Volume Types

Volume types define the characteristics and performance profile of block storage volumes that you can attach to your virtual machines (VMs). Each volume type determines:

  • Underlying storage hardware, for example, SSD and HDD

  • Performance limits, such as IOPS and throughput

  • Features, such as encryption, deduplication, and compression

  • Volume Retype

    You can sometimes change a volume’s type after creation, for example migrate from HDD to SSD, but there may be restrictions based on storage class, encryption, or capacity.

Certain applications such as databases and analytics require high IOPS and can benefit from SSDs, while others, such as backups and logs can performance adequately with HDDs.

Example Volume Types and Their Effects

Volume Type

Media

Typical Use Case

Performance

Features

zvtssd1 (gp2)

SSD

General purpose

Medium

Encryption, no dedup

zvtssd2 (gp3)

SSD

High-performance DB

High

Encryption, no dedup

zvtssdmx

SSD

Burst workloads

Very High

No IOPS limit

zvthdd1 (sc1)

HDD

Archival, backups

Low

Encryption, no dedup

zvthddmx

HDD

Burst archival/logging

Medium

No IOPS limit

Volume Types Management

The Volume Types screen provides the following actions:

  • Viewing volume types

  • Creating a new volume type

  • Modifying an existing volume type

  • Delete a volume type

  • Enable or disable provisioning for a volume type

  • Setting a volume type as the default for new volumes

Viewing volume types

To view the volume types:

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types with the following columns:

    • Name

      The volume type name. When a description exists, it is also displayed.

    • API Alias

      An alternate name for API-based access. This value can be used instead of the main volume type name.

    • Provisioned Capacity

      The amount of capacity already provisioned through this volume type.

    • Built In

      Indicates whether the volume type is a built-in system volume type.

      Note

      Built In volume types cannot be modified.

    • Default

      Indicates whether the volume type is the current default for new volumes.

    • Storage Class

      Shows which storage class the volume type uses.

    • Health

      Shows the health status of the volume type.

    • Provisioning

      Shows whether provisioning is enabled or disabled for the volume type.

    • State

      Shows the current state of the volume type:

      • Normal

      • No Capacity

  2. When you mark a volume type’s checkbox, the lower panel shows summary details:

    The Info area shows:

    • Storage Class

      Shows which storage class the volume type uses.

    • Default

      Indicates whether the volume type is the current default for new volumes.

    • Provisioning Enabled

      Shows whether new provisioning is allowed for the selected volume type.

    • Built In

      Shows whether the selected volume type is built in.

    • Creation Date

      The date and time when the volume type was created.

    • Modification Date

      The date and time when the volume type was last updated.

    • Provisioned Capacity

      The capacity already provisioned through the selected volume type.

    • ID

      The unique identifier of the selected volume type.

      The Capping area shows whether the following features are enabled for the selected volume type:

    • Encryption

    • Dedupe

    • Compression

  3. Select a storage class name to view further details.

Viewing a volume type’s details

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

  2. In the volume types list, select the volume type Name to view that volume type’s details.

    The volume type’s detail screen appears, with the following sections:

Volume type details pane

The Info section gives a quick summary of the selected volume type.

It shows the current health and state, and the main settings and identifiers for the volume type:

  • Health: The current health status of the volume type.

  • State: The current operating state of the volume type.

  • Storage Class: The storage class assigned to the volume type.

    This value is a link to the related storage class screen.

  • Default: Indicates whether this volume type is the default choice for new volumes.

  • Provisioning Enabled: Indicates whether new volumes can be provisioned with this volume type.

  • Built in: Indicates whether the volume type is a built-in system volume type.

  • Creation Date: The date and time that the volume type was created.

  • Modification Date: The date and time that the volume type was last updated.

  • Provisioned Capacity: The total capacity already provisioned by volumes that use this volume type.

  • ID: The unique identifier of the volume type.

Volume type More Info tab

The More Info tab shows additional settings for the selected volume type.

Use this tab to review descriptive details, sharing settings, data services, and performance limits for the volume type:

  • Description: The descriptive text for the volume type.

  • Alias: The alternate API name for the volume type.

    When an alias is set, it is the volume type name presented through the AWS compatibility APIs. If no alias is set, the original volume type name is used.

  • Shared: Indicates whether the volume type is shared.

  • Dedupe: Indicates whether deduplication is enabled for the volume type.

  • Encryption: Indicates whether encryption is enabled for the volume type.

  • Compression: Indicates whether compression is enabled for the volume type.

