User Quota and EMC Celerra

Hi,

just enable user quotas fort he file system and define the quotas.

You can either use the UniSpere GUI or the nas_quotas CLI command.

Or you could use the Windows quota editor (just for user quotas, cant manage default quota there)

If you have more user with the same quota think about setting up a default quota or quota templates.

See the Quotas on VNX manual available from Powerlink.

Rainer

rchiappetta wrote: I would like it so that bob and sarah's folders can only be 5GB in size as a hard limit and 3GB in size as a soft limit.

In regards to a single filesystem separated with user home directories, can we assume (as is usually the case) that each user will have access to their own share and can not write to other user directories?  If so, then by setting (on the filesystem root) default user quota settings as you have listed (5GB hard limit and 3GB soft limit), this will work as expected.  Then, for individual users that require exceptions to those default settings, you can individually assign higher or lower quota settings as needed (either in Unisphere or from within Windows by mapping the root of the filesystem).

You'll want to remember when working with user quotas that they can be enabled and configured on either:

1) Filesystem root

2) Tree quota (directory cannot already exist and you can't create nested tree quotas)

Then the user quota calculations will apply to everything from that user in all of the subdirectories from the base where it was defined.

On the other hand, this model will break down if for instance in your small example, Sarah can write to Bob's share.  You would then need to consider possibly either separate filesystems or creating a tree quota for each user's directory.  This is not a common scenario when working with user home directories and you should be able to apply them as mentioned above.

Also, when working with quotas in a CIFS environment, you will also want to change the following data mover parameter so that the calculations are correct and as expected:

1) Facility = quota

2) Parameter = policy

3) Value = filesize (default: block)

As you will be reminded of as you apply the updated value, this will require a reboot of the data mover to take affect.

Thanks for the reply back.  However, I am still confused on where I should be placing the quota, and what type.  In the Unisphere GUI, there seems to be several different places to set the quota, and several different types of quota's to set.

When you say "just enable user quotas for the file system and define the quotas" do you mean a Tree Quota, User Quota, or Group Quota?

You also make mention of using the "Windows quota editor" to manage the quota, but how do I get to the Windows quota editor? 

I have tried mapping a drive to \\servername\c$ but when I take a look of the properties of that drive, it does not give me the quota tab so that I can make cahnges.

My apologies if I am missing something that is right in front of my face

Again, thanks for your help

Please see the manual for details

Powerlink: Home > Support > Technical Documentation and Advisories > Hardware/Platforms Documentation > VNX Series > General Reference

Using Quotas on VNX

http://powerlink.emc.com/km/live1/en_US/Offering_Technical/Technical_Documentation/300-011-805.pdf

There are three types of quotas – tree, user and group quotas – what you want is user quota’s

Rainer

Thanks for the link, however I have read this document before and it is very confusing.

I know I want to use "User Quota's" however I have 1600 users that have a "Home Folder" from reading the document, I need to enter in each userID into the User quota for this work? Is that the case? If so that won't work for me

Also, the document keeps mentioning that you can edit the user quota's from a windows client.  I have not been able to do this.  What are the steps to do this?

Do I need a Tree Quota and a User quota, or just the user quota?

Again thank you for you patience and your help

Thanks, All 1600 users will have the same user quota.  When I try and configure just the user quota via Navisphere, it tells me I need to a Tree Quota enabled.

Also for manageming the quota's via a windows client, I have followed the steps in the document of mapping a network drive to the following

\\servername\c$

However when I right click on the mapped drive, I do not get the quota tab to configure any options

You dont need a treequota but you need to enable quotas for that file system once

Either via UniSphere in the fs properties or nas_quotas on

If you know a bit about Unix/Linux just use the CLI

Just user quotas

If all users have the same quota you just have to configure one default quota for that file system – every new user will inherit that default quota (unless you specify an explicit user quota for that user)

If you have multiple quota classes you can create a default quota per fs or treequota

In order to use the Windows quota editor just open it as explained in the manual – you need to be admin for that of course

When trying to create the user quota via the CLI, I get the following error

nas_quotas -on -user -fs GTAFS12_Users -path /Users

Error 13155106821: Specified quota tree root path /root_vdm_7/GTAFS12_Users/Users, is invalid.

Any thoughts

To view a quota entry:

1. On the Windows desktop, double-click My Computer.

2. Map the drive of interest by selecting Tools ➤ Map Network Drive.

3. Right-click the volume where you want to view quota information, and then select

Properties.

4. In the Disk Properties dialog box, click the Quota tab.

5. Click Quota Entries.

The Quota Entries window appears. Each row contains information for a volume user.

Try without the -path clause if /Users isn't a treequota

Doesn't man nas_quota give an example?

I simply wanted to offer some feedback as it seems some of the content from the original response may have been overlooked and actually has hints as to reason for many of the issues that have been discussed.  You asked the following:

1)  "I know I want to use "User Quota's" however I have 1600 users that have a "Home Folder" from reading the document, I need to enter in each userID into the User quota for this work? Is that the case?"

If you refer back to the first response and also to Rainer's feedback throughout, we've mentioned the concept of "default quotas" and then suggested that you would add exceptions for individual users that may need less or more than the defaults.  So no, we wouldn't expect you to have to create 1600 individual entries.  However, I believe you understand this now.

