Monday, January 13, 2020

Understanding Containers, Volumes, and Partitions


Data Storage
Data center training courses include lessons where technicians learn the differences between containers, volumes, and partitions. These are components of an Apple computer’s file management system. While they are all similar--all of these components hold data in some way, shape, or form--there are also distinct differences. Let’s go over some of those differences.

Let’s start with the basics. Almost all data is housed on a volume, which is a storage device that a computer’s operating system can recognize. Volumes come in many form factors, including CDs and DVDs, as well as internal storage devices like solid-state drives and hard drives. These devices are then formatted for the operating system to use.

Within a volume are partitions. A partition takes up space in a volume. The operating system treats each partition as a separate drive--so long as it can recognize it. For instance, it is possible to have a single hard drive with three partitions formatted for an Apple operating system, and then a fourth partition that is formatted in a file type it can’t recognize.

Starting with macOS High Sierra, Apple-enabled computers could also utilize containers through APFS. Containers are a logical construct of space that includes one or more volumes. An example of a container could be a computer that uses more than one hard drive. The APFS would identify the hard drives as part of the same organizational structure, allowing the user to access them. The introduction of containers allowed for the implementation of more versatile storage solutions.

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