I've been using FFS on my Mac for some years with an older Seagate 2 Tb drive formatted Mac Extended Journaled. Syncing my main folder from my Mac to my external drive takes me about 1.5 minute.
I now have a new LaCie 4 Tb drive formatted APFS. That same folder takes from 5 to 13 minutes to sync my test file that same folder, using an empty folder as a test to trigger my RealTimeSync setting (it's the same going directly into FFS).
I have two other (much smaller) folders that takes a bit longer, but almost unnoticeable.
Is it normal to be so slow?
Two external drives, two speeds?
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It could be related to HFS+ vs APFS, it could be the cable you are using for each device, it could be the port that is being used for each device, maybe the LaCie is bad out of the box, etc. How big is the test file you are using and what speeds is it transferring to each device? Also, it shouldn't take '5 to 13 minutes' to sync the file. It should be the same speed every time, within a bit of course, and an eight minute deviation is definitely not normal.
Also consider that the new drive may have a lot more to transfer in the initial sync versus following incremental syncs
Also consider that the new drive may have a lot more to transfer in the initial sync versus following incremental syncs
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I don't know about HFS+ vs APFS, but:
1. I tested the speed of transfer with both external drives and the LaCie is about three time faster than my older one.
2. I test FFS with an empty folder…
3. The initial transfer was completed before I did my tests.
4. I agree that the difference in time is the problem, not the time it takes per se. After my initial message, I tried again and 29 minutes later, still not synched!
5. I synch two other folders from the same Mac to the same external new hard drive, and they synch in a a few seconds…
1. I tested the speed of transfer with both external drives and the LaCie is about three time faster than my older one.
2. I test FFS with an empty folder…
3. The initial transfer was completed before I did my tests.
4. I agree that the difference in time is the problem, not the time it takes per se. After my initial message, I tried again and 29 minutes later, still not synched!
5. I synch two other folders from the same Mac to the same external new hard drive, and they synch in a a few seconds…
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Any antivirus software installed?
So the issue is only present with a single file in a test folder you created?
So the issue is only present with a single file in a test folder you created?
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No antivirus. For my tests, yes, I just add a test folder and wait. This morning, with a real file that I just erased from my Mac's drive, it took a bit longer than 30 minutes for it to sync on my external drive…
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"A", as in a single file? And what size was that file (or the size of the entire transfer)?with a real file
If you attempted to do the same with "Finder" (I'm not talking out of my butt ;-).), does it take the same amount of time?
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A single file, yes. 7.8 Mb. If I just copy it from the finder, I don't even see the copying window. It's just too fast.
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Oops... that was supposed to say, "I'm NOW talking out of my butt" (as I know nothing of Mac much less whatever "Finder" may be).(I'm not talking out of my butt ;-).)
Anyhow, you've certainly determined that it "Is NOT normal to be so slow".
And for whatever reason, things are absurdly slow on your end?
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Very slow, but only for one folder out of three… Maybe it's still kind of indexing my external drive and it will be faster at some time… I'l give it a few days and asses!
