Quotas

Configuring Quotas on a file server

If you are using your Ubuntu server as a file server, a very good practice is to implement quotas.  This will limit the amount of files that can be created by your groups and users, allowing you to protect your file systems from being over filled.

Installation

Start by installing quota.

Configuration

Now you will need to edit the fstab file, to include partitions that should have quotas enabled.

Replace the default option on devices by changing them to something like this...

 To apply the quota, remount the drive...

To create a new quota file run the following...

The options operate as follows...

• c = Create a new file.
• u = A user index is to be created.  Use g for groups.
• m = A read-only mount of the file system is not necessary (note that this can cause a slight mismatch of file sizes).

Now we can turn the quota feature on, and start editing quotas for individual users.

Editing Quotas

You can now edit quotas for individual users or groups.  We will start by editing a quota for a group.

Here you can simply enter values against the device that has quotas enabled on it.  Here is an example...

We will make a soft and hard setting for blocks (eg. 900 GB hard, and 850 GB soft).  Soft limits can be exceeded for a limited period, however hard limits can never be exceeded.

Once you've made your changes, press Ctrl-O, to write your changes, and Ctrl-X to exit the editor.

Now you can perform the same task for individual users.

Thanks for visiting,
Steven