Raw capacity is the theoretical maximum storage capacity, whereas usable capacity is the practical amount of space that can be used for storing files and data.
Understanding storage capacity can be confusing when differentiating between raw and usable space on your system. It is important to clarify these terms when expanding storage or monitoring remaining capacity in your infrastructure.
The actual usable storage space may be less than the advertised 60TB due to system requirements and formatting limitations:
Consider the scenario where an organization seeks to enhance its storage infrastructure by increasing capacity. For instance, suppose a member of your IT team acquires 100 disk drives, each with a capacity of 600GB, resulting in a total of 60TB of storage. However, it turns out that this 60TB represents raw capacity rather than usable storage. Consequently, different business units within your organization may begin to request storage allocations based on this figure, leading to a situation where all 60TB is claimed. In reality, though, you never had the full 60TB available for use.
The usable storage capacity depends on the RAID configuration and typically falls within 60-70% of the raw capacity.
The usable capacity is also affected by the overhead on the disk drive type used, resulting in a loss of capacity.
It is important to consult with an experienced storage engineer when the hardware has used more than 80% of its raw capacity capabilities.
Allocated capacity refers to the capacity dedicated to hosting specific applications, even if it is not currently being used.
When purchasing additional capacity, it is crucial to have clarity on the type of capacity being described and to focus on usable capacity.
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