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Initialize and Format External Drives in what Format

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 Rupp
(@rupp)
Posts: 17
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

I apologize for this very basic question.

I've been sort of ignoring the APFS format until now. I just got a MacBookPro 16" M1 running Monterey. I've hooked up a ThunderBay 4, and will be using SATA drives mostly for storage and backup. How should I format the drives. I plan to have 1 or 2, two drive mirrors for now. I have SoftRAID Pro. What format should I use? 

While I'm asking, one should format external SSD's with APFS?

 
Posted : 05/11/2021 1:12 pm
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8006
Member Admin
 

Its up to you, but Apple recommends APFS on flash media, so we set it as the default for new volumes.

Its somewhat slower, but on flash, you won't notice.

 
Posted : 05/11/2021 2:07 pm
 Rupp
(@rupp)
Posts: 17
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

@softraid-support

 

In the Thunderbay 4 I have SATA drives. Would I use APFS on those? 

 
Posted : 05/11/2021 7:55 pm
(@softraid-support)
Posts: 8006
Member Admin
 

@rupp

HDD's are slow under APFS, which is the main reason HFS is recommended. Time Machine must have APFS, however.

 
Posted : 05/11/2021 9:25 pm
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