Format HD

When you say you are not making a volume on them, they will be spares? Or not SoftRAID volumes?

I would "certify" the two disks in any case. that will take a few days, but ensure they are reliable.

If you want them as "spares", but no volumes, initialize them with SoftRAID, but don't create a volume. then you won't get the macOS message every startup to initialize the disks.

Is this your question?

Sorry about my confusing question. Yes I will not be making them into Volumes. I'm using them to store images that are already backed up .  I will put them in the enclosure, do the "certify" and then initialize. I will name them also during this process. Thank you.    David

@davidbarkin

You actually mean you are not making them SoftRAID volumes.

after they pass certify, erase them in Disk Utility.

correct, SoftRAID volumesnwill NOT be made.  When I use Erase is there a Format that works best. I usually use Mac OS Extended (journaled). Is there any reason to use another?

Thank you for your help.

David

@davidbarkin

If they are HDD, no, use HFS, as APFS, while "better" and more reliable, is 50% slower in usage.

Thanks. These are 6tb internal Hard drives. I think you are saying APFS is slow and I should not use HFS either. What about MAC EXTENDED?

 Thanks 

@davidbarkin

Sorry for the confusion. They are the same, HFS + is the same as macOS Extended.

There are really two main macOS file systems, APFS and HFS.

For HDD's choose HFS.

Thanks for settling this. Naming things can be so confusing sometimes.Thanks for all of your support on this Forum. I'm sure I will have more in the future.

Stay healthy.

David