Configuration
Advantage
Description
Multiple Volumes
Example:
• Volume 1
• Shared Folder 1
• Volume 2
• Shared Folder 2
• Volume 3
• Shared Folder 3
• Shared Folder 4
Storage space limits
Each volume functions like a separate container.
If a user or an app writes a large amount of files
to a volume, only the specified volume is filled.
Other volumes remain unaffected.
Multiple snapshot
schedules
Snapshots protect files from accidental deletion
or modification. Snapshot creation requires time,
memory resources, and storage space.
QTS takes snapshots of individual volumes.
Using multiple volumes means you can have
different snapshot schedules for different file
types. For example, you can take hourly
snapshots of the volume containing important
documents, and weekly snapshots of the volume
contain photos and movies.
Faster file system repair
In certain circumstances such as after a power
outage, QTS may encounter errors in the file
system of a volume. While QTS can scan the
volume and automatically repair errors, this
process can take a long time. The required time
depends on the volume size. Files on the volume
cannot be accessed during the scanning
process.
Volume Configuration Examples
Users often purchase NAS devices to store a combination of documents, media, and backups.
The following table compares the advantages and disadvantages of creating a single large volume or
multiple smaller volumes.
Requirement
User Goal
Single Volume
Multiple Volumes
Simplicity
Store files
Users create one large thin volume
if they want to use snapshots, or
one large static volume if they do
not. They then create three shared
folders on the volume, for
documents, movies, and backups.
Users create three
separate volumes for
documents, movies, and
backups. Users must
decide how much space
to initially allocate to each
volume.
Speed
Edit video and audio
files
Users create one large single static
volume on the NAS. The files are
backed up daily to another NAS, or
to an external disk.
Users create a thick
volume to store the
movie files. Random-
write performance is
slightly lower than a
single static volume.
Containerizing
storage space
Copy a large number
of movie files to the
NAS
Users copy the movie files to the
movies shared folder. However,
they must pay attention to much
data they have in the movies folder.
If they copy too many files, the
volume will become full.
Users copy the movie
files to the movies
volume. When the
volume becomes full,
they can increase the
volume size.
QTS 4.5.x User Guide
Storage & Snapshots
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