Excessive use of storage resources impacts all users, general system stability, and performance. The purpose of this policy is to define the storage allocation for individual user accounts and the actions that will be taken to remediate storage excesses. The intent of this policy is to encourage responsible use and management of the storage services provided by CSBS servers.
Users are required to manage the storage allocated to them within the limits set by their quota. Failure to maintain allocated storage within quotas may result in rejection of email services and/or locking of accounts. CSBS will attempt to contact users who exceed their storage allocation via email before any action is taken to resolve storage difficulties. If contact and resolution are not possible or timely, CSBS will take actions necessary to protect the stability and performance of its services for all users. These actions include moving or archiving user data, and possibly locking accounts.
A Quota is a file-system setting that governs the amount of disk storage a user is allowed to use. There are two types of quotas: block and file. Block refers to the amount of storage, in Megabytes, you are allowed to store. File refers to the number of files you are allowed to store. Each of these quotas has a soft limit and a hard limit as well as a time limit.
Soft limit: the amount of storage you are allocated and should stay within.
Hard limit: the limit at which the system will no longer allow you to write to the disks.
Time limit: the amount of time you may exceed the soft limit before the system will no longer allow you to write to the disks.
At this time storage quotas are in effect for the email system inboxes (including DSPAM quarantine inboxes), and home (N: drive) storage. Mail folders other than the Inbox reside in each user’s home and are governed by the home storage quota. Shared folders (folders shared between more than one user) will be governed by a quota to be implemented at a later date.
Email Quotas:
All email accounts hosted by CSBS Computing are allocated a maximum of 50MB of inbox storage including the DSPAM quarantine inbox for DSPAM users. This does not include subscribed folders that reside in each user’s home.
Inbound email will be rejected when:
- A user's INBOX exceeds the 50MB limit for more than 6 months.
- A user's INBOX exceeds 350MB at any time
Home (N: drive) Quotas:
All accounts hosted by CSBS Computing are allocated home storage as follows:
Undergraduate |
100MB (0.1GB) |
150MB (0.15GB) |
Graduate |
400MB (0.4GB) |
600MB (0.6GB) |
Staff |
500MB (0.5GB) |
750MB (0.75GB) |
Faculty |
2000MB (2GB) |
3000MB (3GB) |
Saving files to home storage will be prohibited when:
- A user's Home storage exceeds the Soft limit for more than 2 weeks
- A user's Home storage exceeds the Hard limit at any time
Exceptions:
We understand that some users may be away for extended periods of time or may need temporary increases in their quota to address special project demands. To request a temporary increase please submit a HelpDesk request detailing the amount needed, the justification for this increase and term that this increase will be required.
