Beginning with ONTAP 9.13.1, you can set a maximum capacity for a storage VM (SVM). You can also configure alerts when the SVM approaches a threshold capacity level.

About this task

Capacity on an SVM is calculated as the sum of FlexVols, FlexGroup volumes, FlexClones, FlexCache volumes. Volumes impact capacity calculation even if they are restricted, offline, or in the recovery queue after deletion. If you have volumes configured with auto-grow, the maximum autosize value of the volume will be calculated toward the SVM size; without auto-grow, the actual size of the volume will be calculated.

The following table captures how autosize-mode parameters impact the capacity calculation.

autosize-mode off

Size parameter will be used for computation

autosize-mode grow

The max-autosize parameter will be used for computation

autosize-mode grow-shrink

The max-autosize parameter will be used for computation

Before you begin

You must be a cluster administrator to set an SVM limit.
Storage limits cannot be configured for any SVM that contains data protection volumes, volumes in a SnapMirror relationship, or in a MetroCluster configuration.
When you migrate an SVM, the source SVM cannot have a storage limit enabled. To complete the migrate operation, disable the storage limit on the source then complete the migration.
SVM capacity is distinct from quotas. Quotas cannot exceed the max size.
You cannot set a storage limit when other operations are in progress on the SVM. Use the job show vservser svm_name command to see existing jobs. Try running the command again when any jobs have been completed.

Capacity impact

When you reach the capacity limit, the following operations will fail:

Creating a LUN, namespace, or volume
Cloning a LUN, namespace, or volume
Modifying a LUN, namespace, or volume
Increasing the size of a LUN, namespace, or volume
Expanding a LUN, namespace, or volume
Rehosting a LUN, namespace, or volume

Set a capacity limit on a new SVM

ONTAP System Manager

Steps

Select Storage > Storage VMs.
Select to create the SVM.
Name the SVM and select an Access protocol.
Under Storage VM settings, select Enable maximum capacity limit.

Provide a maximum capacity size for the SVM.
Select Save.

CLI

Steps

Create the SVM. To set a storage limit, provide a storage-limit value. To set a threshold alert for the storage limit, provide a percentage value for -storage-limit-threshold-alert.

vserver create -vserver vserver_name -aggregate aggregate_name -rootvolume root_volume_name -rootvolume-security-style {unix|ntfs|mixed} -storage-limit value [GiB|TIB] -storage-limit-threshold-alert percentage [-ipspace IPspace_name] [-language <language>] [-snapshot-policy snapshot_policy_name] [-quota-policy quota_policy_name] [-comment comment]

If you do not provide threshold value, by default an alert will be triggered when the SVM is at 90% capacity. To disable the threshold alert, provide a value of zero.
Confirm the SVM was created successfully:

vserver show -vserver vserver_name
If you wish to disable the storage limit, modify the SVM with -storage-limit parameter set to zero:

vserver modify -vserver vserver_name -storage-limit 0

Set or modify a capacity limit on an existing SVM

You can set a capacity limit and threshold alert on an existing SVM or disable a capacity limit.

Once you set the capacity limit, you cannot modify the limit to a value less than the currently allocated capacity.

ONTAP System Manager

Steps

Select Storage > Storage VMs.
Select the SVM you want to modify. Next to the name of the SVM, select then Edit.
To enable a capacity limit, select the box next to Enable capacity limit. Enter a value for the Maximum capacity and a percentage value for Alert threshold.

If you wish to disable the capacity limit, uncheck the box next Enable capacity limit.
Select Save.

CLI

Steps

On the cluster hosting the SVM, issue the vserver modify command. Provide a numerical value for -storage-limit and a percent value for -storage-limit-threshold-alert.

vserver modify -vserver vserver_name -storage-limit value [GiB|TIB] -storage-limit-threshold-alert percentage

If you do not provide threshold value, you will have a default alert at 90% capacity. To disable the threshold alert, provide a value of zero.
If you wish to disable the storage limit, modify the SVM with -storage-limit set to zero:

vserver modify -vserver vserver_name -storage-limit 0

Reaching capacity limits

When you reach the maximum capacity or the alert threshold, you can consult the vserver.storage.threshold EMS messages or use the Insights page in ONTAP System Manager to learn about possible actions. Possible resolutions include:

Editing the SVM maximum capacity limits
Purging the volumes recovery queue to free up space
Delete snapshot to provide space for the volume

Additional information