--- title: "TIR Block Storage FAQ" description: "Short answers about TIR Block Storage size, mounting, encryption, access, and billing, with links to the full procedure." content_type: "faq" product: "tir-block-storage" platform: "TIR" url: "/tir/tir-block-storage/faq/" --- # TIR Block Storage FAQ For step-by-step fixes, see [Troubleshooting TIR Block Storage](/tir/tir-block-storage/troubleshooting/tir-block-storage/). ## Choosing a disk ### What is the difference between Object Storage and Block Storage? A Block Storage disk is read-write on one instance at a time, so use it for work that writes into its folder. [TIR Object Storage](/tir/tir-object-storage/) mounts read-only, and many workloads can mount the same bucket at once, so use it for data that they read. See [Mount a disk on an instance](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/mount-a-disk-on-an-instance/). ### Should I keep training data on a disk or in Object Storage? Keep large reference data in Object Storage and mount it from there. Keep the disk small, for scratch space, a cache in front of the larger dataset, unpacking, transforming data, and checkpoints written during training. See [Put data on a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/put-data-on-a-disk/). ### Can I convert a disk to an Object Storage bucket? No. A disk stays a disk. To move the data to Object Storage, create an [Object Storage](/tir/tir-object-storage/) bucket and copy the data across. See [Put data on a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/put-data-on-a-disk/). ## Mounting and access ### Can I write to a disk from my instance? Yes. A mounted disk appears at `/datasets/` and is read-write. See [Mount a disk on an instance](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/mount-a-disk-on-an-instance/). ### Can I attach the same disk to two instances at once? No. A disk mounts on one instance or Virtual Machine at a time. That instance keeps holding it, even while it is stopped, until you unmount it. See [Unmount a disk from an instance](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/unmount-a-disk-from-an-instance/). For data that several instances read at once, use [TIR Object Storage](/tir/tir-object-storage/), the [Shared File System](/tir/tir-sfs/), or the [Parallel File System](/tir/tir-pfs/). ### Can I use a disk with a training cluster? No. A disk mounts on an instance or a Virtual Machine only. The dataset lists for Training Cluster, training job, Slurm Cluster, and model endpoint offer Object Storage datasets, so put the data in [TIR Object Storage](/tir/tir-object-storage/) to use it there. See [Mount a disk on an instance](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/mount-a-disk-on-an-instance/). ### Where does a disk appear on my instance? At `/datasets/`, where `` is the disk's **Dataset Name**, so choose a name you want to read in a path. See [Create a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/create-a-disk/). ### How do I put data on a disk? Copy files in from a terminal on the instance that mounts it, or write to its folder from your code. The instance is the only way in to a disk. See [Put data on a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/put-data-on-a-disk/). ### How do I copy data from an Object Storage dataset to a disk? Mount both on the same instance and copy from one folder to the other. See [Put data on a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/put-data-on-a-disk/). ### What happens to a disk when I delete the instance it is mounted on? The disk is unmounted and stays in your disk list, with its files. See [Mount a disk on an instance](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/mount-a-disk-on-an-instance/). ### Does unmounting a disk delete my data? No. The disk and its files stay as they were until you delete the disk, and you can mount the disk on another instance. See [Unmount a disk from an instance](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/unmount-a-disk-from-an-instance/). ### Can another project use my disk? No. A disk belongs to one project and one region, and another project creates its own. See [Create a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/create-a-disk/). ### Who in my project can use a disk? The Owner, an Admin, a Project Manager, and a Project Lead can manage disks; a Member needs a policy that allows datasets. For a Member, permission to read datasets opens the page, permission to create them shows **Create Dataset**, permission to update them shows **Resize Disk**, and permission to delete them shows **Delete Dataset**. To mount a disk, you need a role that allows updating Instances. The portal shows only the actions your role allows. The same permission covers Object Storage, Shared File System, and Parallel File System. See [Find and view your disks](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/find-and-view-your-disks/). ## Size ### What is the smallest and the largest disk I can create? The smallest is 10 GB, and the form starts at 100 GB. The largest is your disk size limit, which is 15,000 GB unless E2E has set a different limit for you. See [Create a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/create-a-disk/). ### How do I increase the size of a disk? Open the disk's **Resize Disk** tab, set a larger size, and select **Update**. See [Increase the size of a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/increase-the-size-of-a-disk/). ### Can I make a disk smaller? No. A disk can only get bigger. To get a smaller disk, create one, copy the data across, and delete the old one. See [Increase the size of a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/increase-the-size-of-a-disk/). ### What if I need a disk bigger than my limit? **Resize Disk** offers **Request** once the disk is at the limit. The limit applies to each disk on its own. See [Request a higher disk size limit](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/request-a-higher-disk-size-limit/). ### Does the portal show how much of a disk is used? No. TIR gives a disk's size, not how much of it is used. When a disk fills up, make it bigger from **Resize Disk**. See [Increase the size of a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/increase-the-size-of-a-disk/) and [Put data on a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/put-data-on-a-disk/). ## Encryption ### Which encryption does a disk support? A disk supports **E2E Managed** encryption only, switched on with **Enable Encryption** in Delhi and Chennai. Keys you manage yourself are an Object Storage option. See [Create a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/create-a-disk/). ### Can I turn encryption on after I create a disk? No. Turn on **Enable Encryption** when you create the disk; the setting is fixed after that. See [Create a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/create-a-disk/). ### Does encryption cost extra? No. An encrypted disk costs the same as any other disk. See [Create a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/create-a-disk/). ## Billing ### Am I billed for a disk when no instance is using it? Yes. A disk is billed for the GB you allocate, whether you use it, have it mounted, or leave it idle. Billing runs from the moment you create it until you delete it. The create form shows the price per GB per month. For rates, see [E2E's pricing page](https://www.e2enetworks.com/pricing). For an estimate across services, use the [E2E pricing calculator](https://calculator.e2enetworks.com/estimate-pricing). To stop the charge, [delete the disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/delete-a-disk/). ### Does deleting files lower my bill? No. Billing follows the allocated size. A disk can only get bigger, so an oversized disk keeps its cost until you delete it. Size a disk close to what you need now and grow it later. See [Increase the size of a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/increase-the-size-of-a-disk/). ### Is there a charge for moving data in or out of a disk? No. Moving data in or out is free: a disk's bill is for the allocated size. See [Put data on a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/put-data-on-a-disk/). ### What changes on the bill when I resize? After you resize, the bill follows the new size. See [Increase the size of a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/increase-the-size-of-a-disk/). ### What happens to my data if I delete the disk? The disk and everything on it are gone for good. Copy anything you need into Object Storage first. See [Delete a disk](/tir/tir-block-storage/how-to/delete-a-disk/).