Disk quota is a protocol used by administrators to distribute resources fairly among users. There are two types: usage freeze and inode quota. Notifications are used to alert users when they are reaching their limit, with a fixed quota locking users out if they exceed it.
Disk quota is a protocol often used by system administrators to ensure that available resources are fairly and reasonably distributed among users of the operating systems used by a home or corporate network. This process of managing the file system usage of each workstation within the network helps prevent one user from using more resources at the expense of another user in the group. The system administrator normally has the ability to assign disk quotas both per workstation and per individual user.
There are essentially two recognized types of disk quota implementations in use today. The first is known as a usage freeze or quota. With this approach, the system administrator will set limits on the amount of disk space that can be used by any system user. By setting a usage quota, the administrator can ensure that all network users have reasonable access to the resources they need to perform essential tasks, but do not use so many resources that other users are left with low reserves.
A second way to handle the function of a disk quota is known as an inode or file quota. Rather than worrying about the amount of disk space a particular user is using, this approach to disk quota management focuses on limiting the total number of directories or files that can be created. One benefit of this approach is that it can reduce the creation of multiple files or directories that are so similar in nature and content that they should have been contained in a single file or directory in the first place.
Most administrators use some type of notification or alert when a user is about to exceed their current disk quota. This is often referred to as a soft quota and will use a simple notification across the network that the user is reaching their limit. However, this approach does not include any follow-up actions beyond notifying the administrator that a particular user is about to reach their allocated disk quota.
A more aggressive notification, known as a fixed quota, takes the process beyond a simple alert. After notifying the user that they are approaching their assigned disk quota, the system will effectively lock the user out once their assigned quota is exceeded. This type of system management will require administrator intervention, either by increasing the disk quota assigned to the user or by working with the user to archive or delete unnecessary files and return the user’s files to below the quota .
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