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How best to partition 6TB drive for Mac Pro

sparkie7

sparkie7

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 17, 2008
2,490
264
Just bought a HGST Deskstar NAS 6TB for my ageing Mac Pro 2008 to replace the failing 320GB WD POS that came with the Mac Pro. A few questions..

Q1. What is the best application to partition and format it? I think I will split into 6x 1TB partitions. (as the largest external HD's I have are mostly WD 1TB External HD's). Is Disk Utility the best app to use, or is there something better? Also Disk Utility doesn't allow you to password protect the partitions/volumes - what app does?>

Q2. I intend to create a Disk Image at max 1TB for each 1TB partition. Encrypted and password protected - is 128 encryption adequate or is 256 Bit overkill and presumably takes too long to encrypt?

Q3. Is it possible to mount the Disk image and then use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone my start up Volume onto it, then unmount? Will there be any issues if I start up using this partition, or will it not start up as its a disk image? -- if so, is there a way to have a Disk Image thats encrypted but also bootable - or is this impossible?

Q4. Is there any other things I should consider?

Any advice appreciated. Thank in advance
 
Can you not use FileVault to encrypt your drives, or does this not meet your needs?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Assuming you want one bootable partition & then dice up the rest of the drives into 1TB bite size chunks, you could do away with all the partitions except the 1 TB boot partition & just create a bunch of encrypted disk images in the other 5TB partition. Use Disk Utility.

A disk image can't be booted AFAIK. If you want to encrypt your boot partition use File Vault 2.

This thread can give you some ideas.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/do-you-use-filevault-2.1201642/
 
Fonz4 said:
Can you not use FileVault to encrypt your drives, or does this not meet your needs?
Click to expand...

How does this compare with an encrypted disk image. What's the difference?
[doublepost=1489627559][/doublepost]
now i see it said:
Assuming you want one bootable partition & then dice up the rest of the drives into 1TB bite size chunks, you could do away with all the partitions except the 1 TB boot partition & just create a bunch of encrypted disk images in the other 5TB partition. Use Disk Utility.

A disk image can't be booted AFAIK. If you want to encrypt your boot partition use File Vault 2.

This thread can give you some ideas.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/do-you-use-filevault-2.1201642/
Click to expand...

Thanks. But I'm still running 10.6.8. So file vault 2 is not available
 
If you don't want to use File Vault, then make a small partition on your unencrypted boot drive, & keep all your documents in encrypted disk images on the other partition. There will be nothing of value on the boot drive if you keep all your files on encrypted disk images.

I see encrypted disk images as a safeguard against unsophisticated theives or nosy intruders. But if you think that a government agency can't hack into it, guess again.
 
now i see it said:
If you don't want to use File Vault, then make a small partition on your unencrypted boot drive, & keep all your documents in encrypted disk images on the other partition. There will be nothing of value on the boot drive if you keep all your files on encrypted disk images.

I see encrypted disk images as a safeguard against unsophisticated theives or nosy intruders. But if you think that a government agency can't hack into it, guess again.
Click to expand...


The problem is I'm running 10.6.8 which only uses FileVault 1.0. I need 10.7+ to run FileVault 2. But upgrading to 10.7 or 10.8 will mean I lose the ability to use PowerPC applications.

So is FileVault 2 only useful for encrypting Startup partitions? or can it be used to protect partitions with just data?

I'm trying to figure out which is more efficient and faster, FileVault or Disk Image encryption. ie. will FileVault 2 slow down my Mac Pro as it might be encrypting on the fly all the time? vs Disk Image will encrypts once only to be unlocked and accessed. What's the Pros and Cons of either and when best to deploy one over the other?
 
My understanding is that FileVault is just an encrypted disk image. What OSX does is just allow you to mount this image at start up to access it.
 
h9826790 said:
My understanding is that FileVault is just an encrypted disk image. What OSX does is just allow you to mount this image at start up to access it.
Click to expand...

Ok, possibly. It seems that FileVault 2 has stronger encryption than Disk Utility. But there are reports that it slows down your machine and system esp if your mac is pre 2012 models. Which my 2008 is :(
 
Q1 = terminal

Q2 = go 256 bit and a strong passkey - either way will take a while to encrypt. Let it run overnight.

Q3 = try it and let us know. But if past experience holds, then no. You have to provide credentials before the system will boot. It will only boot to the credentials screen. Major PITA for remote (truly remote) support.

Q4 = what's your budget, and are you subject to any industry regulations?
 
sparkie7 said:
Just bought a HGST Deskstar NAS 6TB for my ageing Mac Pro 2008 to replace the failing 320GB WD POS that came with the Mac Pro. A few questions..

Q1. What is the best application to partition and format it? I think I will split into 6x 1TB partitions. (as the largest external HD's I have are mostly WD 1TB External HD's). Is Disk Utility the best app to use, or is there something better? Also Disk Utility doesn't allow you to password protect the partitions/volumes - what app does?>

Q2. I intend to create a Disk Image at max 1TB for each 1TB partition. Encrypted and password protected - is 128 encryption adequate or is 256 Bit overkill and presumably takes too long to encrypt?

Q3. Is it possible to mount the Disk image and then use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone my start up Volume onto it, then unmount? Will there be any issues if I start up using this partition, or will it not start up as its a disk image? -- if so, is there a way to have a Disk Image thats encrypted but also bootable - or is this impossible?

Q4. Is there any other things I should consider?

Any advice appreciated. Thank in advance
Click to expand...


????? why are you doing this. Do you know what folders are?
 
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Because having a single partition 6TB boot drive is asking for a bag full of hurt down the line. Should be partitioned at least with two.
 
DPUser said:
Another cool thing 'bout partitioning is one can allocate data where speed is desired to the faster outer partition.
Click to expand...

But moving files between partitions is very slow if compare to move between folders.

Also, a single 120GB free space usually much more used then 6x 20GB.
 
sparkie7 said:
Is that the first partitions created vs the later ones?
Click to expand...
Older versions of Mac OS offered Disk Utility in a form wherein the top listed partition was always the outer/fastest. With the current OS pie chart version, I don't know how to tell anymore!

I found no info via Google... anybody that can chime in here?

My strategy has always been to allocate the slower inner partition to backup or long-term storage duties, saving the faster out regions for more often accessed data.
 
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It's still the same in the pie chart. The first partition is the fastest. If you partition the drive in half (for example) the 2nd partition is a LOT slower because it's on the inside of the platter. Always install the OS on the first partition.
 
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DPUser said:
My strategy has always been to allocate the slower inner partition to backup or long-term storage duties, saving the faster out regions for more often accessed data.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks
[doublepost=1490223613][/doublepost]
now i see it said:
It's still the same in the pie chart. The first partition is the fastest. If you partition the drive in half (for example) the 2nd partition is a LOT slower because it's on the inside of the platter. Always install the OS on the first partition.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks
 
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