IBM Cloud Docs
Managing storage limits

Managing storage limits

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.

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

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

IBMCLOUD CLI

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

ibmcloud sl file volume-limits
Datacenter   MaximumAvailableCount   ProvisionedCount
global       700                     99

For more information about all of the parameters that are available for this command, see ibmcloud sl file volume-limits.

SLCLI

You can list the number of your volumes by using the volume-limits command in slcli (version 5.8.5 or higher).

slcli file volume-limits

The output looks similar to the following example.

[{'datacenterName': 'global', 'maximumAvailableCount': 700, 'provisioned Count':117}]
:............:.......................:..................:
: Datacenter : maximumAvailableCount : ProvisionedCount :
:............:.......................:..................:
:   global   :           700         :         117      :
:............:.......................:..................:

Confirming your current limit and provisioning count with the API

REST API call

To directly get this information from the API, use the following method: SoftLayer_Network_Storage/getVolumeCountLimits.

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

SoftLayer_Container_Network_Storage_DataCenterLimits_VolumeCountLimitContainer[{"datacenterName":"global","maximumAvailableCount":700,"provisionedCount":99}]

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

Requesting limit increase

You can request a limit increase by submitting a support case in the portal. When the request is approved, you get a volume limit that is set for a specific data center.

To request a limit increase, open a support case and direct it to your sales representative.

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 percent to be used in 30 days, 50 percent to be used in 60 days and 75 percent to be used in 90 days."

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

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