Lesson 11: Manage File Systems and Storage Flashcards
• Recognize systems that macOS supports. • Manage disks, partitions, and volumes. • Troubleshoot and repair partition and volume issues.
What do you call the process of applying logic to storage in the form of partitions, containers, and volumes?
Formatting is the process of applying logic to storage in the form of partitions, containers, and volumes.
What are two APFS volume roles with macOS Big Sur?
macOS Big Sur uses these two APFS volume roles:
- APFS System: A read-only volume for the operating system
- APFS Data: A read-write volume for user data
What new layer of security does macOS Big Sur use to add cryptographic validation of the APFS System volume?
macOS Big Sur introduces the concept of a signed system volume.
“macOS Big Sur adds another security-related change: rather than mounting the APFS System volume directly, macOS Big Sur makes an APFS snapshot of the APFS System volume, cryptographically signs it, and mounts the APFS snapshot.
“When you are running macOS Big Sur, you aren’t directly using the APFS System volume — you’re running from the signed snapshot of the APFS System volume.”
Excerpt From: Arek Dreyer and Adam Karneboge. “macOS Support Essentials 11: Supporting and Troubleshooting macOS Big Sur.”
What is the default partition scheme that Mac computers use?
GUID Partition Map is the default partition scheme used by Mac computers. (It is also the only partition scheme supported for Mac computers to use for a startup disk.)
The terms GUID Partition Map and GUID Partition Table (GPT) are used interchangeably.
Which major volume formats does macOS Big Sur support?
macOS Big Sur supports these major volume formats:
- APFS: The macOS Big Sur default.
- Mac OS Extended: Used with and before macOS High Sierra. Also known as HFS Plus.
- FAT: A legacy volume format used by Windows PCs.
- ExFAT: Created specifically for large flash storage disks larger than 32 GB.
- NTFS: Recent versions of Windows use this as their default native volume format. macOS can read from — but not write to, or start up from — NTFS volumes.
What are some of the advantages of Apple File System (APFS)?
APFS advantages include making common operations such as copying files and directories instantaneous, helping protect data from power outages and system crashes, and keeping files safe and secure with native encryption.
What are the seven ways you can unmount and eject a volume or disk from the Finder?
You can use these seven methods to unmount and eject a volume or disk in the Finder:
- Drag the disk icon to the Trash icon in the Dock.
- In the Finder sidebar, click the small Eject button next to the volume you want to unmount and eject.
- Select the disk you want to unmount and eject, go to the menu bar, and choose File > Eject.
- Select the volume you want to unmount and eject, then choose File > Eject {diskname}.
- Select the volume you want to unmount and eject, then use the <kbd>Command-E</kbd> keyboard shortcut.
- Select the volume you want to unmount and eject, then <kbd>Control</kbd>-click to reveal a shortcut menu enabling you to select Eject {diskname}.
- Select the disk you want to unmount and eject, click the Action button in the Finder window toolbar (it looks like a gear), and then choose Eject {diskname}.
Which two built-in macOS Big Sur apps can you use to gather information about storage devices?
You can use both Disk Utility and System Information to gather information about storage devices.
What does the Disk Utility First Aid feature do?
The Disk Utility First Aid feature verifies and repairs the partition scheme and volume directory structures.
“When you select a disk, you indicate that you want to repair its partition scheme. When you select a volume, you indicate that you want to repair its directory structure. Start with a disk’s partition scheme, then move to its volumes to resolve problems.”
Excerpt From: Arek Dreyer and Adam Karneboge. “macOS Support Essentials 11: Supporting and Troubleshooting macOS Big Sur.”
How many volumes does the APFS container of a macOS Big Sur startup disk contain?
Describe each.
For a Mac startup disk running macOS Big Sur, its APFS container has at least six volumes.
All six APFS volumes share the space of the APFS container. The System volume and the Data volume appear as a single disk to the user.
The APFS container of a macOS Big Sur startup disk includes at least six volumes:
- System volume: This read-only volume is named “Macintosh HD” on a new Mac that comes with macOS Big Sur and contains system files. It is not mounted.
-
Signed System Volume Snapshot: This APFS snapshot of the System volume is mounted at
/. - Data volume: This macOS Big Sur read-and-write volume contains files that change, including those in the Users folder. The volume might be named “Macintosh HD - Data” or simply “Data” on a new Mac that comes with macOS Big Sur, or a Mac with Apple silicon that was restored via Apple Configurator 2.
- Preboot volume: This hidden volume contains data needed for booting each of the system volumes in the container. Only one Preboot volume per APFS container is allowed. The Preboot volume contains one folder per System volume in the container.
- Recovery volume: This hidden volume contains macOS Recovery. Only one Recovery volume per APFS container is allowed. The Recovery volume contains one folder per System volume in the container.
- VM volume: The virtual memory (VM) volume is created for the first time after a Mac starts up.
Source: Apple Pro Training Series: Supporting and Troubleshooting macOS Big Sur, Arek Dreyer and Adam Karneboge
Explain the relationship between Storage Devices, Partitions and Volumes.
Computer storage devices are the technology consisting of components that store data.
A partition is a logical space on a storage device. (Every storage device has to have at least one partition before you can create a volume on the storage device.)
A volume is a storage area inside a partition. (A volume must be formatted with a file system before you can store a file on it.)
What are firmlinks?
Firmlinks are a traversal point from a directory on the APFS System volume to a directory on the Data volume.
