How to convert a disk image to a sparsebundle?

Question

How to convert a disk image to a sparsebundle?

Because of an impending drive failure, I began to move files from that drive to another using the File > New > Disk Image From Folder in Disk Utility. The dialog box at creation allows for compressed, read only or read/write options.

Problem: the new Disk Image has a finite size and cannot be expanded with the addition of new material at its new location.

Question: How can I convert the Disk Image to a Sparseimage or a Sparsebundle which will allow for growth of its contents?

12 PB x2, iMac x2, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 29, 2009 6:20 AM

Reply

Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Oct 2, 2009 6:42 AM in response to Laryenth Lancaster

to see how to use hdiutil enter


man hdiutil in terminal

specifically, to convert a dmg to a sparse bundle run the following command


hdiutil convert -format UDSB -o /path/to/output/image /path/to/source/image

do not pout the extension in the name of the source image.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 29, 2009 8:39 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks, Baltwo.

Ugh. The disk is too big to have both open at the same time. I guess it looks like start-over...

Just what are the "convert" and "resize" options in Disk Utility used for? Do you know if 10.6 will offer any more options?

LL

Reply

Answer 3

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Sep 29, 2009 9:57 PM in response to Laryenth Lancaster

Laryenth Lancaster wrote:
Because of an impending drive failure, I began to move files from that drive to another using the File > New > Disk Image From Folder in Disk Utility. The dialog box at creation allows for compressed, read only or read/write options.

Problem: the new Disk Image has a finite size and cannot be expanded with the addition of new material at its new location.

Question: How can I convert the Disk Image to a Sparseimage or a Sparsebundle which will allow for growth of its contents?

you can convert a regular disk image to a sparse bundle or a a sparse image using hdiutil from terminal. however, it will not replace the original image but simply create a new converted one. from your other post I understand that this is not an option as you don't have enough space on the drive. that means that you need to offload the disk image to another drive before doing this.

Reply

Answer 4

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Sep 30, 2009 9:06 AM in response to baltwo

no problem. but it does not matter for the OP anyway. the convert option in both GUI disk utility and in command line hdiutil requires an output file to be specified. even if you specify the original file as the output file it will first cache the new converted image and then overwrite the old one. that means that one needs enough free space to accommodate the cached converted image.

Reply

Answer 5

Oct 2, 2009 7:46 PM in response to V.K.

Baltwo, VK:

Thanks for the info. Enlighten me as to the "manpage" reference.

Can I use hdiutil to essentially do the "folder to disk image" in Disk Utility (which won't give me the sparse image or sparse bundle option)? I am worried about fidelity because this is my iTunes (490 GB) on a disk which is exhibiting signs of impending failure. My iPhoto (23 GB) is also on the same disk and also needs to be recreated with fidelity at its new homesite...

Thanks, again, for your expertise.

Lary L.

Reply

Answer 6

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Oct 3, 2009 10:31 AM in response to Laryenth Lancaster

Laryenth Lancaster wrote:
Baltwo, VK:

Thanks for the info. Enlighten me as to the "manpage" reference.

you get it by entering


man hdiutil

in terminal.

Can I use hdiutil to essentially do the "folder to disk image" in Disk Utility (which won't give me the sparse image or sparse bundle option)?

yes you can but if you want a sparse bundle just make a blank sparse bundle using DU and copy what you need there by drag and drop. why bother with hdiutil?

I am worried about fidelity because this is my iTunes (490 GB) on a disk which is exhibiting signs of impending failure. My iPhoto (23 GB) is also on the same disk and also needs to be recreated with fidelity at its new homesite...

then it's a good idea to get a new hard drive and copy your data there.

Thanks, again, for your expertise.

Lary L.

Reply

Answer 7

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 29, 2009 11:25 AM in response to Laryenth Lancaster

AFAIK, you can't, but you can create a sparse image, mount it and the other one, and transfer from th original to the new one, and delete the original.

Reply

Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 29, 2009 11:55 PM in response to V.K.

Thanks for popping in. I didn't know about converting a standard dmg to a sparse dmg. Must have missed it when I took a quick pass through the hdiutil manpage.

Reply

Answer 9

Oct 1, 2009 9:57 PM in response to V.K.

VK

Thanks for the info. Where would you direct me to look into learning more about Terminal and the hdiutil command?

Lary L.

Reply

Answer 10

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Oct 1, 2009 11:46 PM in response to Laryenth Lancaster

Get the $10 e-book at Take Control of the Mac Command Line with Terminal for starters. Then, peruse the manpage for the various commands.

Reply