topic Re: Can I create 3 CIFS shares under one volume without creating 2 new volumes in Network and Storage Protocols

Can I create 3 CIFS shares under one volume without creating 2 new volumes

Redni — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:44:51 GMT

I want to create 3 cifs shares independently managed under the same volume, is it possible?
Each share points to a different subfolder under a single volume.? is it possible

I already tried to create cifs shares but it is not solving my purpose of creating different subfolders, its replicating in all shares, if I add or create any folder or file in any share.

share1 creation command (same junction path.)
---cifs share create -vserver vserver_name -share-name Share2 -path /junctionpath_1 -share-properties oplocks,browsable,showsnapshot,access-based-enumeration,show-previous-versions -file-umask 022 -dir-umask 022 -comments "xxxxx"

share1 creation command (same junction path.)
---cifs share create -vserver vserver_name -share-name Share2 -path /junctionpath_1 -share-properties oplocks,browsable,showsnapshot,access-based-enumeration,show-previous-versions -file-umask 022 -dir-umask 022 -comments "xxxxx"

share1 creation command (same junction path.)
---cifs share create -vserver vserver_name -share-name Share3 -path /junctionpath_1 -share-properties oplocks,browsable,showsnapshot,access-based-enumeration,show-previous-versions -file-umask 022 -dir-umask 022 -comments "xxxxx"

Re: Can I create 3 CIFS shares under one volume without creating 2 new volumes

Ontapforrum — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 19:25:05 GMT

Yes, it is doable using 'qtree'.

Create a 'qtree' (separate directory) inside the volume, this way you can have 3 different shares under the same volume.

For example:

SVM= svm_cifs

Volume = NAS

I create following 3 qtrees under the same volume (NAS).

MountPath: (qtree)

/NAS/qtree_engg

/NAS/qtree_hr

/NAS/qtree_home

Now create 3 difference shares:

sharename = cifs_engg [/NAS/qtree_engg) | Give the access permissions as needed

sharename = cifs_hr [/NAS/qtree_hr) | Give the access permissions as needed

sharename = cifs_home [/NAS/qtree_home) | Give the access permissions as needed

Now, all you need do is, create an IP (LIF) that you have created for SVM for NAS access.

For example:

I have created a LIF 192.168.0.42 under my SVM = svm_cifs

All I need to do is point to this IP or the DNS name of the LIF.

\\192.168.0.42\cifs_engg

\\192.168.0.42\Cifs_hr

\\192.168.0.42\Cifs_home

Now, you can create folder/data inside one of these share, and the data will be only available in that particular share (It will not be seen by other shares), however, they will all be under the same volume but in their own container(qtree).

Re: Can I create 3 CIFS shares under one volume without creating 2 new volumes

Redni — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 15:23:25 GMT

Hi Ontapforrum,

Thanks actually, I created the qtree as suggested and these folders are under the respective share.
picked up your example only...

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\cifs_engg_1

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\Cifs_hr_1

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\Cifs_home_1

so these folders get created by Qtree
cuba\cifs_engg_1
cuba\Cifs_hr_1
cuba\Cifs_home_1

And let's say, if I do not create these folders in the qtree, and just create folders in the Cuba by right click while in Share Cuba
cifs_engg
Cifs_hr
Cifs_home

so what's the difference between the above folders and the one I created via qtree?

so it's like this, created via Qtree

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\cifs_engg_1

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\Cifs_hr_1

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\Cifs_home_1

created via right click

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\cifs_engg

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\Cifs_hr

\\192.168.0.42\cuba\Cifs_home

It would be great if you could clarify this also. It would help me to understand when I should use Qtree and when not.

Re: Can I create 3 CIFS shares under one volume without creating 2 new volumes

Ontapforrum — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:34:09 GMT

qtree is logically defined (walled) file-system sub-directory under the root volume. It has many advantages over a regular folder, such as you can enforce quota (restrict size for users), during backups, it is more handy b’cos it is a modular directory, hence ndmp backups becomes faster. Most important, administration/managing shares becomes very easy.

Whereas, if you just use regular folder inside the flexvol, you cannot enforce quota/size restriction for users. During backup (especially ndmp), it can be daunting as the size increases. Plus, when you share it out, you will see all other shares which are under the root volume, instead of the just ‘qtree’ share that you shared out.