The root volume

The storage system's root volume contains special directories and configuration files that help you administer your storage system.

The storage system contains a root volume that was created when the storage system was initially set up at the factory. Unless the installer selected a unique volume name during setup, the default root volume name, /vol/vol0, is used.

For storage systems that have Data ONTAP 7.0 or later installed at the factory, the root volume is a FlexVol volume. Systems installed with earlier versions of Data ONTAP have a traditional root volume.

For more information about traditional and FlexVol volumes, see the Data ONTAP Storage Management Guide.

• Root volume recommendations
  The root volume can exist as either the traditional stand-alone two- or three-disk volume or as a FlexVol volume that is part of a larger hosting aggregate. There are considerations to keep in mind when choosing what kind of volume to use.
• Size requirement for root FlexVol volumes
  The root volume must have enough space to contain system files, log files, and core files. If a system problem occurs, these files are needed to provide technical support.
• Default directories in the root volume
  The root volume contains the /etc directory and the /home directory, which were created when the storage system was set up. The /etc directory contains configuration files that the storage system needs in order to operate. The /home directory is a default location you can use to store data.
• How to access the default directories on the storage system
  You can access the default directories from an NFS client, a CIFS client, or with FTP.
• Changing the root volume
  Every storage system must have a root volume. Therefore, you must always have one volume designated as the root volume. However, you can change which volume on your storage system is used as the root volume.