Understanding the root volume

The storage system's root volume contains special directories and configuration files that help you administer the storage system. Understanding the facts about the root volume helps you manage it.

The following facts apply to the root volume:

• How the root volume is installed and whether you need to create it yourself depend on the storage system:
  • For a storage system ordered with disk shelves, the root volume is a FlexVol volume that is installed at the factory.
  • For a storage system that uses array LUNs and does not have a disk shelf, you install the root volume on an array LUN.

    For more information about setting up a system to use only array LUNs, see the Data ONTAP Software Setup Guide for 7-Mode.

  • For systems running virtual storage, the Data ONTAP-v installation process creates a single aggregate by using all currently defined virtual disks and creates the root FlexVol volume in that aggregate.

    For more information about system setup, see the Installation and Administration Guide that came with your Data ONTAP-v system.

• The default name for the root volume is /vol/vol0.

  You can designate a different volume to be the new root volume. Starting in Data ONTAP 8.0.1, you can designate a 64-bit volume to be the new root volume.

• The root volume's fractional reserve must be 100%.