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Fusion Drive [how to]


Nanael
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Hi everyone,

 

Now 1 month since Apple introduced us to his new tool called « Fusion Drive »

356244fusiondrivebyprincesscakenikkid5itpg5.jpg

 

But what is it?

 

It's simply a tool to combine an SSD with a HDD and make a single disc says "logical". On this volume, the OS and applications are on the SSD while the files on the HDD.

 

Yes, but what's the advantage over a system with two separate disks?

 

And well, Fusion Drive takes care of automatically put files that are used frequently on the SSD to gain speed, while the rest is stored on the HDD. In addition, there is nothing to do. Everything is automatic.

On the other hand, who says combine two disks say combined the risk of failure. So for all those who will try the Fusion Drive experience, think you make a Time Machine backup (or other).

 

Apple released the Fusion Drive option for €250 (without saving of space compared to the standard version). So the question that some developers are asked is:"Is Fusion Drive configurable on an old mac?"[/ url]

 

Well Yes, and even better, Yes on unsigned Apple hardware. Let me explain; It is possible to create a logical disk with an ocz SSD, a WD HDD in USB and a seagate SATA HDD. Short with everyone including our hackintosh :)

 

But how are we doing?

 

And well, you need at least two physical disks (the best being an SSD and HDD, but no obligation), a USB key to install osX 10.8.2 and a little patience; this manipulation is possible from osX or the osX Installer.

 

[note=attention]What you need to know:

  • Create a logical drive deletes all data
  • I am not responsible for troubleshooting;)

[/note]

Part I : Creation of the FusionHD

 

First, we launch the terminal and we list the disks with the following command:

 

 diskutil list 

 

The result looks like this:

236258Capturedcran20121114181330.png

 

I'll use my drive n ° 5 and n ° 6 (Yes it is a HDD in USB and a USB;))

 

Next, we'll create the logical volume with this command:

sudo –s
diskutil cs create "Fusion Drive" disk5 disk6

 

The result looks like this:

181492Capturedcran20121114181924.png

 

Well hold the line with written LVG UUIDS and copy it

« 9C0EB8E8-8525-46EF-85EF-FC7BB6A44823 » for me.

 

You will say, "I see nothing?" it's normal, it just created the disk, not the Volume ;)

 

So, let's create it with this command:

diskutil cs createVolume 9C0EB8E8-8525-46EF-85EF-FC7BB6A44823 jhfs+ "FusionHD" 100 %

 

And here is the result:

331697Capturedcran20121114182314.png

 

You now have a physical FusionHD with your two disks disk.

 

Part II: Make FusionHD Bootable

 

Now that you have installed osX 10.8.2 on your new disk Fusion Drive, the problem is going to be to start it without "help".

For this you need the folder of chameleon.

 

First, we will modify our org.chameleon.boot.plist by adding this:

rd=uuid boot-uuid=9C0EB8E8-8525-46EF-85EF-FC7BB6A44823

 

I get the following result:

 

Don't add this, it could break Facetime and iCloud

290082Capturedcran20121114222646.png

 

Now, let's copy our extra file on s3 partition of our two disk.

To do this, we do like this:

sudo –s
diskutil list

 

 

I get this:

345679Capturedcran20121114225622.png

 

Now, we are going to mount those partitions to copy the extra folder in:

diskutil mount disk5s3
cp -R /Volumes/Machintosh\ HD/Extra /Volumes/Boot\ OS\ X/
diskutil unmounts disk5s3
diskutil mount disk6s3
cp -R /Volumes/Machintosh\ HD/Extra /Volumes/Boot\ OS\ X/
diskutil unmounts disk6s3

 

Do it again for files boot0 and boot1h, simply swipe your Extra folder in the terminal window to directly gain the right path.

 

diskutil mount disk5s3
cp -R /Volumes/Machintosh\ HD/boot0 /Volumes/Boot\ OS\ X/
diskutil unmounts disk5s3
diskutil mount disk6s3
cp -R /Volumes/Machintosh\ HD/boot0 /Volumes/Boot\ OS\ X/
diskutil unmounts disk6s3

diskutil mount disk5s3
cp -R /Volumes/Machintosh\ HD/boot1h /Volumes/Boot\ OS\ X/
diskutil unmounts disk5s3
diskutil mount disk6s3
cp -R /Volumes/Machintosh\ HD/boot1h /Volumes/Boot\ OS\ X/
diskutil unmounts disk6s3

 

And finally, you need to restart your computer into thinking to put one of the two disks as a priority in order to start on it.

Part III: Test of the FusionHD

 

next coming soon ;)

The original post is from www.mac-on-pc.fr

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Thanks!

The only thing i dont like of Fusion is, that the used HD can only hold 2 Partitions. One used together with fusion and one without.

I have more partitions than 2 on my disks.

Or have i undestand something wrong in the apple tech docs which says about only one partition more than fusion partition?

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I have done nothing ^^ Only put my ID en Password and I was good ;)

Sorry to can't help you :(

 

@p.H: I was doing it myself but with the time now I prefere to let Fusion Drive do it for me and have a backup in case of failure ;)

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Well, did these step, created my Fusion Drive successfully... But unable to boot from it... Seems to be a graphics problem. When I boot with -v, everything seems to load successfully, but it stays in verbose mode (no graphics/login windows = graphics driver problem). Using a Radeon HD 4870, always used GraphicsEnabler=Yes... Anyone else experienced this problem?

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hi this step is not necessary

First, we will modify our org.chameleon.boot.plist by Adding this:

rd = uuid boot-uuid = 9C0EB8E8-46EF-8525-85EF-FC7BB6A44823

 

it prevents icloud, facetime, iMessage worked for

 

it works very well without this step

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Thx nanael.

Useful infos.

I will translate it into a Italian topic here: [Guida] FusionDrive

But now... a question... anyone know how preserve or re-add the Recovery Partition into Fusion Device?

I found some useful info on the web but not working in my case.

- Adding Recovery HD to a CoreStorage Volume Group

- Achieving fusion—with a service training doc, Ars tears open Apple's Fusion Drive (the second part of this article is useful for remove a Fusion Drive).

 

Fabio

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You're welcom ErmaC ;)

 

I havn't search how to had a recovery Partition, but I think that it will be fragile, (not strong ? Sorry, I'm french ^^ )

The probleme is the same as for a Raid Drive, how to put the partition? Because if one HDD/SSD fail, the Logical Volume will fail and you'll loose the recovery partition :(

The only solution( that I see now), is to add a partition on the two physical disk. (It's just an Idea ;) )

 

Thank you for the italian translation ;)

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The only solution( that I see now), is to add a partition on the two physical disk. (It's just an Idea ;) )

 

Yep... "solution" like one of the link I mentioned before:

example disk1 and disk2

diskutil corestorage create fusion_volume_group disk1s2 disk2

where in the disk1:

 

/dev/disk1
#: 			 TYPE NAME 	 SIZE 		 IDENTIFIER
0: 	 GUID_partition_scheme 		 *120.0 GB 	 disk1
1: 			 EFI 	 	 209.7 MB 	 disk1s1
2: 		 Apple_HFS Empty 	 119.2 GB 	 disk1s2
3: 		 Apple_Boot Recovery HD  650.0 MB 	 disk1s3

or maybe can be a solution make the Recovery also in the second disk?

and create the fusion drive in this way... (no sense I know but...)

diskutil corestorage create fusion_volume_group disk1s2 disk2s2

 

???

I will do some more test...

Fabio

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