HDD Naming Convention

[Ambrosia7177]

How do you name you HDDs?

I just bought two 1TB HDDs and am getting ready to format them and it occurred to me that maybe I should come up with some sort of naming convention so I know what is on each HDD.

For example, I have the factory HDD that came with my 2012 MBP that I never used, then I have this 750GB in my MBP now, and now I have two 1TB HDDs where one will be an upgrade to my current HDD, and the other for weekly backups.

Of course you know in 6 months I'll buy more HDDs that are larger, or whatever, so that could create a filing nightmare!

Sincerely,


Larry

 

[triptolemus]

Is this a serious question?

You can name them after the planets in our solar system in their order from the sun. Try that.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

Just make sure that you can identify and separate them Clearly one from another. This gets more important the more HDDs/SSDs you own and use/store as backups or clones.

If you have several machines you could use the description opt their Id and function let get a part of the name, same for the backups as part of the name to add… and so on...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Is this a serious question?

You can name them after the planets in our solar system in their order from the sun. Try that.

If you don't like a question, then sarcasm is not necessary...
[doublepost=1455557190][/doublepost]

Just make sure that you can identify and separate them one from another. This gets more important the more HDDs/SSDs you own and use.

Yep, that is why I am asking.

Maybe this will help me to decide how to name things...

Are there any practical limitations to how I name a HDD in DiskUtility (on Mountain Lion)?

For example, can I use special characters ( ) - _ +

Is there a length limitation?

And can I change the name of a HDD after it contains either data or a clone?

 

[audioglenn]

If you don't like a question, then sarcasm is not necessary...

agreed. don't be a douchebag.

In response to the question, I have MANY MANY MANY hard drives to deal with, some of which are for my wife's computer. All our hard drives (including internals) are names with our initials first, then a short description of what the hard drive is for. Examples:, my internal MacPro 1st Gen main hard drive is GC_MacPro1, my External RAID is GC_RAID5. Her MacBook Air is CC_MBA, My Macbook Pro is GC_MBP2. My Time Machine in my 2010 Mac Pro is GC_MPTM2 because it's the 2nd time machine drive I've purchased specifically for that computer. My drive dedicated to storing my audio sample libraries is GC_Samples Hope that helps. I personally can't stand when I'm looking at 4 "Macintosh HDs". Everything needs to be clearly identified.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

If you don't like a question, then sarcasm is not necessary...
[doublepost=1455557190][/doublepost]

Yep, that is why I am asking.

Maybe this will help me to decide how to name things...

Are there any practical limitations to how I name a HDD in DiskUtility (on Mountain Lion)?

For example, can I use special characters ( ) - _ +

Is there a length limitation?

And can I change the name of a HDD after it contains either data or a clone?

Yes, you can change the name anytime you want to.
If you have different OSX in use, just add the abbreviation, for example ML or OSX 10.x.
If I were you, I´d prefer to use CCC not only for cloning, but also for backup. It is very useful to have backups that are immediately bootable. That is the most comfortable way to do backups. If you want to, you can do Time machine backup as a second method of backup. If so, don´t forget to have the type of backup as abbreviation as well: CCC or TM. for identical HDDs count them through. There is no need for special characters, just use a space between...

 

[\-V-/]

I named my main internal drive "El Capo" ...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

agreed. don't be a douchebag.

In response to the question, I have MANY MANY MANY hard drives to deal with, some of which are for my wife's computer. All our hard drives (including internals) are names with our initials first, then a short description of what the hard drive is for. Examples:, my internal MacPro 1st Gen main hard drive is GC_MacPro1, my External RAID is GC_RAID5. Her MacBook Air is CC_MBA, My Macbook Pro is GC_MBP2. My Time Machine in my 2010 Mac Pro is GC_MPTM2 because it's the 2nd time machine drive I've purchased specifically for that computer. My drive dedicated to storing my audio sample libraries is GC_Samples Hope that helps. I personally can't stand when I'm looking at 4 "Macintosh HDs". Everything needs to be clearly identified.

Nice response!

Since you are audio guy, I guess managing HDDs is a must!

I didn't say in my OP - although it still doesn't excuse sarcasm - but I am trying to not run into confusion down the road between my current MBP, possibly another I may buy shortly, and my live HDDs versus clones and backups

I am wondering if it might be better to just treat each HDD like a record in a database, assign each one a unique name, and then have a spreadsheet with a description of what is going on?

The names could be descriptive like yours, but if each name also had a unique 4-5 digits # in there somewhere, then you'd never get confused.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

agreed. don't be a douchebag.

In response to the question, I have MANY MANY MANY hard drives to deal with, some of which are for my wife's computer. All our hard drives (including internals) are names with our initials first, then a short description of what the hard drive is for. Examples:, my internal MacPro 1st Gen main hard drive is GC_MacPro1, my External RAID is GC_RAID5. Her MacBook Air is CC_MBA, My Macbook Pro is GC_MBP2. My Time Machine in my 2010 Mac Pro is GC_MPTM2 because it's the 2nd time machine drive I've purchased specifically for that computer. My drive dedicated to storing my audio sample libraries is GC_Samples Hope that helps. I personally can't stand when I'm looking at 4 "Macintosh HDs". Everything needs to be clearly identified.

So do I.

