Catalog External Hard Drive

[Elizabeth28665149ntyj]

I have PSE2018.  Is there any issue with storing my catalog (I only use one) on an external hard drive?  Will it slow the program down?  Is there any other way to share my catalog between my desktop and my laptop?

[MichelBParis · Accepted solution]

Hi @Elizabeth28665149ntyj ,

No real speed problem to store the catalog on an external drive.

Let's be clear, we are speaking of the catalog folder (the database and its assets) AND what I call the 'library', that is the shared photo/video files folder trees.

You  just use the recommended process to move the catalog to another drive by doing a full backup and a restore to the destination external drive. I am using a very small external USB SSD 1TB drive. I did not observe significant speed differences between internal or external conventional drives. That's because the catalog data are managed in RAM and in scratch disks. The more RAM, the better. Scratch disk space is equally important.

[Elizabeth28665149ntyj]

I should have clarified "catalog" as it is often confusing about what that includes.  I was referring to the information about the photo and video files and not the actual photo and video files.  I assumed there's no issue about keeping these media files on an external hard drive.  I'm glad to hear I can keep the catalog there as well.  I will definitely use the backup/restore process to move everything.