Metadata Pinning enables pinning a copy of the file system's metadata, directly onto the CTERA Edge Filer. This process allows for:
- Faster browsing: With the entire namespace stored locally, navigating through folders and directories becomes much faster.
- Faster searches
- Better performance: Applications that require directory scans before opening files benefit from reduced loading times when metadata is pinned locally, as they can access the necessary information immediately.
- Better control over the file system by allowing you to monitor the progress of metadata downloads and choose which folders to pin.
However, metadata pinning:
- Increases the amount of disk space used. If the average metadata size for each file is 4KB then the amount of disk space used is the number of files multiplied by 4 KB.
- Can increase network activity. For example, when there are many file changes that impact the metadata that then need syncing to the individual edge filers.
Note
Metadata pinning is implemented automatically if local quotas are implemented.
The Metadata Pinning page displays overall sync status and per-folder progress.
The default is that metadata is not pinned.
To pin individual cloud folder metadata:
- Select Cloud Drive > Metadata Pinning in the navigation pane.
The Metadata Pinning page is displayed.
- Either double-click in the Always Pin Metadata column for the cloud drive folder metadata you want pinned or click
and then click in the Always Pin Metadata column for that cloud drive folder.
- Click
to confirm the change.
- Repeat for every cloud drive folder that you want to pin the metadata.
To pin every cloud folder metadata:
- Select Cloud Drive > Metadata Pinning in the navigation pane.
The Metadata Pinning page is displayed.
- Slide Pin All Metadata on.
All the metadata is always available on the edge filer.
Note
Sliding Pin All Metadata off returns the pinning to the state before sliding Pin All Metadata on.
It does not unpin all the metadata.
To hide metadata pinning:
- Select Cloud Drive > Metadata Pinning in the navigation pane.
The Metadata Pinning page is displayed.
- Click Disable Metadata Pinning.
Metadata pinning that was implemented remains pinned but the view is hidden.