Two partitioned drive questions: can i mount both at once AND do i need extra space? at DVinfo.net

Noam Osband · May 23rd, 2013, 09:14 PM

So, I have a 6tb drive I got for film editing with FCP7. I have two questions before I partition and fill it up:

1 - I am using the drive for a film project I already started with two other drives. What I want to do is partition the new drive into 3, using two of the partitions to duplicate the drives I already have. This way I don't need to reattach all the files when I use the new drive. This makes sense if I can mount multiple partitions at the same time from the same drive? Can I do that? I assume so. But reading online i haven't found conformation.

2 - I know the rule of thumb is to keep 10% of a hard drive free. If I partition the drive, do I need to keep 10% of each partition free or is 10% overall OK?

Edward Carlson · May 23rd, 2013, 10:30 PM

I see no reason to partition. Relinking the media in FCP is super simple, as long as the only thing that changes is the drive name. If the rest of the folder structure is intact, then it should be a matter of seconds to reconnect the media.

To answer the question, yes you can absolutely mount multiple partitions at the same time.

10% of the whole disk would equal 10% of each partition, so this question is really moot.

Noam Osband · May 23rd, 2013, 10:34 PM

The thing is that the media is on two drives and now I'm putting it on one. So, I could give the new drive one of the names of one of the older drives, but that still means half the media is disconnected.

as for free space, the older drives were both 2tb drives that i had come dangerously close to filling up. id like to keep all the data on them and not delete stuff when i copy them to the new drive. so, their partitions might still be close to full, but the overall drive will have tons of free space. would that be fine?

Edward Carlson · May 23rd, 2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noam Osband

The thing is that the media is on two drives and now I'm putting it on one. So, I could give the new drive one of the names of one of the older drives, but that still means half the media is disconnected.

I think you're just overcomplicating things. Just put all the media on one partition and reconnect the media as needed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noam Osband

as for free space, the older drives were both 2tb drives that i had come dangerously close to filling up. id like to keep all the data on them and not delete stuff when i copy them to the new drive. so, their partitions might still be close to full, but the overall drive will have tons of free space. would that be fine?

The 10% threshold is due to the physical mechanics of a drive. Partitions don't split your disk up into smaller disks, you still only have one drive.

As I said, a 10% threshold on several partitions will equal 10% of the whole drive. Imagine you take 100 GB and split it up into 4 equal, 25 GB partitions. 10% of each of those partitions is 2.5 GB. Multiply that by 4 and you have 10 GB. 10% of your original 100 GB is also 10 GB, so either way you measure it, you have 10% of your drive free.

Noam Osband · May 23rd, 2013, 10:42 PM

I agree it's slightly complicated.....but there are two of us working on this project. I want us to be able to each work on the project separately. So, I need a solution where one of us has the two older 2TB drives and one of us uses the 6tb drive.

that said...thanks for answering my question thoroughly and rapidly. this forum is the best.

Daniel Epstein · May 30th, 2013, 07:52 AM

Noam,
I the past when I have consolidated projects from separate drives onto a larger one I just named folders with the smaller drives names plus a modifier like copy or Back up but kept the larger drive without partitions. Large Drive name with folder called Drive 1 Copy, folder Drive 2 Copy etc so it is relatively easy to reconnect the media. Trickier issue is usually renders and if you add media to the project afterwards. You really have to think about what files you added to the project when.

May 23rd, 2013, 09:14 PM	#1
Noam Osband Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Philadelphia, United States Posts: 163	Two partitioned drive questions: can i mount both at once AND do i need extra space? So, I have a 6tb drive I got for film editing with FCP7. I have two questions before I partition and fill it up: 1 - I am using the drive for a film project I already started with two other drives. What I want to do is partition the new drive into 3, using two of the partitions to duplicate the drives I already have. This way I don't need to reattach all the files when I use the new drive. This makes sense if I can mount multiple partitions at the same time from the same drive? Can I do that? I assume so. But reading online i haven't found conformation. 2 - I know the rule of thumb is to keep 10% of a hard drive free. If I partition the drive, do I need to keep 10% of each partition free or is 10% overall OK?

May 23rd, 2013, 10:30 PM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: Two partitioned drive questions: can i mount both at once AND do i need extra spa I see no reason to partition. Relinking the media in FCP is super simple, as long as the only thing that changes is the drive name. If the rest of the folder structure is intact, then it should be a matter of seconds to reconnect the media. To answer the question, yes you can absolutely mount multiple partitions at the same time. 10% of the whole disk would equal 10% of each partition, so this question is really moot.

May 23rd, 2013, 10:34 PM	#3
Noam Osband Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Philadelphia, United States Posts: 163	Re: Two partitioned drive questions: can i mount both at once AND do i need extra spa The thing is that the media is on two drives and now I'm putting it on one. So, I could give the new drive one of the names of one of the older drives, but that still means half the media is disconnected. as for free space, the older drives were both 2tb drives that i had come dangerously close to filling up. id like to keep all the data on them and not delete stuff when i copy them to the new drive. so, their partitions might still be close to full, but the overall drive will have tons of free space. would that be fine?

May 23rd, 2013, 10:42 PM	#5
Noam Osband Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Philadelphia, United States Posts: 163	Re: Two partitioned drive questions: can i mount both at once AND do i need extra spa I agree it's slightly complicated.....but there are two of us working on this project. I want us to be able to each work on the project separately. So, I need a solution where one of us has the two older 2TB drives and one of us uses the 6tb drive. that said...thanks for answering my question thoroughly and rapidly. this forum is the best.

May 30th, 2013, 07:52 AM	#6
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: Two partitioned drive questions: can i mount both at once AND do i need extra spa Noam, I the past when I have consolidated projects from separate drives onto a larger one I just named folders with the smaller drives names plus a modifier like copy or Back up but kept the larger drive without partitions. Large Drive name with folder called Drive 1 Copy, folder Drive 2 Copy etc so it is relatively easy to reconnect the media. Trickier issue is usually renders and if you add media to the project afterwards. You really have to think about what files you added to the project when.