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Level 1

4 points

Copying iPhoto library to NAS to take weeks

I am moving an iPhoto library for a friend. It is 230GB. I drag the library from the internal drive to the NAS (LaCie 10TB - Gigabit Ethernet) and the copy time is going to take weeks.

I then made a smaller library of 200MG. It took 14mins to copy (drag in Finder from one iMac to LaCie).
I then compressed that library into a file on the iMac(the size was 198MG so very little compression). I dragged that file to the LaCie and it took only 18 seconds.

Why is a library copy 50 times slower? Same network (single user), NAS iMac.

I then setup a second network, on a different iMac, different NAS (QNAP - gigabit)and re-ran the above test with almost identical times (13:47 for the library, 17 seconds for the file).

So, both NAS can copy 'normal files' at acceptable gigabit speeds, but iPhoto libraries it seems to resort to a 14.4 modem technology!

I have searched the web and there seems to be plenty of reports on slow iPhoto copying on NAS, but no clear resolution. The NAS is fine, the photos are delivered fast, and a Windows box can transfer at the same speed to the NAS (gigabit) but moving the library is mind-numbingly slow.

Clearly, the 230GB library has to be culled, but even an 8GB library is 50x slower to copy.

Any ideas/insight as to why the library copy is sooooo slow?

Thanks,
Steve

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 12, 2010 8:22 AM

18 replies

greg 0

Level 1

14 points

Aug 26, 2010 9:02 AM in response to ledzep.steve

I do not know why it is so slow, but the I have found the same thing to be true for me.

My work around was to copy the internal contents of the library instead of the whole library and then everything copied at normal speed.

I created an empty iPhoto Library_2 by opening iPhoto with the Option key held down. I then copied the nearly empty iPhoto Library_2 folder to my external drive (which went very fast, as expected). I opened up the Package contents for iPhoto Library_2 and deleted everything. I then opened up the original iPhoto Library Package contents, selected them, then dragged and dropped them into iPhoto Library_2. This occurred at normal transfer speed (I was using a USB 2.0 to transfer, then move the hard drive to NAS via ethernet cable). If you have a lot of Originals and Modifications (your 230 GB probably qualifies) you can copy those first overnight, the rest of the contents just take a few minutes after that.

You can then rename the iPhoto Libraries to what ever you want, then open iPhoto with the Option key and use which ever library you want.

Greg

LarryHN

Level 10

106,116 points

Aug 26, 2010 9:07 AM in response to greg 0

But of course you do realize

No. But it's a bit moot really:

iPhoto needs to have the Library sitting on disk formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Users with the Library sitting on disks otherwise formatted regularly report issues including, but not limited to, importing, saving edits and sharing the photos.

Basically, a NAS is not an appropriate environment for an iPhoto Library.

You probably do not have an operable and usable iPhoto Library on your NAS - and even if you do in time you will have problems - the iPhoto library needs to be on a drive formatted Mac OS extended (journaled)

LN

greg 0

Level 1

14 points

Aug 26, 2010 10:56 AM in response to LarryHN

Yes, thanks for that thought, the hard drive is formatted in Mac OS extended (journaled).

Greg

Copying iPhoto library to NAS to take weeks