Disk images in OS X are one mode of packaging files for distribution or
storage on external media, and, since they mimic the behaviors of
optical discs like DVDs, they are commonly used by developers to
distribute downloadable installers for their applications.
While
convenient for file distribution, you can also use disk images as
containers to store various files on your system, or on a local network
server, especially if you use their encryption routines to secure them with a password. By doing this, the image contents will only be accessible by you.
Disk Images can be created in Disk Utility,
by clicking the "New Image" button in the Disk Utility toolbar. When
this is done, you can set the image size and optional encryption
options.
When done, the image will create and mount, allowing you
to copy files to it; however, you might notice that by default the image
size is the same as it was when you created it, so if you created an
image that was 1GB in size, then the image file would be 1GB. After
setting the size (arrow), set the image type to "sparse" or
"sparsebundle" with "no partition map," or set the image type to
"compressed."While
this might seem logical, it may not be desired. You may have wanted the
image to contain up to 1GB of data, but not always be 1GB on disk and
instead start smaller and only grow with the size of items you place in
it.Luckily this can be done, using one of two methods:
Sparse or sparsebundle image with no partition scheme
Apple's "sparse" and "sparsebundle" image types are dynamically
resizable images, and if you create one without a partition scheme then
they will start at the size of the files you place in them, and grow as
you add more files, up to the maximum size you set when creating the
image. Simply select either "sparse" or "sparsebundle" from the "Image
Format" menu when creating the image, and then choose "No Partition Map"
from the "Partitions" menu.
Use compressed disk images
Instead of choosing "sparse" or "sparsebundle" for the image type,
choose one of the compressed options. This will not only make the image
size grow with its contents, but could also potentially make it smaller
than the contents you store on it, as they will be compressed. Keep in
mind that compression is dependent on the type of file being compressed,
so if you have a bunch of zip files or mpeg4 movies that are already
highly compressed, then you might not see much benefit; however, if you
have only text files, then you may see these become highly compressed.
Tags: How to create a dynamically resizable disk image in OS X, computer, Computers, Operating Systems, Encryption
