Disk Quotas

It’s a weak strategy to offer open access to storage resources and then hope for efficient usage. Controlled access always leads to controlled costs.

Disk Quotas (managed in NSS:Quota Server) are essential to any storage strategy and will easily let you:
- Show users what reasonable storage use is – define an upper limit.
- Allow storage to grow in a controlled and sustainable manner.
- Promote efficient usage and streamline backup/restore times.

Below you will find a comprehensive list of the disk quota features within Northern Storage Suite:

The start-up screen from NSS: Quota Server with the main disk quota view in the background.

Advanced quantity control policies allow you to minimise usage and growth rates:

• High performance NAS quotas – a cached fast access list of file sizes ensures zero impact on NAS performance
• Hybrid EMC Celerra quotas – advanced asynchronous monitoring and synchronous locking guarantees a secure quota policy and maximizes filer performance
• Hybrid NetApp NAS quotas – asynchronous monitoring and synchronous locking warrants a secure quota policy and preserves filer performance
• User-based quotas – set quotas on individual user accounts
• Directory and object level quotas - set quotas on all levels of file structure
• User exclusion – lift quota restrictions for specific users within a quota [available for Windows, Windows Cluster, EMC Celerra, NetApp NAS and SAN]
• Path exclusion – lift quota restrictions for specific paths within a quota [available for Windows, Windows Cluster, EMC Celerra, NetApp NAS and SAN]
• Exchange quotas - set quotas on individual exchange mailboxes
• Group-based quotas – make quota settings dependant on a users Primary Group membership [available for Windows, Windows Cluster and SAN]
• Set quota wizard – a more efficient tool for designing and implementing quota policies
• Smart quota columns – pick up Active directory data in the quota view for mass and micro management
• Automated user quotas - create a template quota that automatically controls all existing and any new users [available for Windows, Windows Cluster and SAN]
• Automated directory quotas - create a template quota that automatically controls all existing and any new directories
• Asynchronous quota monitoring - user and device activity are not stalled by quota processes
• Real-time quota controls - quotas are evaluated, displayed and enforced in real-time
• Hard quotas - allow users to edit and save existing files, only save open files or save no files at all
• Hard exchange quotas - lock mailboxes or just stop the possibility to send mail
• Soft quotas - encourage compliance with notifications only
• Active quotas - execute programs at quota thresholds to take remedial action when a quota is exceeded
• Trigger notifications at usage intervals - send emails and popup messages at thresholds of quota usage
• Customizable notification templates - localize quota notification templates to suit your specific needs

The main views from the "Set Quota Wizard".

Advanced quota management to achieve specific results:

• Customizable quota workspaces - edit existing or create new workspaces, include or exclude columns, filter, subtotal and group
• Delegate permissions - allow user groups controlled access to manage certain aspects of the quota policy
• Storing quota settings - quota configurations can be stored in the local registry, in MS SQL or in Active Directory
• Command-line tools - utilities offer straightforward integration into batch operations
• Custom quota labels - label quotas for quick recognition and mass-management
• Automated notification setup - use LDAP queries and custom variables to automate notification configuration