Storage Organization

[colonelsofcorn]

I didn't know where else to post this, but anybody have tips to organize file storage drives? I've got three drives, and I'm often stuck finding the drive with the file I need on it. I have no idea what the best way is to categorize/organize my files to be able to grab the right drive, every time. 

[TheGeeker]

use them all?

[colonelsofcorn]

use them all?

What do you mean by that?

[MatthewEnderle]

I put all my files on one and then created a folder for each thing on one. Then I moved the stuff over. one drive is backups and torrents, one is my os, other is my external with all my games and 4TB of movies.

 

What do you mean by that?

 

I don't think he read your post correctly.

[TheGeeker]

I put all my files on one and then created a folder for each thing on one. Then I moved the stuff over. one drive is backups and torrents, one is my os, other is my external with all my games and 4TB of movies.

 

 

I don't think he read your post correctly.

Oh. Yeah. I was confused. I thought he had the bathroom archive shelf. Ok. I am no help here. If anything i need help too

[OPSJono]

I didn't know where else to post this, but anybody have tips to organize file storage drives? I've got three drives, and I'm often stuck finding the drive with the file I need on it. I have no idea what the best way is to categorize/organize my files to be able to grab the right drive, every time. 

 

I have a 12TB RAID 10 Array (6TB usable space).

 

I have this array separated into different drive letters to help keep them organised.

 

Partition 1: VirtualBox OSX Virtual Machine.

 

Partition 2: Plex Storage for Movies and TV Shows.

 

Partition 3: My housemate's Storage

 

Partition 4: My storage

 

Partition 5: "parking" space, (dump files there temp then move them somewhere else later) - Comes in really handy when I need to re-shuffle the partitions and such.

 

----

 

As for the folder organisation itself for my storage I do something like this:

\Installers\

\ISOs\

\Documents\

\Pictures\

\Videos\

\Music\

\Drivers\

 

Then as needed inside those folders i'll have stuff like this:

 

Inside \ISOs\ I have: 

\Games\

\Programs\

\Operating Systems\

 

And I have a similar setup inside the \installers\ directory.

 

Then within those folders I have named folders for what the thing is that it contains. (example \Operating Systems\Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard\)

 

So Based on my folder structure I can usually find whatever I was really easily:

 

Just ask myself a couple of questions:

Is it mine or my housemates?

What type of file is it (.exe or .iso)?

What type of file is it(Game, program, OS)?

What is it called?

 

And there it is, the file/folder I wanted!

 

I hope my explanation has helped someone at least a little.

[MatthewEnderle]

--snip--

 

Just ask myself a couple of questions:

Is it mine or my housemates?

 

What you could do too is append the Computer column if you and your housemate mix files.

[colonelsofcorn]

So basically you're saying I should organize either based on file type or based on OS, for example? I migrate between OS X (primarily) and Windows frequently and some files don't mix. I do think organizing by type, then by use (work/home), then by date, etc. would be a good idea. 

[OPSJono]

What you could do too is append the Computer column if you and your housemate mix files.

 

Not exactly, because all my storage is one my [storage] server. So it would all show up as the same computer in Explorer.

Good idea for a different situation though!

[OPSJono]

So basically you're saying I should organize either based on file type or based on OS, for example? I migrate between OS X (primarily) and Windows frequently and some files don't mix. I do think organizing by type, then by use (work/home), then by date, etc. would be a good idea. 

Yeah by type/OS could work, I tend not to use by-date because there's no way I'll be able to remember in 6 months from now, what order I put stuff on my server! (But that might work for you)

 

I think that's the key really, making sure you know how to decrypt your folders so you can find what you want relatively easily. And what works for me may not work for you; and vice-versa.

[MatthewEnderle]

Not exactly, because all my storage is one my [storage] server. So it would all show up as the same computer in Explorer.

Good idea for a different situation though!

but would'nt this show the author's computer?

and maybe I shouldn't have posted Top Secret USAF manuals... [facepalm]

[OPSJono]

but would'nt this show the author's computer?

and maybe I shouldn't have posted Top Secret USAF manuals... [facepalm]

I've never actually used it, but I assumed it would show the computer that it's stored on. (Basically just the top level of the file path). I may be wrong though because as I said, never used it before!

[colonelsofcorn]

Thanks for your help guys!