1.2.20.1 Exascale Volumes

An Exascale block volume is an arbitrary-sized allocation of storage space, which can be used as an Exascale Direct Volume (EDV) attachment.

Internally, each volume is an Exascale file with special properties that identify it as block storage space. Like other Exascale files, physical space for the volume is only materialized when data is written to the volume.

Each volume is created in a user-specified vault. You can also optionally specify the physical media type used to store the volume. By default, volumes are stored on hard disk drives (HC media type).

Each volume can also be associated with a series of optional attributes, which define the detailed characteristics of the volume, such as the number of data copies (mirrors) that are maintained or the system resources that a volume is allowed to consume.

To use a volume, you must create a volume attachment.

Unlike regular Exascale files, volumes are not subject to access controls defined by user privileges and ACLs. Consequently, volume administration tasks (attachment, detachment, modification, and so on) must be performed by the volume owners or an Exascale cluster administrator (having the cl_admin privilege).