  • Read IOPS limit: The maximum read IOPS limit for volumes that use this volume type.

  • Write IOPS limit: The maximum write IOPS limit for volumes that use this volume type.

  • Read bandwidth limit: The maximum read bandwidth limit, in MB/s, for volumes that use this volume type.

  • Write bandwidth limit: The maximum write bandwidth limit, in MB/s, for volumes that use this volume type.

Volume type Volumes tab

The Volumes tab lists the volumes that use the selected volume type. It supports row selection, which in turn shows per-volume actions in the toolbar and the More menu.

The table includes the columns:

  • Name: The volume name. When a volume description exists, it is displayed under the name.

  • Size: The volume’s configured size.

  • Volume Type: The volume type assigned to the volume.

    This value is a link to the related volume type screen.

  • Account: The account that owns the volume.

  • User: The user associated with the volume.

  • Status: The current volume status.

    Possible values include:

    • attaching

    • deleted

    • destroying

    • detaching

    • downloading

    • error

    • extending

    • locked

    • ready

    • uninitialized

    • uploading

  • Health: The current health value for the volume.

  • Attached VM: The VM to which the volume is attached.

    If a VM is attached, the value is a link to the screen of that VM.

    If no VM is attached, the entry shows Not attached to any VM.

  • Creation Date: The date and time that the volume was created.

Available volume actions

The toolbar and row action menu in the Volumes tab expose the following actions for a selected volume:

  • Attach: Connect an unattached volume to a VM.

  • Detach: Disconnects an attached volume from its VM.

  • Clone: Creates a clone from the selected volume.

  • Snapshot: Creates a snapshot from the selected volume.

  • Delete: Deletes the selected volume.

  • Create Image: Creates an image from the selected volume.

  • Launch: Opens the VM creation dialog, with the selected volume passed as the source volume.

  • More submenu:

    • Extend: Opens the volume extension dialog for the selected volume.

    • Protect: Opens the resource protection flow for the selected volume.

    • Change Volume Type: Opens the volume type change flow for the selected volume.

    • Create Alarm: Opens alarm creation dialog for the selected volume.

Volume type Events tab

The Events tab shows event records for the selected volume type.

By default, the general event columns Entity Name and Entity Type are hidden, because the page is already scoped to the specified volume type.

Columns include:

  • Severity: The event severity level.

  • Time: Date and time that the event was recorded.

  • Name: The event type name.

  • Details: The event description.

  • Account: The account associated with the event.

  • Project: The project related to the event.

  • User: The username of the user that triggered the event.

  • Related Events: When the event has a related request ID, it shows a View to open related event records.

Creating a volume type

To create a new volume type:

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

  2. From the top toolbar, select + Create.

    The Create Volume Type dialog opens.

  3. In the Details step, enter the following:

    • Name

      The volume type name.

      Required.

    • Description

      Optional text that helps identify the purpose of the volume type.

    • Alias

      Optional alternate name for AWS compatibility APIs. If no value is provided, the original name is used.

    • Storage Class

      From the dropdown, select the storage class that backs the volume type.

      Required.

    • Set as Default for New Volumes

      Select this volume type as the default choice for new volumes.

    • Disable Provisioning

      Creates the volume type with provisioning disabled.

  4. Select Next to continue to the Performance step.

  5. In the Performance step, enter the following:

    • Max read IOPs

      Sets the read IOPS limit for volumes that use this volume type.

    • Max write IOPs

      Sets the write IOPS limit for volumes that use this volume type.

    • Max read MB/s

      Sets the read bandwidth limit in MB/s.

    • Max write MB/s

      Sets the write bandwidth limit in MB/s.

    • Enable deduplication

      Turns deduplication on for this volume type.

      This setting depends on storage class capability.

    • Enable compression

      Turns compression on for this volume type.

      This setting depends on storage class capability.

    • Enable encryption

      Turns encryption on for this volume type.

    • Shared

      Controls whether the volume type is shared.

    • Allowed Accounts

      From the dropdown, select the accounts that can use the volume type when it is not shared.

  6. To confirm creation of the volume type, select Finish.

Modifying a volume type

Note

Built In volume types cannot be modified.

To modify an existing volume type:

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

  2. In the volume types list, locate the volume type to modify.

    Select the volume type by one of the following methods:

    • Mark the volume type’s checkbox.

    • Click the volume type’s name.

    The Modify option will display in the top toolbar.

  3. From the top toolbar, select Modify.

    The Modify Volume Type dialog opens.

