Managing Folder Groups

CTERA Portal organizes cloud drive folders in folder groups. Each folder group acts as a deduplication realm and as a way to ensure that an edge filer writes to a specific storage node. Deduplication means that when files are written to a folder in a folder group, the files' content is compared to data already stored in other files in the same folder group. Only the data that differs from existing data in the other files is stored in the folder group so that data is only stored once.

Storage classes are groups of one or more storage nodes, defined by the CTERA global administrator. By defining a storage class for the folder group, when the edge filer writes to the Cloud Drive folder associated with the folder group, the data is then written to the specific storage class specified for that folder group.

Folder groups are organized according to each user's deduplication level for Cloud Drive folders and for Backup folders.

For Cloud Drive folders and for Backup folders, you can set the deduplication level to any of the following. Deduplication is performed on the CTERA Edge Filer before the data is uploaded to the CTERA Portal:

• User
  A single folder group is created for each user account, containing all of the user account's backup/cloud drive folders. Deduplication is performed for the user account's folder group. Therefore, if a user owns multiple devices, and the devices back up similar data, the similar data will only be stored once. See Configuring Deduplication for a User Account. You can also change the default deduplication for all new users. For details, see Default Settings for New User.
• Folder
  A folder group is created for each device of a user account, containing all of the device's backup and cloud drive folders. Deduplication is performed separately for each of the user account's folder groups.
• Portal
  A single folder group is shared by all user accounts in the portal. The folder group acts as a deduplication realm that spans the entire portal. In other words, if different users' devices back up similar data, the similar data will only be stored once.

You can change the default deduplication levels for any user created in the portal, and you can change any user's deduplication levels. You can choose a different level for backup folders and for Cloud Drive folders.

Viewing Folder Groups

To view all folders groups in the portal:

• Select Folders > Folder Groups in the navigation pane.
  The FOLDER GROUPS page opens, displaying all folder groups.
  
  NAME – The folder group's name. If the folder is passphrase-protected, this information is displayed.
  OWNER – The user name of the folder group's owner.
  STORAGE CLASS – The storage class where content of the folder group is written. A storage class is a group of one or more storage nodes, defined by the CTERA Portal global administrator, where data is written and saved.
  STATUS – The folder's status:

  • Online – The folder group is online, and it is possible to view and modify, and sync files to it.
  • Offline – The folder group is offline, and it is not possible to view, modify, or sync files to it. Folders may be taken offline during some maintenance operations, such as when repairing a folder.