How can I increase the number of inodes or files for the volumes on my Amazon FSx for ONTAP file system?

Short description

If your volume is out of inodes/files, you might receive one of the following error messages:

Error message no space left on the device

Error message: file system is out of inodes

wafl.vol.outOfInodes: file system on Volume vol_name is out of inodes because it has reached the maximum number of files

INODE: System/Cluster Notification from filer (OUT OF INODES) ALERT

If you receive these errors, you can increase the maximum number of files in your FlexVol volumes and FlexGroup volumes.

Note: If the maximum number of files can't be increased, then you must select files for deletion to free inodes. Or, increase the volume size. If the new file count specified is larger than the volume can accommodate, then it reports the maximum value possible. The command in the following section reports the maximum value possible.

Check the current maximum file value for the volume

FSx for ONTAP advanced mode provides a command to check the current maximum possible files value set for each volume. Use the following advanced privilege command to check the maximum possible files value for a volume. Change vol1 to the name of your volume.

::> set advanced
::*> volume show -vserver fsx -volume vol1  -fields files-maximum-possible
vserver volume files-maximum-possible
------- ------ ----------------------
fsx     vol1   255013682

The number 255013682 in the above example is the maximum file value that can be set for volume vol1.

Note: The commands in this resolution are run using the NetApp ONTAP Command Line Interface (NetApp ONTAP CLI). For information on accessing the NetApp ONTAP CLI, see Using the NetApp ONTAP CLI.

Resolution

Increase the number of files or inodes in your volume

Note: When increasing the number of files in your volume, pay attention to the used inodes and the used aggr space. It's a best practice to keep the used inodes and aggr space values close to 80%.

1.    Verify the current maximum number of files in the volume. In the following example command, change the svm_name and vol_name to the correct values for your use case.

::> volume show –vserver svm_name -volume vol_name -fields files

2.    Modify the maximum number of files. In the following example command, change the svm_name, vol_name and number_of_files to the correct values for your use case.

::> volume modify –vserver svm_name -volume vol_name -files number_of_files

Example

Check the current number of files assigned to the volume:

::> volume show -vserver fsx -volume vol1 -fields files
vserver volume files
------- ------ --------
svm1 vol1 25501367

Update the number of inodes or files:

::> volume modify -vserver fsx -volume vol1 -files 35501367
Volume modify successful on volume vol1 of Vserver svm1

Verify the modification:

::> volume show -vserver fsx -volume vol1 -fields files
vserver volume files
------- ------ --------
vol1 vol1 35501358

Set the maximum file value for a volume

You can use the files-set-maximum option to set the maximum file value for a volume. When the files-set-maximum value on a volume is set to true, ONTAP automatically adjusts maxfiles to the largest possible value.

Note: The files-set-maximum option is a one-time variable. You can't change it after setting it to true.

1.    Run the following command to set the maximum value for the number of inodes or files for this volume. In the following example command, change the SVM and volume names to the correct values for your use case.

::> set -privilege advanced
::*> vol modify -vserver fsx -volume vol1 -files-set-maximum true

2.    Run the following command to verify the change. In the following example command, change the SVM and volume names to the correct values for your use case.

::*> volume show -vserver svm1 -volume vol1 -fields files

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Related information

Troubleshooting - You have insufficient volume capacity

Increasing the maximum number of files on a volume