You can configure the default quotas either:

a) From within Unisphere by selecting: Storage -> "Manage Quota Settings"

Again as suggested in the first response, quotas can only be enabled on a filesystem root/mountpoint or on a subdirectory but only if it was created as a tree quota.  As you'll see in the pull-downs menus, these are your only available selections.

b) Or...as explained in detail below, within Windows via the "Quota" tab from the Properties menu (which has proven elusive for you at least up until now).

2) "Also, the document keeps mentioning that you can edit the user quota's from a windows client.  I have not been able to do this.  What are the steps to do this?"

It was suggested in an earlier response the following:

[...]

You'll want to remember when working with user quotas that they can be enabled and configured on either:

1) Filesystem root/mountpoint
2) Tree quota (directory cannot already exist and you can't create nested tree quotas)

[...]

The correct procedure would be to map the root/mountpoint of the filesystem (or subdirectory but only if it is a tree quota) to a drive letter and only then will this expose the elusive Quota tab from the Properties menu in Windows.  So in your case, from the output you've posted and which I'll use as an example:

Filesystem: GTAFS12_Users

Mountpoint: GTAFS12_Users (also mounted to VDM but not relevant for this conversation)

Subdirectory: Users (not a tree quota)

CIFS Server: servername

Therefore, in your case, user quotas can only be enabled and configured on the filesystem's mountpoint: GTAFS12_Users and not on a subdirectory (unless that subdirectory is a tree quota).  Therefore, to expose the Quota tab, you would proceed as follows:

1) Share out root/mountpoint of filesystem: GTAFS12_Users as GTAFS12_Users$ (for example)

As you are familiar with, the "hidden share" simply prevents anyone from stumbling upon it

2) Within Windows and as an Administrator (I will assume Windows 2008):
a) From Explorer, select: "Map network Drive"

b) Under "Drive:" select an available drive letter

c) Under "Folder:" select the share you created: \\servername\GTAFS12_Users$

3) Then from My Computer, right-click on drive letter and select "Properties"

4) Only then will this expose the Quota tab

As you'll see you have many of the same options that are also available to you within Unisphere.  This includes both Soft and Hard defaults but are instead labeled instead as "Set warning level to:" and "Limit disk space to:", respectively.  One difference, though, is the "Grace Period" that can only be set within Unisphere. 

5) Select the "Quota Entries..." button

This is where you can add those exceptions to the defaults that we suggested.  For instance, a user that needs more than the 5GB Hard/3GB Soft that will be enforced for all other users.

Of course any shared setting you change in Unisphere will also reflect in both the Quota tab and Quota Entries and vice versa.

IN SUMMARY:

===========

You must map the root/mountpoint of the filesystem to a drive letter and not a subdirectory (unless it was created as a tree quota), and even though you may be tempted to try, neither of the following will expose the "Quotas" tab:

1) Right-clicking on GTAFS12_Users after navigating (or coming up from behind) via:

\\servername\C$

2) You also can not map the drive letter to:

\\servername\C$\GTAFS12_Users

As for the error you are getting about "Specified quota tree root path /root_vdm_7/GTAFS12_Users/Users, is invalid", the reason as Rainer mentioned already is that you are selecting a subdirectory (/Users) of the filesystem which is not a tree quota.  Again, quotas can only be enabled/configured on the filesystem root/mountpoint or on a subdirectory but only if that was created as a tree quota.

Also, as a reminder and as mentioned in the first reponse above, do not forget to set the data mover parameter.  I've repasted here for quick reference:

[...]

Also, when working with quotas in a CIFS environment, you will also want to change the following data mover parameter so that the calculations are correct and as expected:

1) Facility = quota

2) Parameter = policy

3) Value = filesize (default: blocks)

As you will be reminded of as you apply the updated value, this will require a reboot of the data mover to take affect.

[...]

Does this help?

Chris, thank you so much for this.  This is working now and is exactly what I wanted.

I wanted to know now, if I can customize the pop-up message that comes up when a user wants to upload data larger then the allowed quota.

Again thank you sooo much for the quick response and great answers

Awesome job and glad it worked out for you. Also, before I forget, seeing this was your first post, I just realized that I forgot to also welcome you to the forums and thank you for being an EMC customer.

Yes, you can customize the pop-up message.  Normally before pointing out how, I will first mention that the process requires enabling the Windows Messenger Service which has commonly been left disabled as it is a popular medium that has exploited for malicious intents, but since you already have the pop-ups enabled and only asking how to customize it you've already made that choice. 

Review the "Using Quotas on Celerra" (since you are running a Celerra and not a VNX, but the process hasn't changed) reference paper on PowerLink available via the following breadcrumb trail:

Home > Support > Technical Documentation and Advisories > Hardware/Platforms Documentation > Celerra Network Server > Installation/Configuration

Specifically you'll be interested in the following sections:

1) Enable and customize pop-up messages

2) Notify users when their quotas are neared or reached

Thanks for the Welcome Chris

In our firm we are using Windows 7, and from searching online for enabling Windows Messenger Service on Windows I am being told that its not support in Windows 7.

Now you mention above that I already have pop ups enabled.  What I am referring too is that when someone tries to put a file or folder over the 5GB limit, they can a standard windows pop up screen saying, there is not enought sufficient space to copy over the files and to free up space.  I would liket to customize this pop-up if possible.

Also where do we enable Windows Messenger Server, on the Celerra?