I have a bunch of external hard drives now, and I’m trying to figure out how to organise all my data on them. Here’s what I have:
- 100Gb on the computer
- 120Gb
- 250Gb (big, not transportable, really)
- 250Gb
- 320Gb
- 1Tb
I have an iTunes library that is approx 20Gb, my Pictures directory is around 40Gb though I have moved quite a few photos off to an external drive already, Movies is 15Gb though I thought it was empty (also moved stuff off). I have TV Series (shhh) too. I have many Gb of source video I’ve taken (India is 56Gb, and then I’ve shot a few conferences).
I recently had to move my iTunes library off the computer. This is kind of silly, though, because if there’s one thing one wants on the computer, it’s music (so that when I sync my iPod it doesn’t decide to blank it).
So, here’s what I’m thinking. Keep the 120Gb drive for a “computer” backup that I can carry around with me. Keep a “computer” backup image on the 1Tb drive too.
Use the 320Gb to store photos and video, with a backup on the 1Tb.
Use the static 250Gb to store source video material I’m not working on or am done with (archive) — with a backup on the 1Tb.
Use the 250Gb (mobile) for stuff I want to watch or video I’m working on.
Thoughts?
Stephanie's Cheese Sandwich Blog 
That’s a lot of hard disks you have there! I have a 400GB external and a 20 GB internal HD, so with me it’s a lot easier: everything that’s been processed and that I’m not currently working on goes on my external HD. All my music is on the external, too, but if I go somewhere where I don’t carry my external HD, I make a “Music (temp)” folder with some music I can’t live without.
Anyway, your system makes sense. 🙂
Sounds reasonable to me.
I think how you do it really depends on two (maybe three) points:
– First, it has to work with the way you handle data; that is, it should never get in your way or require you to copy stuff around a lot
– Second, it should have room for growth – data usually claims all the space it can, all by itself.
– Third, Backups. If the scheme gets in the way of doing backups of important stuff, don’t do it. If the scheme implements backups “by itself” (I get the feeling it does), they should be as easy as possible (and frequent enough).
It’s your call 🙂
Stephanie –
You have a decent plan, and I am using something similar, but slightly different.
120 gb on MacBook Pro – system files (business docs, small music library – 7gb to sync with my nano, and using Aperture to catalog photos as reference). It has about 60gb available.
250gb small portable – Time Machine backup for MacBook Pro.
320gb portable – complete Music (100gb) and Photo libraries
500gb non-portable – backup of Music & Photos.
I also back Music and Photos to CD’s
Hope that helps…
Mark
P.S. Good Luck with your Going Solo event. I hope it is successful