I just bought a 2TB SSD to move both mine and my partner's Photos libraries to. I will choose the 'Download Originals' option within both libraries, as I eventually want to stop using iCloud to store our photos and move to either Carbon Copy Cloner or Time Machine to back up the originals. Each library is approximately 500GB. My question is about formatting the SSD: As there will need to be two System Photos libraries on one drive, (one for me, one for my partner), should I create two APFS volumes within the SSD's container? Or two partitions?
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Two System Photos Libraries on one external drive
- Thread starter hewhore
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I don't believe it matters. Since both are APFS I would have them in same Container so that they are space sharing. The only use case I have found where separate partitions are essential is when you need to have different file systems, eg HFS for bootable installers. OTOH I have not tried what you are doing, so it might be another.
Keeps them clearly separate, even if not necessary.
More important, I suspect, is having two usernames. Even without the Photos app running, I have 7 background processes running which have most (all?) my Photos libraries open. So it may be critical not to have any shared Photos libraries - but if you have one each that is easy.
I have just done a test with a second user. I have both logged in (with fast user switching) and each with a separate Photos library open. No obvious issues. So your plan looks good.
No. If one volume runs out of space you are out of luck. With both in one container you can use all available space on the drive.
That looks like a typo? Did you mean 'yes'? As you say, two APFS volumes in the same container will share the space.
I do exactly this with my own Mac, and I’m using a single APFS volume. The user accounts keep the files straight.
That was my understanding with how volumes on an APFS formatted drive work: One will automatically make space for the other if the other requires it, hence the 'quota' and 'limit' options in Disk Utility when formatting a drive.
Sorry ...crossed out bit was when I thought I was replying to HDFan again!
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Oops, was thinking of partitions rather than volumes as you said. Stand corrected. However see no point in setting up 2 volumes. Makes backups more complicated.