---
title: "Overview of Storage Management in a Nutanix Cluster"
description: "Learn how to create a storage container and a volume group."
url: https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/hosted-private-cloud/nutanix-on-ovhcloud/overview-storage-management-nutanix-cluster
lang: en
---
> For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms-full.txt.

# Overview of Storage Management in a Nutanix Cluster

**Learn how to create a storage container and a volume group.**

**Warning:**

**NOTE:** OVHcloud provides services for which you are responsible for their configuration and management. You are therefore responsible for their proper functioning.\
\
This tutorial is designed to help you as much as possible with common tasks. If you are having difficulty performing these actions, please contact a specialized service provider. OVHcloud cannot provide you with technical support in this regard.

**Note:**

Some options, such as the use of compression or deduplication, require specific licenses provided by Nutanix through OVHcloud. Please contact OVHcloud Sales for more information.

 

## Requirements

- A Nutanix cluster in your OVHcloud account
- Access to the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/#/hub)
- Being connected to the cluster via the Prism Element web interface

 

## Overview of storage operations in a Nutanix cluster

When a Nutanix cluster is created, the system connects all the nodes' disks in a **Storage Pool**. It is not recommended to have multiple Storage Pools.

By default, the **replication factor** is set to 2, and it can be changed to 3 if you have at least five nodes.

The data is not stored directly in the Storage Pool, it is stored in **Storage Containers** where it is possible to enable options for compression, deduplication, etc. to optimize storage utilization.

There are also **Volume Groups** that provide the ability to access via ISCSI or directly in SCSI simulation for:

- A third-party computer outside the cluster or a cluster VM
- Multiple third-party computers or VMs in the cluster for applications that require shared storage, such as Microsoft SQL databases in Cluster mode

 

## Instructions

### Modifying replication factor

Click the gear in the top right of the Prism Element interface.

 

Scroll through the settings and click `Redundancy state`.

If you have five nodes, you can change the **Desired Redundancy factor** setting from 2 to 3. It will take some time for the data to be on three nodes.

 

### Creating a Storage Container

We will create a **Storage Container**, with a minimum of 300 GB reserved for this storage. The other settings are default ones.

From the menu, select `Storage`.

 

Select the `Storage Container` tab and click `+ Storage Container` on the right.

 

Enter a name for the storage container in the **NAME** entry box.\
Then click `Advanced Settings`.

 

In the **RESERVED CAPACITY** field, enter the size of your container. Other options are also available.

 

Then click `Save` to finish creating the **Storage Container**.

 

The new **Storage Container** is then visible in the dashboard.

 

### Create a Volume Group

Select the `Volume Group` tab and click `+ Volume Group` on the right.

 

Click **+ Add New Disk**.

 

Enter a **size** in the dedicated field and click `Add`.

 

The disk appears in the **Volume Group**. You can then add several other disks.

 

Once you have created your disk(s), browse the available options and confirm that you want to create the **Volume Group** by clicking `Save`.

 

The **Volume Group** will then appear in the list.

 

## Go further

Browse all the [Nutanix guides](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/hosted-private-cloud/nutanix-on-ovhcloud/landing-page-nutanix-on-ovhcloud.md).

Browse the rest of the [OVHcloud US documentation](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/index.md) for guides on our other products and services.

Learn more about [Nutanix on OVHcloud](https://us.ovhcloud.com/hosted-private-cloud/nutanix/) on the OVHcloud US website.