As much as possible, I'd like to keep episodes of a given season of a TV show on a single disk. What is the best way to do this?

 

I had my TV share set to Split Level = Automatically split only the top 2 directory levels, which, as I understand it means that since my TV share is setup like this:

 

/mnt/user/TV
|
+ Show 1
|  + Season 01
|  | 
|  + Season 02
+ Show 2

means that the mover would keep all files for Season X on one disk.

 

It seems to do this pretty. Too well, actually. What I found out was that when a disk got too full to hold a particular episode, that episode gets left on the cache drive, and the mover will try night after night to move the file to the same, full disk.

 

What settings to I change to ask the mover to keep as much of Season X on one disk, but if there isn't enough room, then go ahead and create the necessary directory structure on another disk and start using it?

 

I don't use split levels, personally, but I believe that if you manually create the Season X folder (and, of course, those above it) on the next disk then the mover will use it the next time it runs. I may have it wrong - I'm sure someone will correct me if that's the case.

I personally copy my files directly to the disk I want the TV episodes on or the Movies on so I know for sure they end up exactly where I want them.

Just out of interest, why would you want it set up like this?

As much as possible, I'd like to keep episodes of a given season of a TV show on a single disk. What is the best way to do this?

 

I had my TV share set to Split Level = Automatically split only the top 2 directory levels, which, as I understand it means that since my TV share is setup like this:

 

/mnt/user/TV
|
+ Show 1
|  + Season 01
|  | 
|  + Season 02
+ Show 2

means that the mover would keep all files for Season X on one disk.

 

It seems to do this pretty. Too well, actually. What I found out was that when a disk got too full to hold a particular episode, that episode gets left on the cache drive, and the mover will try night after night to move the file to the same, full disk.

 

What settings to I change to ask the mover to keep as much of Season X on one disk, but if there isn't enough room, then go ahead and create the necessary directory structure on another disk and start using it?

 

You're doing it the same way I do..

 

Split level 2 for series will make sure that at least the seasons are kept together.

 

What are your minimum free space settings ?  I have that on 100gig.. As soon as I notice a disk getting to full I go into the console and move off the most used folders to a drive with more space..

 

This works fine for me, I only have to do moves once a month at most..

 

If you do not want to be bothered at all then you could just set the splitlevel to "Automatically split any directory as required", then you should have no issues..

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

For the suggestions of manually creating directories & moving files - I was under the (apparently incorrect) assumption that I just shouldn't have to do that. I thought the mover logic was smarter than that.

 

Just out of interest, why would you want it set up like this?

Because it seemed like the right way to go about it. I've got a couple of binge watchers, and this would keep episodes coming off of one spinning disk while the rest went to sleep.

 

I've got my minimum free space set to 5GB, which should be more than enough for any one episode plus associated metadata.

 

In the long run, I guess it really doesn't matter all that much, I'll just let the mover do what it does and let the CHiPs fall where they may.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

For the suggestions of manually creating directories & moving files - I was under the (apparently incorrect) assumption that I just shouldn't have to do that. I thought the mover logic was smarter than that.

 

Just out of interest, why would you want it set up like this?

Because it seemed like the right way to go about it. I've got a couple of binge watchers, and this would keep episodes coming off of one spinning disk while the rest went to sleep.

 

I've got my minimum free space set to 5GB, which should be more than enough for any one episode plus associated metadata.

 

In the long run, I guess it really doesn't matter all that much, I'll just let the mover do what it does and let the CHiPs fall where they may.

 

That is actually how it was meant to be.. Just unraid do its thing.. The whole "keep stuff together" thing is basically for neurotics like me ;-)

Maybe I missed it but what did you have for Allocation Method?

Maybe I missed it but what did you have for Allocation Method?

 

I am guessing fill-up..?

Maybe I missed it but what did you have for Allocation Method?

 

I am guessing fill-up..?

That was my guess since that would explain the problem. If you keep on using the same drive until there isn't enough room on it to write any more files to its unsplittable folders this is exactly what would happen. So once a season had started getting written to a disk, if the disk didn't have enough room for the rest of the season, it runs out of room since split level has precedence.

Yes, I had it set to "fill-up". I've since changed to "high-water", and am going to ignore where it puts files. That will be difficult since I occasionally suffer bouts of CDO, but I'll manage.