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Enable ONTAP support for large directory maximum size

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Beginning with ONTAP 9.20.1, you can enable and configure support for a larger maximum directory size either when creating a volume or modifying an existing volume. This allows directories to contain up to approximately 25 million files, folders, and other entries based on a maximum 4GB directory size.

Caution

After increasing the maximum directory size, you cannot reduce it without recreating the affected directory or directories on the volume.
Before you begin

Before creating or modifying a volume to support a larger maximum directory size, make sure you are a cluster or SVM administrator.

Create a new volume

You can set a larger maximum directory size when creating a new volume.

Steps

  1. Create a volume with support for the larger directory maximum size enabled:

    volume create -vserver <svm_name> -volume <volume_name> -aggregate <aggr_name> -is-dir-index-transfer-enabled true
    Example
    volume create -vserver vs1 -volume big_dir1 -aggregate aggr1 -is-dir-index-transfer-enabled true

  2. Increase the maximum directory size, up to 4 GB:

    volume modify -vserver <svm_name> -volume <volume_name> -maxdir-size <dir_size>
    Example
    volume modify -vserver vs1 -volume big_dir1 -maxdir-size 4GB

Modify an existing volume

You can set a larger maximum directory size by modifying an existing volume.

Steps

  1. Enable support for the larger directory maximum size on an existing volume:

    volume modify -vserver <svm_name> -volume <volume_name> -is-dir-index-transfer-enabled true
    Example
    volume modify -vserver vs2 -volume data_vol -is-dir-index-transfer-enabled true

  2. Increase the maximum directory size up to 4 GB:

    volume modify -vserver <svm_name> -volume <volume_name> -maxdir-size <dir_size>
    Example
    volume modify -vserver vs2 -volume data_vol -maxdir-size 4GB