VaM 1.x Keeping/Deleting for storage

[17Taco]

I run VAM on my laptop but don’t really have much storage.

I also wanna take a break from VAM and wanna temporarily delete it, but don’t want to lose any projects.

I’m curious that if I take the scene folder in
Saves > scene and only save that on a flash drive if it will be sufficient enough to not lose my projects.

My idea is that I can redownload VAM replace the scene folder and just find again all the missing .var files and my projects will be how they used to be.

Please inform whether this is a good idea or not

 

[SlimerJSpud]

You would need to back up the AddonPackages and Custom folders too, as well as the all-important license. Some assets you may be using might be no longer available. Backing up AddonPackages will take the most space. Figuring out which ones you no longer need is tedious.

 

[atani]

Please don't use flash drives like SD to store data, they are not meant to store data for a long period and their performance is terrible in comparison with a decent SSD.
Get an external SSD, or an internal SSD and put it in a USB3 enclosure, and use that to store VAM.

 

[VIMVAMVOOMcoom]

I have 2 separate SSDs with USB-C, for running VaM and backup. It has been far more convenient for me than running VaM from the internal SSD.

 

[Horing Koning]

The scene JSON files are the most important since most scenes can be restored from those.

As noted by others, some hub content could become unavailable but this easy to check.

Create a new install of VaM. Copy your save JSON files only and move them to the fresh install.

Download and install DependencyViewer

Check each of your saves if all addons are hub hosted, those that are completely hosted can be safely stored as JSON only.
Would be much cheaper than copying assets.

This way you can also identify which assets are missing and will require a manual backup.

 

[SlimerJSpud]

Assets that are currently hub hosted might not always be hub hosted. Anytime a creator picks a fight with the mods, the creator usually pulls their stuff down and leaves. Sometimes, creators just pull assets that aren't up to their current standards. You can never know.

 

[loros667]

Hi! You might want to check out VPM —it makes managing vars super easy and intuitive. With just a few clicks, you can export the package names of your dependencies, copy entire vars, or download missing ones from the hub

 

[17Taco]

Guys update, I found out clearing my cache could help out storage wise but didn't think it'd be much.
Just now found out I cleared 46+GB of cache, which to me is A SHIT TON.
I don't know if to a more experienced VAM creator, those are peasant numbers.

So my plan was that if I could get it low enough I can use 7-zip to compress the folder then store it on a USB drive like I initially planned to. But after reading some comments y'all left (thank y'all for all the advice btw). I'm curious that even if I compress it using 7-zip, if it is still a bad idea to store it on a USB drive

 

[SlimerJSpud]

Guys update, I found out clearing my cache could help out storage wise but didn't think it'd be much.
Just now found out I cleared 46+GB of cache, which to me is A SHIT TON.
I don't know if to a more experienced VAM creator, those are peasant numbers.

So my plan was that if I could get it low enough I can use 7-zip to compress the folder then store it on a USB drive like I initially planned to. But after reading some comments y'all left (thank y'all for all the advice btw). I'm curious that even if I compress it using 7-zip, if it is still a bad idea to store it on a USB drive

Var files are already compressed zip files. You won't save much there. I regularly flush the cache when it hits 20 GB. Compressing scene files might be worth it, as they're just text files.

 

[17Taco]

I have 2 separate SSDs with USB-C, for running VaM and backup. It has been far more convenient for me than running VaM from the internal SSD.

what speeds are your external SSDs?

I may use this method in the future and would like to get an idea of what I speeds I should be looking at

 

[SlimerJSpud]

I don't think you can beat the speed of an M.2 SSD internal, but not all systems can support that. Any decent gaming rig will.

 

[VIMVAMVOOMcoom]

what speeds are your external SSDs?

I may use this method in the future and would like to get an idea of what I speeds I should be looking at

It's a Samsung T9 with USB-C 3.2 gen 2x2 so it runs with up to 2000 MB/s. It's mid tier but considering my PC is a toaster and VAM still booting nicely it's fine for my needs. You have external SSDs with 6000 MB/s nowadays if you really wanna invest in that.

 

[17Taco]

I don't think you can beat the speed of an M.2 SSD internal, but not all systems can support that. Any decent gaming rig will.

So I only got a laptop with like 512GB of storage, and I did look into getting an internal SSD, my laptop does support another SSD but I also found out about external SSD's(knew nothing about either at first).

I COULD get another internal SSD but I rather save the money for an actual PC, BUT I like the idea that if I get an external SSD I can keep the nsfw stuff on it, separating it away from my laptop that I use for everything and can just plug it in and run it when I feel like it.

EDIT: I just looked into it a bit more and realized that I would be bottle necked by my USB-C and USB-A ports at 500mb/s, Don't know how VAM would run at that rate so maybe just an external HDD, or just bite the bullet and get an Internal SSD

 

[VIMVAMVOOMcoom]

So I only got a laptop with like 512GB of storage, and I did look into getting an internal SSD, my laptop does support another SSD but I also found out about external SSD's(knew nothing about either at first).

I COULD get another internal SSD but I rather save the money for an actual PC, BUT I like the idea that if I get an external SSD I can keep the nsfw stuff on it, separating it away from my laptop that I use for everything and can just plug it in and run it when I feel like it.

EDIT: I just looked into it a bit more and realized that I would be bottle necked by my USB-C and USB-A ports at 500mb/s, Don't know how VAM would run at that rate so maybe just an external HDD, or just bite the bullet and get an Internal SSD

My Laptop is from 2019. and My SSD is hooked up to the USB-C port. I guessing my read/write speed limit is probably the same. And my VAM boots up fine.

 

[SlimerJSpud]

So I only got a laptop with like 512GB of storage, and I did look into getting an internal SSD, my laptop does support another SSD but I also found out about external SSD's(knew nothing about either at first).

I COULD get another internal SSD but I rather save the money for an actual PC, BUT I like the idea that if I get an external SSD I can keep the nsfw stuff on it, separating it away from my laptop that I use for everything and can just plug it in and run it when I feel like it.

EDIT: I just looked into it a bit more and realized that I would be bottle necked by my USB-C and USB-A ports at 500mb/s, Don't know how VAM would run at that rate so maybe just an external HDD, or just bite the bullet and get an Internal SSD

You should run MacGruber's benchmark to see where the bottlenecks are in your system. If your laptop supports adding an M.2 SSD, then you could get one and then transfer that to a new system when you get one. All the new premium mobos support M.2.

 

[17Taco]

You should run MacGruber's benchmark to see where the bottlenecks are in your system. If your laptop supports adding an M.2 SSD, then you could get one and then transfer that to a new system when you get one. All the new premium mobos support M.2.

 

[SlimerJSpud]

Well, it looks like your computer is a potato. Physics is the big bottleneck. In Vam 1.x, that's pure single-core CPU. A new SSD isn't going to help much with FPS. Load times and disk space may improve, but not in-game performance. The benchmark doesn't test load times.