  4. In the Details step, you can optionally update the following:

    • Name

      The volume type name.

    • Description

      Optional text that helps identify the purpose of the volume type.

    • Alias

      Optional alternate name for AWS compatibility APIs. If no value is provided, the original name is used.

  5. Select Next to continue to the Performance step.

  6. In the Performance step, you can optionally update the following:

    • Max read IOPs

      Sets the read IOPS limit for volumes that use this volume type.

    • Max write IOPs

      Sets the write IOPS limit for volumes that use this volume type.

    • Max read MB/s

      Sets the read bandwidth limit in MB/s.

    • Max write MB/s

      Sets the write bandwidth limit in MB/s.

    • Enable deduplication

      Turns deduplication on for this volume type.

      This setting depends on storage class capability.

    • Enable compression

      Turns compression on for this volume type.

      This setting depends on storage class capability.

    • Shared

      Controls whether the volume type is shared.

    • Allowed Accounts

      From the dropdown, select the accounts that can use the volume type when it is not shared.

  7. To confirm updating the changes to the volume type, select Finish.

Deleting a volume type

Note

The current default volume type cannot be deleted.

To delete it, first set another volume type as the default.

To delete a volume type:

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

  2. In the volume types list, locate the volume type to delete.

    Select the volume type by one of the following methods:

    • Mark the volume type’s checkbox.

    • Click the volume type’s name.

    The Delete option will display in the top toolbar.

  3. From the top toolbar, select Delete.

    The Delete Volume Type confirmation dialog opens, displaying the name of the volume type to delete.

  4. To confirm deleting the selected volume type, select Delete.

Disabling provisioning for a volume type

To stop new provisioning through a volume type.

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

    The Provisioning column shows whether the volume type is Enabled or Disabled.

  2. In the volume types list, locate the volume type to disable.

    Select the volume type by one of the following methods:

    • Mark the volume type’s checkbox.

    • Click the volume type’s name.

    The Disable option will display in the top toolbar.

  3. From the top toolbar, select Disable.

    The Disable Volume Type confirmation dialog opens, displaying the name of the volume type to disable.

  4. To confirm disabling the selected volume type, select Disable.

    The selected volume type’s Provisioning column changes to Disabled.

Enable provisioning for a volume type

To allow new provisioning through a volume type.

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

    The Provisioning column shows whether the volume type is Enabled or Disabled.

  2. In the volume types list, locate the volume type to enable.

    Select the volume type by one of the following methods:

    • Mark the volume type’s checkbox.

    • Click the volume type’s name.

    The Enable option will display in the top toolbar.

  3. From the top toolbar, select Enable.

    The Enable Volume Type confirmation dialog opens, displaying the name of the volume type to enable.

  4. To confirm enabling the selected volume type, select Enable.

    The selected volume type’s Provisioning column changes to Enabled.

Setting a default volume type

To choose which volume type is used by default for new volumes.

Note

A volume type that is already the default cannot be set again.

  1. Select Storage Management > Volume Types.

    The Volume Types screen opens, displaying the list of volume types.

    The Default column shows which volume type is the current default.

  2. In the volume types list, locate the volume type to set as default.

    Select the volume type by one of the following methods:

    • Mark the volume type’s checkbox.

    • Click the volume type’s name.

    The Set Default option will display in the top toolbar.

  3. From the top toolbar, select Set Default.

    In the Default column, the Default check mark indication moves to the selected volume type.

    On provisioning, new volumes will default to the selected volume type.

  • Only use the default volume types.

  • Use the Alias field only when you need an alternate AWS API name.

  • Use provisioning disablement when you need to stop new use of a volume type without deleting it.

  • Review the Shared setting carefully. If the volume type is not shared, set the correct accounts in Allowed Accounts.

  • Use the details panel to confirm health, state, provisioning status, and capping settings after a change.

Troubleshooting

  • Modify is unavailable

    The selected volume type might be built in. Built-in volume types cannot be modified.

  • Delete is unavailable

    The selected volume type might be the current default. Set a new default volume type first, and then delete the old one.

  • Provisioning shows Disabled

    New provisioning is turned off for that volume type. Use Enable to allow provisioning again.

  • Set Default is unavailable

    The selected volume type is already the default.

  • Allowed Accounts cannot be edited

    The volume type is set as shared. Clear Shared first to make account selection relevant.

  • Dedupe or compression cannot be changed

    The selected storage class might not support that capability.

  • Encryption cannot be changed during modification

    The modify flow does not show the encryption field. Review the existing capping values in the details panel.