DropBox File Provider - Solution to limited internal Mac drive space?

[HCMarkus]

https://help.dropbox.com/installs/mac-e ... ve-support

Currently in beta.

[mikehalloran]

DropBox File Provider - Solution to limited internal Mac drive space?

I'm already running it. Unless you have a ridiculously fast internet connection (which I do not), I don't believe that for a second.

I collaborate with a number of people over Dropbox since Monterey actually made that doable. It does work if everyone has the same plug-ins and VIs but it is sloooow.

In my recent testing, I have been booting my Mac from externals over USB4/TB3/4 running the full 2800 data speed allowed by the protocol. Compared to performing the same tasks booting from the internal storage in my M2 Studio, it's like swimming in molasses. Since all I'm doing is testing, I am not jonesing for a TB5/USB4.2 Studio (should drop early next year) — yet?

No thanks.

[HCMarkus]

DropBox File Provider - Solution to limited internal Mac drive space?

I'm already running it. Unless you have a ridiculously fast internet connection (which I do not), I don't believe that for a second.

I collaborate with a number of people over Dropbox since Monterey actually made that doable. It does work if everyone has the same plug-ins and VIs but it is sloooow.

In my recent testing, I have been booting my Mac from externals over USB4/TB3/4 running the full 2800 data speed allowed by the protocol. Compared to performing the same tasks booting from the internal storage in my M2 Studio, it's like swimming in molasses. Since all I'm doing is testing, I am not jonesing for a TB5/USB4.2 Studio (should drop early next year) — yet?

No thanks.

Mike, I thought this might be a solution for folks whose drive is getting filled by local storage DropBox files, the idea being those with limited internal storage (like with min. spec Macs) can keep files they wish to store both in the cloud and locally on an external drive.

Maybe I misunderstand what this is all about...?

[mikehalloran]

Mike, I thought this might be a solution for folks whose drive is getting filled by local storage DropBox files, the idea being those with limited internal storage (like with min. spec Macs) can keep files they wish to store both in the cloud and locally on an external drive.

Maybe I misunderstand what this is all about...?

You are understanding correctly. You can't boot from it, of course.

Again, the issue will be speed. My internet is less than 1/5 the Fast USB 2 real world maximum speed of 430 Mbps. USB 3 is max 540 Mbps (about same speed as SATA III) while USB 3.1 (aka USB 3.2 Gen 2) tops out just under 1000 Mbps, the speed of many optical plans around here (if only I could get that!). Apple does not support USB 3.2 Gen 2+2 except over Thunderbolt 2/3/4 but that speed is 1550 in the real world. Then there's the 2800 data ceiling of USB4/TB3/4.

Dropbox is going to charge for all this storage—I pay $135yr for 2TB. A 4TB blade + decent USB4 housing w/ cable runs around $325 for 2800 max speed. 2TB can be done for around $200 for the same speed.

So while it is doable, the numbers don't make sense to me.

[HCMarkus]

This is what I'm talking about Mike:

We’ve begun rolling out support for moving the location of your Dropbox folder onto compatible external drives for some users. Learn more about external drive support for Dropbox for macOS on File Provider.

Not thinking about for booting but, rather, for those who use DropBox to share large files with clients or collaborators yet want to keep a copy of the pertinent files in local, not just cloud storage. I'm fine with my 2TB Mac Studio drive, but others may be interested.

Eligibility
In order to be eligible to store the Dropbox folder on an external drive with Dropbox for macOS on File Provider, you must:

Be on macOS 15
Have under 500,000 files in the Dropbox folder on your device

Support is only for external drives that are both:

Formatted as Apple File System (APFS)
Encrypted

[mikehalloran]

those who use DropBox to share large files with clients or collaborators yet want to keep a copy of the pertinent files in local, not just cloud storage.

A variant of that has been around since Monterey.

If what they are really talking about is not storing files in the cloud and only on external drives, that would be different — but it makes no sense for less than enterprise clients with wicked fast internet. In any case, it is not a Solution to limited internal Mac drive space?.

[HCMarkus]

those who use DropBox to share large files with clients or collaborators yet want to keep a copy of the pertinent files in local, not just cloud storage.

A variant of that has been around since Monterey.

Please illuminate me... I understand that DropBox files stored locally must be on the system drive. Am I wrong? If so, how can I keep local copies of files in DropBox on an external drive? Alias the DropBox folder?

Much Thanks!

[nk_e]

Following discussion.