Recently, my macbook pro needed service, so I used SuperDuper to create a back up clone. After reinstalling my backed up clone, I now have 5 containers. Is this correct? It looks like there are 2 hard drives listed, but there is only one. Can I merge them or delete the second one? Attached are screenshots.
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What should my partitions and volumes look like. Have 5 containers - Is that right?
- Thread starter LobsterGeek
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You can rename the disk, but do it in Finder, not in Disk Utility, and the operating system will handle things properly. Your partitions and APFS structures look normal to me.
Your drive is named Macintosh HD
The drive with that name is where the actual OS is stored.
Your Mac is not running from that drive.
You are running from the "snapshot" with the name "com.apple.os... "
You can't rename the snapshot.
Your files (not the system) are stored on Macintosh HD - Data
So, your drive is named Macintosh HD. There are other volumes in the container that don't appear in the list, such as VM and Preboot. You don't have access to those, either.
Your number of volumes in the container appear good.
I'll echo what Apple_Robert said: Don't rename. Leave everything as it is.
But, as chrfr wrote, you can rename the disk, if you like. Just don't do that in Disk Utility. Renaming in the Finder lets your system do the rename, without possibly leaving you with an "orphaned" data volume, for example.
The drive with that name is where the actual OS is stored.
Your Mac is not running from that drive.
You are running from the "snapshot" with the name "com.apple.os... "
You can't rename the snapshot.
Your files (not the system) are stored on Macintosh HD - Data
So, your drive is named Macintosh HD. There are other volumes in the container that don't appear in the list, such as VM and Preboot. You don't have access to those, either.
Your number of volumes in the container appear good.
I'll echo what Apple_Robert said: Don't rename. Leave everything as it is.
But, as chrfr wrote, you can rename the disk, if you like. Just don't do that in Disk Utility. Renaming in the Finder lets your system do the rename, without possibly leaving you with an "orphaned" data volume, for example.
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- You have one disk (disk0)
- You have one container (disk1 - a synthesized device) which is stored in a partition on the disk (disk0s2)
- The container contains around 5 volumes with different roles (System:disk1s1, Data:disk1s5, Preboot, Recovery, VM). In my Big Sur container, the slice numbers are different (Data:s1, Preboot:s2, Recovery:s3, VM:s4, System:s5)
- The System volume contains one snapshot (disk1s1s1)
Use
- You have one container (disk1 - a synthesized device) which is stored in a partition on the disk (disk0s2)
- The container contains around 5 volumes with different roles (System:disk1s1, Data:disk1s5, Preboot, Recovery, VM). In my Big Sur container, the slice numbers are different (Data:s1, Preboot:s2, Recovery:s3, VM:s4, System:s5)
- The System volume contains one snapshot (disk1s1s1)
Use
diskutil list and diskutil apfs list to get more info.Is it ok that it is tunning from the snapshot? When I did the restore, I told it to use Mac HD, but must have done it wrong.
Yes, Big Sur always runs from a snapshot. There’s nothing abnormal or incorrect that is showing in Disk Utility.
You have one storage drive, which has one container with several volumes.
Your system install created those volumes, much of which is protected by SIP, and your system takes care of what is installed on each volume.
So, the various volumes have parts of the system installed. Your system takes care of all that.
The important volume for you is the "Macintosh HD - Data" volume. That's the only volume that has your files and apps. The system itself is mostly on the protected "Macintosh HD" volume.
I suggest that you don't try to manually delete, or move anything from one volume to another.
Most is protected, and you won't be able to move much.
Again, the macOS system takes care of where everything gets installed, keeps track of that, and protects those files when necessary. Your system knows where your "stuff" is located. Just use the Finder if you need to move or delete files. You WILL get notified if you try to move or delete protected files or folders.
Use your Mac. Try not to obsess about how it all works.
Your system install created those volumes, much of which is protected by SIP, and your system takes care of what is installed on each volume.
So, the various volumes have parts of the system installed. Your system takes care of all that.
The important volume for you is the "Macintosh HD - Data" volume. That's the only volume that has your files and apps. The system itself is mostly on the protected "Macintosh HD" volume.
I suggest that you don't try to manually delete, or move anything from one volume to another.
Most is protected, and you won't be able to move much.
Again, the macOS system takes care of where everything gets installed, keeps track of that, and protects those files when necessary. Your system knows where your "stuff" is located. Just use the Finder if you need to move or delete files. You WILL get notified if you try to move or delete protected files or folders.
Use your Mac. Try not to obsess about how it all works.
You can mount them and look, but don't touch. (e.g.
Code:
diskutil mount Recoverydiskutil mount disk1s3) They are supposed to be there, and they don't take much space (except the System and Data volumes which contain the system files and your files (and applications and preferences and logs and whatever))Actually, the Preboot and VM volumes are probably already mounted at /System/Volumes so you could look at those.