Specifies the maximum number of files that you want to use for this volume.
Initially, the maximum number of files on the filer is set at one for every 32 KB of disk space. The number is increased automatically when you add a new disk. The increase is determined by the filer and is not a user-specified value.
Unlike UNIX, which requires you to specify the maximum number of files in a file system when you create the file system, the filer enables you to increase the number of files for each volume at any time.
Note: Use caution when increasing
the maximum number of files. After you increase this number, you can never
reduce it. As new files are created, the file system consumes the additional
disk space required to hold the inodes for
the additional files; there is no way for the filer to release that disk
space.
An inode is a data structure containing information about files. Inodes
are added in blocks, and 5 percent of the total number of inodes is reserved
for internal use. If the increase you specify for the maximum number of
files is too small to require a full inode block to be added, the maximum
number of files is not increased. If this happens, modify the volume again
and specify a larger value for the Maximum Files field.