Disk Quotas

Introduction:

Disk quotas are a powerful feature in Linux that allow you to control and manage the usage of disk space by users and groups. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up disk quotas step by step, covering everything from creating directories and mounting partitions to assigning quotas to users and groups.

Step 1: Creating a Directory:

The first step is to create a directory where the quota-enabled partition will be mounted. Open a terminal and run:

• sudo mkdir /quota_partition

Step 2: Mounting a Partition:

Next, you need to identify the partition you want to enable quotas on. Replace `/dev/sdX1` with your actual partition identifier and `/quota_partition` with the directory path created earlier. Run:

• sudo mount -o usrquota,grpquota /dev/sdX1 /quota_partition

Step 3: Setting Permissions for the Directory:

For disk quotas to work effectively, ensure that the directory has proper permissions. Grant full permissions to the directory using:

• sudo chmod 777 /quota_partition

Step 4: Creating Quota Database Files:

Quota database files will store information about user and group quotas. Create these files using:

• sudo touch /quota_partition/quota.user /quota_partition/quota.group
• sudo chmod 600 /quota_partition/quota.user /quota_partition/quota.group

Step 5: Enabling Quotas:

Activate quotas on the partition using the `quotacheck` and `quotaon` commands:

• sudo quotacheck -cug /dev/sdX1
• sudo quotaon /dev/sdX1

Step 6: Assigning Quotas to Users and Groups:

Now, you can assign quotas to specific users and groups. Use the `edquota` command to set limits. Replace `username` and `groupname` with actual names:

• sudo edquota -u username
• sudo edquota -g groupname

Set soft and hard limits for both users and groups using the text editor that opens.

Step 7: Verifying Quota Setup:

To ensure your quota setup is working as expected, use the `repquota` command:

• sudo repquota /dev/sdX1

Conclusion:

Setting up disk quotas in Linux is a valuable way to manage disk space usage effectively. By following these step-by-step instructions, you've learned how to create directories, mount partitions, grant permissions, create quota database files, enable quotas, and assign quotas to users and groups. Disk quotas provide an essential tool for system administrators to maintain fair disk usage and optimize storage resources.