Do I have a problem? Space used on disk is very high

[Mark Fibiger]

Hi

Not sure if this is an issue with FreeNAS or not. I have just set up a FreeNAS server from scratch, and all seems to be well except that the amount of disc space used is very high.

For example I have copied a directory from a Windows machine and in the original location the file size is 2.76 GB and disc space used is 2.81 GB. Not too bad.

But the same files on the FreeNAS server are still 2.76 GB but now the size on disc is 30 GB i.e more than 10 times the original file size.
I have similar problems with other directories I have copied over, some are up to 20 x the original size

I have attached a screen grab showing the same directory in Windows and on the FreeNAS.

Is this normal? has anyone else noticed this?

Thanks

Mark

 

[darkwarrior]

Hello there,

This is not really a pure FreeNAS issue.
The high diskspace usage that you are seeing is probably related to the Blocksize used on your pool.
What kind of files are you copying over? Many many small files or bigger files?
Depending of the file size and your expectations you might want to change the blocksize on the FreeNAS.

 

[Sakuru]

Windows does not understand ZFS. It cannot generate an accurate number. This is nothing to worry about.

 

[Mark Fibiger]

Thanks all


I believe I can confirm this is just a misunderstanding between the Windows machine and the FreeNAS server. If I ask the Windows machine that is accessing the server how much space the directory takes up the answer is much higher than it should be. But if I check the disc space used via the FreeNAS server admin page that reports the correct amount of space used.

Mark

 

[darkwarrior]

Yep, you're right ...
Now I remebered that it has been years (actually since SMBv2.x or Win7 and 2008R2) that the Windows foldersize reporting is not cooperating very smoothly with many SAMBA implementations (including FreeNAS) and using an incorrect blocksize to calculate the diskspace occupied. It will either report much more or much less space used.
But don't worry about it, mate. You can trust the FreeNAS usage reports and this is all what matter ;-)