The most important:
Generating and STAYING with a logical system of names that ALWAYS rest logical for you - to prevent confusion even when you´re tired or someone else has to do it for you (see later in this posting).

If you use encryption, make sure (!) that there is someone you can trust on who will have a sealed envelope with your keyword for encryption.

You could have an important accident or medical problem and being handicapped, amicable to help yourself for a while (not to mention the simple risk of dying) - and there is nothing more fatal than your family or friends being incapable to help you or yourself being incapable to have access to your most important data! And you should also describe your system of categorizing the HDDs for third persons of your confidence. And also, where you usually store the backups...

Most people don´t think about it.

I myself did not yet act in that way - but I will do this soon.

If you have different encryption PW it is very comfortable to have one PW for all the important Backups to help you or your family in vase of and assure nevertheless privacy with a second PW for daily use of your computer.

Nearly nobody thinks about this important problem as we all try always to ignore the worst things that can easily happen every single day...

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Yes, you can change the name anytime you want to.

That helps a lot.

If you have different OSX in use, just add the abbreviation, for example ML or OSX 10.x.

Good idea.

If I were you, I´d prefer to use CCC not only for cloning, but also for backup. It is very useful to have backups that are immediately bootable. That is the most comfortable way to do backups.

Not sure I understand what that means.

I thought the idea of a "clone" is that it is bootable and will bring you back to an identical copy of your machine from when the clone was made.

How does that differ from a "backup" or TimeMachine - which I have never used?

If so, don´t forget to have the type of backup as abbreviation as well: CCC or TM. for identical HDDs count them through. There is no need for special characters, just use a space between...

Good idea.

 

[MrAverigeUser]

That helps a lot.



Good idea.




Not sure I understand what that means.

I thought the idea of a "clone" is that it is bootable and will bring you back to an identical copy of your machine from when the clone was made.

How does that differ from a "backup" or TimeMachine - which I have never used?




Good idea.

The advantage of CCC is:

You create a clone and you can do automatically backup the clone. So - it is the bat of both worlds: Continously repeated backup, but it rests always immediately bootable.

While the Backup from Time machine is NOT bootable. You have to create first a bootable disk and then transfer whatever you like from Time Machine on the created new disk.

I have backups of both types of backup: Time Machine AND CCC….

 

[mooblie]

...For example, can I use special characters ( ) - _ +...

You can't use a colon ":" character.

 

[DeltaMac]

...
You can name them after the planets in our solar system in their order from the sun. Try that.

I actually do have a box of drives that I named after the planets, probably 10 or 15 years ago.
So, I did not consider that a sarcastic response, and would offer that exact response to someone who can't think of anything else. (except for the "serious question" retort, a little past vertical on that one).
A hard drive name that I have always used (since my first Mac - a Quadra 605 bought new) for my primary Mac is TheAbyss. I like to use really strange names, and get even stranger when I make up a new name for a brand new, first erase on a drive that I know will be quickly renamed when I start actually using it. Currently, it would be something like "Hexateen_feb15". the name helps me quickly know when that drive was erased.

Bottom line - your "naming convention" depends on you, and no one else.

 

[triptolemus]

I actually do have a box of drives that I named after the planets, probably 10 or 15 years ago.

Yeah, that's kind of why I mentioned it. I have a network of servers with a similar naming convention.

Sorry about your hurt feelings OP. Hope you are gonna be okay.

Sincerely,
Douchebag

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Yeah, that's kind of why I mentioned it. I have a network of servers with a similar naming convention.

Sorry about your hurt feelings OP. Hope you are gonna be okay.

Sincerely,
Douchebag

I'll get over it, but maybe next time don't assume I am some grandma stressing over what to name a single HDD.

If you think about it, managing HDDs, replacement HDDs, clone HDDs, and backups HDDs between several Mac - some of which have identical models could get tricky, so that is why I asked.

Knowing I can rename a HDD down the road without impacting the data on it helps a lot.

That way as a HDD's purpose changes - for example going from primary HDD to an archive HDD - you can adapt it easily.

For now, I am leaning towards this approach...

MachineName_PurposeOfHDD_DateOrID

MacBook_Main_20090301
MBP1_Main_20130515
MBP1_Clone_20160215
MBP2_Main_20160325
:

 

[satcomer]

I'll get over it, but maybe next time don't assume I am some grandma stressing over what to name a single HDD.

If you think about it, managing HDDs, replacement HDDs, clone HDDs, and backups HDDs between several Mac - some of which have identical models could get tricky, so that is why I asked.

Knowing I can rename a HDD down the road without impacting the data on it helps a lot.

That way as a HDD's purpose changes - for example going from primary HDD to an archive HDD - you can adapt it easily.

For now, I am leaning towards this approach...

MachineName_PurposeOfHDD_DateOrID

MacBook_Main_20090301
MBP1_Main_20130515
MBP1_Clone_20160215
MBP2_Main_20160325
:

Talk about stale names.

 

[Fishrrman]

Click on the drive's name.

Give it whatever name you wish.

That is all...

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Click on the drive's name.

Give it whatever name you wish.

That is all...

Did you bother reading the thread at all?

He knows how to rename a drive. He is curious what conventions people use to name a large number of hard drives.

 

[Ambrosia7177]

Talk about stale names.

Blah!!!!