Best Practices: NetApp storage configuration
Summary
This article describes the Best Practices for DS-System when using NetApp storage.
NetApp default settings
- By default, NetApp volumes are configured with a "Maximum Directory Size" of 10 MB (10,240 KB), meaning the directory can hold approximately 300,000 files. If any directory backed up by a DS-Client is bigger than the configured amount, the NetApp storage will no longer allow creating files in that specific directory. DS-System will report errors in its Event Log like:
- In situations where a DS-Client is backing up a directory containing a huge number of files (e.g. 1 million files), that directory may fail to be saved on the DS-System storage even though the NetApp volume still has free space available.
- As a best practice, when using NetApp as the storage subsystem to hold the DS-System storage locations, NetApp volumes should be configured with a "Maximum Directory Size" of at least 1 GB. This configuration does not waste space on the NetApp volume. It allows NetApp to write into a directory as long as the storage volume has free space available.
NetApp parameters to configure
Configure the following NetApp parameters on the NetApp volume used for DS-System storage.
- Maximum Directory Size: This parameter specifies the maximum size for any directory file (in KB). The default is 10,240. Increase this value to at least 1 GB (approximately 1,000,000 KB). Note the performance implications.
- Update Access Time: Disable this parameter. DS-System uses its own timestamp on files. Turning off this feature will reduce file handling by the NetApp storage, since it will not have to update each file's access time when DS-System needs to scan any file.
The information provided in this document is provided "AS IS", without warranty of any kind. ASIGRA Inc. (ASIGRA) disclaims all warranties, either express or implied. In no event shall ASIGRA or its business partners be liable for any damages whatsoever, including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages, even if ASIGRA or its business partners have been advised of the possibility of such damages. © Asigra Inc. All Rights Reserved. Confidential.
![]() ![]() |