Initialize as APFS - Softraid vs Disk Utility - Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:36:07 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Initialize as APFS - Softraid vs Disk Utility https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/#post-14721 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 21:10:46 +0000 Ok, thanks for your input.

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize whistlerdan https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/#post-14721 RE: Initialize as APFS - Softraid vs Disk Utility https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/#post-14716 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 20:38:53 +0000 If this is Thunderbolt, SoftRAID will still check SMART data to predict failure, only if there are io errors are you not notified. I would probably use Disk utility, to keep it simpler. At least in the near future.

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/#post-14716 Initialize as APFS - Softraid vs Disk Utility https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/#post-14709 Sun, 20 Feb 2022 17:46:17 +0000 I am just setting up my first Thunderbay 8. I have 7x8TB drives in a RAID5, and I want the final slot used for a Time Machine drive. I know that from OS11 onwards, this drive needs to be APFS. As this will be a single drive, what are the pros and cons of initializing this drive through SoftRaid vs just doing it through Disk Utility? Does it make any difference at all?

 

My current assumption is that if I initialize it in SoftRaid, I get the benefits of the ongoing health checks even if this is a single disk and not a RAID. If I understand it correctly, that would not be true if I used Disk Utility. Is that correct?

 

Help appreciated for this new customer!

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize whistlerdan https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/initialize-as-apfs-softraid-vs-disk-utility/#post-14709