Split Level Share concept help.

[adgilcan]

I have just finished building my first Unraid media server and will be storing all my media data on it.  I am very confused by the share allocations.  I know there is a lot written about it and I have carefully read through it all but I am still unsure.

 

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/images/4/47/Split_Level.JPG

 

 

The diagrams seem to indicate a nested folder structure such that that the split level 1 share contains all the other higher numbered shares but this doesn't appear to be the case.

 

Would I be right in thinking they are all separate?

 

Could someone explain how one would setup the user shares to achieve the diagram set-up?

 

Many thanks

 

Duncan

[dgaschk]

The diagram shows a single share. Split level is applied per share.

[adgilcan]

OK, Thank you.

 

So the diagram shows a share called Media.  All the other names (DVD, Movie Folder, TV Show Folder etc.) are simply folders created within Media and not a function of UnRaid at all?

 

That being the case, can you explain the relevance of the "Levels" shown down the left hand side?  I can understand how "Level 1" could apply to the Share "Media" but not how it "Level 2" applies to DVD Movies or any of the others.

 

I am sure I am looking at it the wrong way and a helpful nudge will bring it all into focus.

[Johnm]

So the diagram shows a share called Media.  All the other names (DVD, Movie Folder, TV Show Folder etc.) are simply folders created within Media and not a function of UnRaid at all?

 

Correct. Media is the only "Share" that unraid would have in that case. the other folders (DVD, Bluray, TV) are just folders.

That way no matter what drive the subfolder is on, you will see it under "\\tower\Media"

 

 

I feel the above picture is not a good example of how to set up the share...

 

But, we will work with it..

 

If you set you split to 1:

all data will try and go onto one drive.

 

 

If you set the split to 2:

one of two things can happen..

1: if you copy some of each DVD, Bluray, TV before you reach the split, it will be the same as #1 above.

2: if you fill up a drive with just one type first.. it will lock each category to the drive it was on first.

 

If you set your Split to 3:

Your DVD' and BR movies will stay groupped by movie name and put on any drive per your split method (high-water/fill up, ETC.)

The TV folder however will keep all the same TV show with ALL seasons together until you out of drive space on the drive they reside then error. for example you try to rip the entire Simpsons in HD, you would most likely fill a single drive and run out of room.

 

If you set your Split to 4:

the TV shows are split apart, But it keeps each season together.

On the other hand, the movies are split up all over the place. so you might find the VOB files for a DVD on 2 or more dives.

 

 

To make this a better folder layout in MY opinion, I would put DVD and Bluray into a Folder called Movies and set the split to 4.

that way the movies are kept together and the TV is sorted by season.

 

Media (share)

-Movies

--DVD

--BluRay

-TV

--TV Show

---Season

Now others might have their preferred split. That's how i did mine.

[lionelhutz]

The level setting tells unRAID which folders can be placed onto multiple disks so it applies to all folder levels stored in the share.

 

John is correct about the example, it's possibly not a good way to store the media due to the split level variations between media types.

 

I suppose I need to put a different example with more shares into the Wiki or explain that example further. The example was just to show what happens in a single share with different split level settings and not that you have to put all your media into a single share. It's actually not a good way to try and store your media.

 

You can also create a share called Movies and another share called TVShows. Set the Movies to a split of 1 and stick your movies into that folder or use a split level of 2 if you store you movies by catagory. Set the TVShows to 1 if you want each show to stay on a drive or to 2 if you want each season to stay together.

 

The issue with keeping a whole TV show together is that you may have to manually move some TV shows from one disk to another disk if you get a full disk. I have kept my complete TV shows together so far and had to do a couple of disk shuffles to free-up some space. Basically, if a disk is getting full then you move a few active TV shows to the disk with the most space.

 

Peter

[adgilcan]

Thank you very much, fellas, for those explanations.  I think I have got it now: the number allocated to a share level determines how many subfolders can be spread on different disks before subsequent ones are forced to reside on one disk only.  So a level 4 split would allow the first three folders (including the parent share) to be split across disks but subsequent levels, or subfolders, are constricted.

 

If that is wrong, please do put me right but it seems to make sense to me know.

 

Thank you both for making that happen.

 

Best wishes

[lionelhutz]

Level 4 allows the first 4 folder levels including or starting at the share to spread to multiple disks.

 

John is correct that it's a bad folder structure. He's got the split level high by one in his description though.

 

Peter