Device migration, worth it to jump to High Sierra for APFS?

[benguild]

Hey so if you've got a new Mac, is it worth it to jump to High Sierra and do a migration there from your old device? Since, it'd convert to APFS straight-away.

I'm worried about data loss or corruption, but overall system stability is probably good enough on Beta 2 I'd imagine.

 

[jmislansky]

I wouldn't recommend it. I did it. Not happy lol

 

[mmomega]

Do normal backups, wait for APFS to mature a little.
If you're worried about data corruption or losing data, definitely never go to a developer preview. Shiny new is kind of cool until it doesn't work, you lost everything and you're spending hours on a forum hoping someone can help in some way.

 

[jmislansky]

Do normal backups, wait for APFS to mature a little.
If you're worried about data corruption or losing data, definitely never go to a developer preview. Shiny new is kind of cool until it doesn't work, you lost everything and you're spending hours on a forum hoping someone can help in some way.

Oh I know. I’m not complaining. I knew the risks

 

[benguild]

I wouldn't recommend it. I did it. Not happy lol

Can you elaborate?

 

[grahamperrin]

Not yet. Please see the topics where APFS is discussed.

 

[benguild]

Not yet. Please see the topics where APFS is discussed.

Can you quote any actual issues that aren't specific edge-cases? The threads I see are specific to:
- HFS+ conversions (upgrades, etc.)
- Converting from prior FileVault or trying to enable FileVault after the device is setup
- Fusion drives
- External drives

... I'm talking about a recent, fresh Mac with an Apple SSD, and would try doing a device migration using the Setup Assistant. (essentially rewriting the entire drive, not converting existing files/blocks)

 

[grahamperrin]

… worried about data loss or corruption, …

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/24721707 for example, wrong block offset; how much is known about the implications of such bugs?

fsck_apfs(8) in 17A264c could not check a partially encrypted volume. Such things were not evident in the Disk Utility interface; people might have seen 'OK' when truly, not enough of the volume had been checked to tell whether it was OK. Better in 17A291j? I have not yet had an opportunity to test.

And so on …

 

[KALLT]

Just use the stable releases. APFS has numerous reported problems at this point. I would not put my data on it until Apple releases High Sierra to the public. Who knows what kind of problems you might be carrying around even after you update from the beta. Apple takes care of the conversion, no need to rush it.

 

[benguild]

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/24721707 for example, wrong block offset; how much is known about the implications of such bugs?

fsck_apfs(8) in 17A264c could not check a partially encrypted volume. Such things were not evident in the Disk Utility interface; people might have seen 'OK' when truly, not enough of the volume had been checked to tell whether it was OK. Better in 17A291j? I have not yet had an opportunity to test.

And so on …

Again, all of this seems to be related to partially encrypted volumes or HFS conversions.

 

[grahamperrin]

There's also the safe boot issue.

 

[bradhs]

Definitely not recommended, currently major disk space issue where deleted files do not free up available disk space.

 

[happyslayer]

If you're comfortable with the risks, AND you have a backup of your files on a known-good, backup drive or cloud service, then do it. If not, I would wait for production release. I have all the files I care about on DropBox and can access them from other devices--iPad, PC, another old MacBook Pro, So I did it. I do not use File Vault though. Never have.

 

[Feenician]

Definitely not recommended, currently major disk space issue where deleted files do not free up available disk space.

I’m looking forward to High Sierra and APFS on the Mac greatly but it sounds like they have a lot of work to do still. When you manage to make HFS+ look reliable by comparison*...

*I’m semi-joking. HFS has never caused me (noticeable) data loss but I do recognise its technical deficiencies and COW alone makes me excited for APFS.

 

[benguild]

Guys, just an update:
I ended up not jumping to High Sierra after having some trouble with the installer. I filed two bug reports after confirming these issues were not present with the Sierra installer, and am waiting to upgrade later.