topic can't get proper size on disk for sparse files in ONTAP Discussions

can't get proper size on disk for sparse files

MIKEMWALK — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:22:57 GMT

When I create sparse file on my vserver from an NFS client then try to access to over CIFS it does not have the sparse attribute flag set so the size on disk (AllocationSize) is not reported accurately

Is it possible to configure the filer to properly represent the sparse status of the file in CIFS view?

I am running this on "NetApp Release 8.2.2 Cluster-Mode"

Re: can't get proper size on disk for sparse files

aborzenkov — Wed, 06 May 2015 06:29:26 GMT

According to https://kb.netapp.com/support/index?page=content&id=2018128&locale=en_US files must be created via CIFS to have sparse bit set. This is about 7-Mode though; it could be different in C-Mode. I suggest opening case with NetApp to clarify. If you get an answer, post here, it is interesting.

Re: can't get proper size on disk for sparse files

MIKEMWALK — Wed, 06 May 2015 06:53:03 GMT

I can manually add the sparse flag onto the files created from NFS and then the AllocationSize is reported correctly, however short of applying the flag to every file I have no way of knowing which files are sparse from the CIFS view