[gentoo-user] Hard drive and maximum data percentage.

[Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com>]

Howdy,

As most know, I store a lot of data here.  This is the two main file
systems. 

%USED   USED AVAILABLE  TOTAL MOUNTED ON
87.5%       36.3T      5.2T            41.5T   /home/dale/Desktop/Data
75.9%       35.8T     11.3T           47.1T   /home/dale/Desktop/Crypt

The top one has a drive on the way, well, will ship Monday and be here
Wednesday or Thursday.  Should complete tests and be online by Friday or
so.  I try not to go over 90%.  I start saving money when it hits 80% or
so.  I've read that 80% is needing expansion.  I notice that df and dfc
show anything above 70% as red.  I have went above 90% on occasion,
usually when moving data around to balance out the volume.  Thing is,
most info I find is more about much smaller file systems.  As you can
see above, there is several TBs of space for the file system to do any
housekeeping such as defragmenting and such.  Still, given the large
file systems in use, where should I draw the line and remain safe data
wise?  Can I go to 90% if needed?  95%?  Is that to much despite the
large amount of space remaining?  Does the percentage really matter?  Is
it more about having enough space for the file system to handle its
internal needs?  Is for example 1 or 2TBs of free space enough for the
file system to work just fine?

By the way, data up there is about to be 4 hard drives.  Crypt is still
3 but . .  . you know how it is.  I might add, my backup drive set is 4
drives, each smaller.  It will likely be 5 before long.  I split up some
files in data.  Some goes onto a single drive.  I have six drives for
backups in total.  I'm trying to replace smaller drives with either 14TB
or 16TB drives.  Fewer drives plus I can use smaller drives for backups
and such.  Rarely buy a drive now less than 12TB.

Thoughts on when it is time to start expanding and keep data safe.  One
of these days, I may have to ask about the limits on file system size. 
O_O 

Thanks. 

Dale

:-)  :-)