Which Parts of iPhoto Folder Can I Avoid Backing Up?

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Level 4

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Which Parts of iPhoto Folder Can I Avoid Backing Up?

Hi,

I keep 2 backups of my iPhoto library, the first is at home and is a complete copy of the iPhoto package folder and the second is on a remote NAS. Because backing-up onto the NAS drive using Chronosync is such a slow process (becuase of the no of files, the internet speed at the other end and the volume of metadata being transferred) I want to exclude any unnecessary folders/files from the back-up.

I have already excluded the Faces folder and Thumbnails as I don't really use Faces and Thumbnails can be recreated easily. However, I notice that there is also a Version folder in Database folder which contains thousands of sub-folders and files. Does anyone know what this is used for and whether I can exclude it from my back-up?

Thanks

Russell

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Jun 19, 2012 4:40 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,272 points

Jun 19, 2012 4:50 AM in response to Russ New Boy

If you exclude that then you're excluding the version or edit history. If you're going to do that then you might as well just back up the Originals only.

You could exclude the the iPod Photo Cache.

But it's worth noting that Apple would suggest that you need to back up the entire package, and failing to do so might lead to unexpected results when you restore.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

Russ New Boy Author

Level 4

1,102 points

Jun 19, 2012 5:02 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks - good point. I would rather keep a fully working copy of the iPhoto library as they are organised into Events, etc. I was just trying to speed up the back-up process as the NAS drive doesn't seem that swift in handling all of the metadata from the thousands of files that apps like iPhoto and iTunes create.

I will exclude the iPod cache.

Do you know what the Bigblobs file is for as Chronosync (great prog by the way thanks for your earlier recommendation) keeps throwing up and error - cannot create symbolic link when trying to copy the file.

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jun 19, 2012 5:41 AM in response to Russ New Boy

You need to restore a library as a test since placing the iPhoto library on a NAS may not work at all - you certainly can not run it there but even copyin it there and back may damage the library -- restore one of your backups and test it

LN

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Answer 4

Russ New Boy Author

Level 4

1,102 points

Jun 19, 2012 5:56 AM in response to LarryHN

Thanks - will try that. I had heard that iPhoto and NAS drives don't generally get along.

What if I created a sparse image on the NAS and copied it into that? The image would then be Mac formatted wouldn't it? Although I am at the limit of my knowledge so I might be talking nonsense.

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jun 19, 2012 6:11 AM in response to Russ New Boy

Haveing a Sparse image on a NAS that is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) is reported to work just fine and logically shold work just fine - - either to store the library or even run it -- I have not tested winch I do not have a NAS

LN

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Answer 6

Russ New Boy Author

Level 4

1,102 points

Jun 19, 2012 10:29 AM in response to LarryHN

OK thanks, will give it a go.

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