day point-in-time history for all files by default (configurable). Accidental deletions, overwrites, and ransomware events can be rolled back from Settings → Recovery.
SkyFire Recovery is included — no separate license required.
Drive failure recovery
Replace the failed drive, add it to the enclosure, and FamilyCloud rebuilds the data from the remaining drives (RAID 5) or from the secondary node. No manual intervention beyond the physical swap.