topic Report on file usage in folders in ONTAP Discussions

Report on file usage in folders

connoisseur — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:30:47 GMT

Hi!

The built in report functions are quite few in ONTAP.

I have some reports running via PS toolkit scripts, but I'm very new to PS.

I have a customer who want to have reports on file usage on different folders in their folder structure.

From CLI you can se inodes/files if you run:

vserver security file-directory show -vserver vs1 -path /vol1/qtree1/folder1/folder2

There you´ll get "File Inode Number: xxxx"

Is there a way to get the same information with Powershell Toolkit, to get it to a report?

Or is there any better way to do this?

Thanks

Re: Report on file usage in folders

jcolonfzenpr — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:56:10 GMT

Hi,

Online reference.

http://www.cosonok.com/2015/04/how-to-report-on-cdot-shares-shares.html?m=1

Hope this helps.

Re: Report on file usage in folders

connoisseur — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 21:38:15 GMT

Thanks.

Tha looks like a massive report solution 🙂

Looking through it I can´t seem to find what value I will get on file numbers.

Also I'm not interested on reports on share level as the customer might have one or two top level shares on qtree level.

But the folders they want to monitor for file usage might be further down in the folder structure, several "layers" down,

With the "vserver security file-directory show" command I can specify exactly the path I want to monitor.

That´s the goal

cheers

Re: Report on file usage in folders

jcolonfzenpr — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 21:52:35 GMT

Hi:

Look for XCP File Analytics.

NetApp XCP file analytics is host-based software to scan the file shares, collect and analyzes the data and provide insights into the file system. XCP file analytics works for both NetApp and non-NetApp systems and runs on Linux or Windows host

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CBdHwqCxVc

http://docs.netapp.com/us-en/xcp/#learn-about-xcp

Good luck!

Re: Report on file usage in folders

paul_stejskal — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 01:03:08 GMT

There are also a couple solutions with fpolicy or CIFS auditing. https://kb.netapp.com/Advice_and_Troubleshooting/Data_Storage_Software/ONTAP_OS/How_to_audit_CIFS_share_deletes_from_a_client_with_CIFS_Auditing has an example for deletes.

Fpolicy documentation is fairly easy. One solution we have is with Cloud Insights and Cloud Secure. CI is free but one advantage of Cloud Secure is it helps with ransomware, and is a native NetApp provided solution (so you can get end to end support). Your account team can provide more info.

Re: Report on file usage in folders

connoisseur — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:10:54 GMT

Thank you.

I have looked at XCP before, but only for migrating data.

Will have a look at the analytics tool as well.

Is the file analytics in 9.8 built on XCP?

cheers

Re: Report on file usage in folders

jcolonfzenpr — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 12:40:36 GMT

Ontap 9.8 have basic file analytic capabilities.

https://blog.netapp.com/ontap-file-system-analytics

Re: Report on file usage in folders

connoisseur — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:07:13 GMT

Nice read there.. thanks.

I just heard a rumor that the FSA was built on XCP, that´s why I asked.

I'm still on 9.7P9 on my systems.

Will probably upgrade to 9.8 before summer.

Looks smooth, and hope there is a report function available together with this new FSA