how to format my external drive

[codrutp]

I bought today an external Lacie USB-C 1 TB mechanical drive for backups (not Time Machine), because it was a good deal and I needed an external backup.

How should I format this drive? GUID partition scheme? Should I use the new AFS of the old HFS. I am using the up to date High Sierra OS and I own two MBP 2017.

Also, for long term storage, should I upgrade my mechanical (it's a Seagate 1TB inside) disk with a 2 TB SSD (when the prices go a bit lower)? Which type of media is best for long term storage, mechanical or SSD?

Thanks,
C

 

[Bart Kela]

Use the GUID partition scheme and format as HFS+. There is no advantage using APFS on rotational drives right now otherwise the High Sierra upgrade would have converted spinning drives as well as SSDs.

Current SSDs might have more long term reliability, but remember that failures probably look like a bell curve. There's a chance that either drive could fail in a month, five years, ten years, no one knows about your specific unit.

The main benefit to SSDs is speed, something the typical consumer doesn't need in a backup device. One reasonable alternative would be to replace a traditional hard drive every few years with a new one. They're way cheaper than SSDs.

Remember that if it's worth backing up, it's worth backing up twice. In that sense, it's better to have two external rotational hard drive backups than one pricey SSD backup.

 

[xgman]

yes. HFS+

 

[codrutp]

It seems everybody suggested HFS+. I did that. But then I've chosen the encrypt the drive and it was converted to APFS:

/dev/disk2 (external, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *1.0 TB disk2

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk2s1

2: Apple_APFS Container disk3 999.9 GB disk2s2


/dev/disk3 (synthesized):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: APFS Container Scheme - +999.9 GB disk3

Physical Store disk2s2

1: APFS Volume LACIE 33.8 GB disk3s1

The question is why nobody trusts APFS? HFS+ is old and that's why Apple created APFS. I know they didn't convert automatically HDDs to APFS when upgrading to High Sierra but they said it's ok to use it.

Can I have my HDD encrypted using HFS+? Using Apple software, not the LaCie AES-256 software.

Thanks
C

 

[Bart Kela]

The main benefit of formatting an external hard drive with HFS+ is the fact that it can be read by a Mac that is not running High Sierra. If that's not an issue for you, carry on with APFS.

As for encrypting an HFS+ volume, control-click on the device in Finder, the Encrypt "Your Drive Name" option should appear if the volume is eligible for encryption.

For further information, please search for "macOS encrypt external drive" on your favorite Internet search engine for a plethora of articles about the topic (which includes official Apple support documents).

 

[codrutp]

Thanks. I've already encrypted it, but please note that when doing so my drive was automatically converted from HFS+ to APFS. I'll stick with APFS.

Best Regards,
C

 

[Strelok]

Use the GUID partition scheme and format as HFS+. There is no advantage using APFS on rotational drives right now otherwise the High Sierra upgrade would have converted spinning drives as well as SSDs.

Current SSDs might have more long term reliability, but remember that failures probably look like a bell curve. There's a chance that either drive could fail in a month, five years, ten years, no one knows about your specific unit.

The main benefit to SSDs is speed, something the typical consumer doesn't need in a backup device. One reasonable alternative would be to replace a traditional hard drive every few years with a new one. They're way cheaper than SSDs.

Remember that if it's worth backing up, it's worth backing up twice. In that sense, it's better to have two external rotational hard drive backups than one pricey SSD backup.

The other main benefit of an SSD is that it is basically shock resistant. So you can throw it around and not worry too much about it breaking, unlike mechanical drives. No moving parts are great!

 

[dianeoforegon]

Thanks. I've already encrypted it, but please note that when doing so my drive was automatically converted from HFS+ to APFS. I'll stick with APFS.

Best Regards,
C

There is a bug that converts to APFS when you encrypt. I would reformat as HFS+ then not encrypt at this time.