I just build unRAID server (4TB parity; three 4TB data disks) and try to copy files into it from Mac.

 

So far I have created eight user shares (default setting) and will create more.

 

I am wondering if there is a limit on number of user shares.

 

Also I was trying to copy files through AFP and the copying process was stopped due to an error.

 

After that the copying speed becomes so slow.  So I tried SMB and it's speed is comparable to AFP before the error.

 

Also I was able to see "disk1" and "disk2".  This means that I can directly copy files into disk without using "user share".

 

I read somewhere that changing the parity drive into cache one would increase copying speed.

 

I want to try this since the copying speed is still slow but I can't find any interface to change the setting in Main panel.

 

Any comments would be appreciated.

To my knowledge there's not a limit imposed by UnRAID.  But since a User Share requires a root-level folder, then there can't be more user shares than root-level folders.    I'm not a "Linux guy", so I don't know if there's a limit on the number of root folders .. in Windows that used to be 512 folders; but I don't think that's still true with the latest versions.

 

I think from a pragmatic standpoint, you can simply assume there's no limit.

 

 

 

More refined question would be then

 

(A) Make 30 user shares.

(B) Make 3 user shares and then make 10 sub-directories under each user share.

 

Which option preforms better?

I don't think you'd see any performance difference.

 

You should create the file structure that works best for YOU.

 

Also I was able to see "disk1" and "disk2".  This means that I can directly copy files into disk without using "user share".

On the main page click on a disk and you can  choose whether to share the disk or not.

I read somewhere that changing the parity drive into cache one would increase copying speed.

Parity and cache are separate disks. Cache is not available on unRAID free.

I read somewhere that changing the parity drive into cache one would increase copying speed.

 

As noted above, these are DIFFERENT disks -- the parity drive is what allows UnRAID to be fault tolerant;  a cache drive will "buffer" writes to the array, and since it's not part of the fault-tolerant array those writes will be much faster from the user's perspective [The disadvantage is that data you write to a cached share isn't fault-tolerant until it is later (usually late at night) moved to the fault-tolerant array.

 

Based on your drive complement, you clearly have a paid license for UnRAID, so you can, if you want, ADD a cache drive to the system.    To do that, you simply add another drive, and assign it as cache.

 

You also need to then change the settings for each of your User Shares to allow them to be cached.  If that's not set, then writes will still be directly to the array.  Also, any direct to disk writes (i.e. to "disk1" instead of a share) will not be cached.