What should I use Partition/Volume for extra iPad storage space on a Home Network HDD

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What should I use Partition/Volume for extra iPad storage space on a Home Network HDD

Hi I'm looking to dedicate 4TB off a 8TB HDD on a home networked drive to provide my wife with extra accessible storage for the things she saves on her iPad (she's nearly maxed out a 2TB iPad's storage), but as I really don't understand the difference, I don't know if I should just partition the HDD or if I should be splitting it into two volumes. One dedicated to her use and one for mine and the Mac it is attached to.

iMac 24″

Posted on Nov 25, 2024 12:30 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 25, 2024 1:33 PM in response to Bidge

Partitioning and splitting into volumes is generally the same thing.

You partition the drive and make a new volume for files to reside in.

You can do whatever you want. You can just create a folder for her even.

The iPad won't directly or automatically access the space on a network drive save content there, but the Files App can be made to access it and allow her to manually save files to it. Photos will remain on the device though they can be manually exported to the drive in the Files app. Apps can only live on the device and cannot be moved to the network storage. Downloaded music and movies will only live on the iPad in the relevant apps and cannot be moved to the network drive.

Also note, the networked storage would only be available to the iPad while connected to the home Wi-Fi, she won't be able to access it over the internet unless you that setup through your router.

Why exactly are you thinking of partitioning it, instead of just assigning a folder to her? Most network storage devices allow the assignment of disk quotas which can limit the amount of storage her file folder can use without the need of partitions to volumes. Check with the network storage user guide for how to set that up.

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Answer 2

Bidge Author

Level 1

21 points

Nov 25, 2024 10:17 PM in response to Phil0124

Thank you for the advice and useful info.

Largely, I thought to partition the drive, because I don't/didn't really know what I should I do to provide her with the extra storage space she needs, whilst preserving a chunk of it for my use.

The other 4TB of the drive I was intending to use as back-up drive for my data from the Mac, which I guess was my biggest thought in why I should partition the drive, therefore dedicating a set amount of space to back-ups from the Mac and set amount of space for her iPad data.

An issue I hadn't considered though and you have brought it to my attention is her photo library, which is where most of the storage on her device is being used up. You mention I can transfer the photos to the home network drive, but I can I transfer the library? Its largely just reference images for her art from the internet that she saves and holds onto for future reference.

I'm not sure if the drive or drive bay I'm using is classified/considered as a Network storage device (I don't believe they are). Its just a simple 5 Bay enclosure from IcyBox (which I'm pretty sure I've saw sold under other brand names too) wired directly into the Mac, and a Seagate Barracuda. I was just intending to use the File/Media sharing option on the Mac to add it to the home network and letting her access the drive that way.

We're not worried about access to the drive (at least for now) outside the home network, as she is disabled and is pretty much house bound, so the likelihood of needing to access the data from anyplace else is limited, as the iPad and her are pretty much always at home.

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