---
name: FileStorage-managing-storage-limits
title: Managing storage limits of File Storage for Classic
description: Increase your storage volume limit beyond the default 700 combined block and file storage volumes by requesting a limit increase with a support case.
last-updated: 2026-06-08
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/FileStorage?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Managing storage limits of File Storage for Classic
{: #managinglimits}
{: help}
{: support}

Increase your storage volume limit beyond the default 700 combined block and file storage volumes by requesting a limit increase with a support case.
{: shortdesc}

By default, you can provision a combined total of 700 Block Storage for Classic and File Storage for Classic volumes globally. By following this process, you can increase the number of volumes you can provision.

For more information about increasing your storage volume capacity beyond 12 TB, see [expanding File Storage for Classic capacity](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/FileStorage?topic=FileStorage-expandCapacity&format=markdown#increasecapacityover12TB).

If you're unsure how many volumes you have, you can confirm the numbers by using multiple methods.

## Confirming your current limit and provisioning count from the CLI
{: #confirmprovisioncountCLI}
{: cli}

Before you begin, decide on the CLI client that you want to use.

* You can either install the [IBM Cloud CLI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?format=markdown){: external} and install the SL plug-in with `ibmcloud plugin install sl`. For more information, see [Extending IBM Cloud CLI with plug-ins](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?topic=cli-plug-ins&format=markdown).
* Or, you can install the [SLCLI](https://softlayer-python.readthedocs.io/en/latest/cli/){: external}.

### IBMCLOUD CLI
{: #ibmcloudcli1}

Use the `ibmcloud sl file volume-limits` command to display what is available and what is provisioned.

```sh
ibmcloud sl file volume-limits
Datacenter   MaximumAvailableCount   ProvisionedCount
global       700                     99
```
{: codeblock}

For more information about all of the parameters that are available for this command, see [ibmcloud sl file volume-limits](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?topic=cli-sl-file-storage-service&format=markdown#sl_file_volume_limits){: external}.

### SLCLI
{: #slcli1}

You can list the number of your volumes by using the [`volume-limits`](https://softlayer-python.readthedocs.io/en/latest/cli/file/#file-volume-limits){: external} command in `slcli` (version 5.8.5 or higher).

```sh
slcli file volume-limits
```
{: pre}

The output looks similar to the following example.
```sh
[{'datacenterName': 'global', 'maximumAvailableCount': 750, 'provisioned Count':117}]
:............:.......................:..................:
: Datacenter : maximumAvailableCount : ProvisionedCount :
:............:.......................:..................:
:   global   :           700         :         117      :
:............:.......................:..................:
```
{: codeblock}

## Confirming your current limit and provisioning count with the API
{: #confirmprovisioncountAPI}
{: api}

### REST API call
{: #restapi1}

To directly get this information from the API, use the following method: [`SoftLayer_Network_Storage/getVolumeCountLimits`](https://sldn.softlayer.com/reference/services/SoftLayer_Network_Storage/getVolumeCountLimits/){: external}.

```sh
curl -u $SL_USER:$SL_APIKEY 'https://api.softlayer.com/rest/v3.1/SoftLayer_Network_Storage/getVolumeCountLimits.json'
```
{: pre}

```json
SoftLayer_Container_Network_Storage_DataCenterLimits_VolumeCountLimitContainer[{"datacenterName":"global","maximumAvailableCount":750,"provisionedCount":99}]`
```
{: screen}

The API response shows the combined number of Block Storage for Classic and File Storage for Classic.

## Requesting limit increase
{: #increasefilelimits}

You can request a limit increase by submitting a support case in the [portal](https://cloud.ibm.com/unifiedsupport/cases/add){: external}. When the request is approved, you get a volume limit that is set for a specific [data center](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/overview?topic=overview-locations&format=markdown#data-centers).

To request a limit increase, open a support case.

In the ticket, provide the following information:

- **Ticket Subject**:
   >Request to Increase Data Center Volume Count Storage Limit

- **What is the use case for the additional volumes request?**
   >*Your answer might be something similar to a new VMware® datastore, a new development and testing environment, an SQL database, or logging.*

- **How many extra Block volumes are needed by type, size, IOPS, and location?**
   >*"25x Endurance 2 TB @ 4 IOPS in DAL09" or "25x Performance 4 TB @ 2 IOPS in WDC04."*

- **How many extra File volumes are needed by type, size, IOPS, and location?**
   >*"25x Performance 20 GB @ 10 IOPS in DAL09" or "50x Endurance 2 TB @ 0.25 IOPS in SJC03."*

- **Provide an estimate of when you expect or plan to provision all of the requested volume increase.**
   >*"90 days."*

- **Provide a 90-day forecast of expected average capacity usage of these volumes.**
   >*"I expect 25% to be used in 30 days, 50% to be used in 60 days and 75% to be used in 90 days."*

Respond to all questions and statements in your request. They are required for processing and approval.
{: important}

You're going to be notified of the update to your limits through the case handling process.