How your files are kept
Each file is encrypted on the device that adds it, then split into pieces, with extra pieces so that it can be rebuilt without some of them. The pieces are spread over your devices, and over the disks of each. Only your network’s devices with Full trust can read them.
How careful to be
A file, folder or Collection can be kept more or less carefully:
- Single copy: kept once, on one device, and lost if that device is. For things you could get again.
- Low importance: survives losing a device, with less space spent on it.
- Normal: survives losing a device or a disk.
- Important: kept on more devices, and synced first.
Moving a file or folder into a Collection kept at another level asks whether its files keep their own level or take the Collection’s.
A file’s Replication page shows where it’s kept and how many devices it could lose. The Storage tab shows how much space each device gives and uses.
Moving files off a device
To free a device’s space, or before it goes away, choose Move off this device in a file’s, folder’s or Collection’s menu. What your other devices need to keep the files as safe as they ask is copied to them, then the files are deleted from this device. A progress window shows what’s going to each device, and how long is left. Cancelling leaves whatever hasn’t moved yet where it is.
From My network, a device’s menu can move everything off it: this device at once, or another the next time it syncs.
Files that can’t be kept safe without the device stay on it: when there are too few other devices, or no room on them. Opening a moved file fetches it again.
Storage from someone else
Another network can lend you storage: its devices keep an extra, encrypted copy of your files, away from home. They can’t read any of it, and losing it never loses anything of yours. You can lend storage the same way, under Storage.
Thumbnails
A computer with Iceblock makes the thumbnails for everyone’s photos, newest first, and every device keeps the small ones, so they show even when your other devices are out of reach.