Re: Partitioning 730MB HD?

[spector@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article tribby@cup.hp.com (Dave Tribby) writes...
>
>Mitchell Spector (spector@vax2.concordia.ca) wrote:
>> that said, here is my plan:
>> 	Eight (8) 32MB ProDOS partitions = 256 megs
>>         Two (2) 237MB HFS partitions   = 474 megs (the remainder) 
>>                                         ----------
>>                                          730 megs (in 10 partitions)
> 
>Any reason you're splitting the HFS partition in two? You could pick up
>an additional ProDOS partition by using a single HFS.

	Why? Well from what I hear HFS is very unstable on a IIgs. There
are strong rumours about corruption occurring with large HFS partitions, a
major bug/flaw in the HFS.FST if you will. You should also know that file
sizes will increase relative to the partition size (ie, something that
is 1k in size could be 50k+ when moved onto HFS, the greater the volume, 
the larger the file becomes). By splitting HFS into two partitions, I stand
less of a chance of having problems, and I can always move data from one
partition to another if a problem occurs. No HFS utilities available, so
when I want to optimize, repair, or fix something, it means move everything
off somewhere, reformat, then move it back (try doing it with 32MB volumes).

	Originally I had hoped for a way to create multiple ProDOS 
partitions (say 20-30) and keep most of them hidden offline, but the
RamFAST would just ignore them and _not ever_ let me swap them in.
They'd essentially be lost unless I borrowed an Apple High-Speed SCSI
which can handle more partitions. Or a v4.00 RamFAST update were 
written, but that is quite a big task.

>I don't know about the limit of 12 for all devices; that might be only
>for ProDOS 8, not GSOS. I'd suggest trying more partitions, up to the
>maximum allowed by the RamFAST, and seeing if they interfere with other
>devices. If they do, you can always unmount partitions and keep them
>hidden off-line with the RamFAST utility program.

	The RamFAST allows a _maximum_ of 12 partitions, period. Anything
beyond that will just disappear and not be accessible. I don't think that 
includes RAM5, AppleDisk3.5 or AppleDisk5.25, unless your under ProDOS 8
where the paritions might push these devices off or via-versa. ProDOS 
version 2.x can only map up to 14 devices, where as GS/OS many more.

	To sum things up, large hardrives and the IIgs just don't seem
to mix I'm sorry to say. :/

	- The RamFAST poses a limitation (only 12 devices/partitions)
	- The HFS.FST has serious bugs that can cause damage
	- No utilities to handle HFS devices on a IIgs
	- The ProDOS.FST is limited to 32MB devices (a drawback to the
          days of Apple III SOS/ProDOS 8)

	I think a GSOS.FST compatible with ProDOS, but breaks the 32MB
device limit and file names limitation would solve almost all of that.
A hybrid ProDOS/HFS filing system... :) Guess I'm just dreaming though.

	I'd still like my question answered, is it wise/safe to create
10 partitions when I have a RamFAST SCSI card?


>-- Dave Tribby
>   tribby@cup.hp.com

Mitchell Spector
m_spect@vega.concordia.ca / spector@vax2.concordia.ca