Quota

What is a Quota?

Your quota is the amount of disk space you are allowed to have for data on your network file storage space or home directory. Typically student and staff accounts are limited to 150 Mb. Faculty accounts are limited to 1 GB.

Additional space is available for those users with specific academic needs. Requests for additional space should be directed to root@gustavus.edu and include a brief description of the academic project, including a time line.

What is Disk Usage?

Your disk usage is the actual amount of space you are using on the server. This total includes all the files in your Mydata folder, your e-mail inbox, outbox and other mailboxes, it also includes information about your account and your log-in information for the lab machines.

How Do I Check My Disk Usage?

Visit the , log in with your e-mail username and password and click the Check disk usage link. This will display a page telling you what your quota is, what you are currently using and what the largest files are.

How Will I Know if I Go Over My Limit?

If you reach your quota limit, you will receive notice via E-mail. You are then given 7 days to get your usage under quota. If you remain over quota for 7 days, your account will be disabled. Once your account is disabled you will not be able to access your e-mail or files stored on your home directory.

How Can I Re-enable My Account?

If you have been disabled your account can be re-enabled by stopping by the �鶹��Ƶ Technology Services Department or the Technology Helpline (x6111) on the first floor of Olin Hall to be re-enabled.

Why did I start getting this message now?

When you add files to your account to go over your quota you will start getting these messages. These files will include things you are working on for school, things you downloaded from the Internet and e-mail that was sent to you. Also, there are times of the year when quota checking is temporarily suspended to minimize confusion during short breaks. One example of this is the Christmas break period when campus is closed and contact to Information Technology staff members is limited. When we restart the checking all users who are over quota will start getting messages.

How Can I Avoid Quota Problems?

Here are some suggestions for freeing up space in your account:

Incoming Mailbox Usage (Inbox)

If you are using a large amount of space with your incoming mailbox, please remove the messages you do not need. You can also try sorting your inbox by message size and removing the largest ones. After removing messages, be sure to empty the trash and compact your mailboxes, these options can be found under the file menu in Thunderbird, the special menu in Eudora or the Empty Trash icon when using WebMail.

Attachments Folder/Eudora

In your MyData folder in your home directory, there are two Eudora folders: Eudora and Eudora.mac. In each of these folders there is a folder for attachments. It is called attach or attachment folder. Delete the files in these folders that you do not need. Eudora automatically saves attachments to these folders, but does not delete the attachments when you delete the messages. After removing the unwanted files, be sure to empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

Sent Mailbox

Your Sent or Out mailbox is where WebMail, Thunderbird or Eudora might be saving all the e-mail messages that you send. Check in these mailboxes and delete any unwanted messages. You can check the sent or out boxes by double-clicking the sent or out boxes or selecting them from the mailboxes menu. After removing unwanted messages, empty the trash and compact your mailboxes - found under the special menu in Eudora; the file menu in Thunderbird; or by clicking the Empty Trash link in WebMail.

Trash Mailbox

Your Trash mailbox is where all the messages you delete get put. You should regularly empty the trash mailbox and compact all your mailboxes. These options are found under the special menu in Eudora; the file menu in Thunderbird; or by clicking the Empty Trash icon in WebMail.

Other Things to Check

Remove unneeded items from the desktop, and the Downloads folder in your home directory.

Remove your mp3s--pirated music is not academic. Remove the installers for IRC, Napster, AOL and the sort.

What if I am still having problems?

Contact the Technology Helpline at x6111 or stop by the Technology Services Department.