Data ONTAP can automatically make more free space available for a FlexVol volume when that volume is nearly full. You can choose to make the space available by first allowing the volume size to increase, or by first deleting Snapshot copies.
You enable this capability for a FlexVol volume by using the vol options command with the try_first option.
This method is useful if the volume's containing aggregate has enough space to support a larger volume. You can increase the size in increments and set a maximum size for the volume.
For example, you can automatically delete Snapshot copies that are not linked to Snapshot copies in cloned volumes or LUNs, or you can define which Snapshot copies you want to delete first—your oldest or newest Snapshot copies. You can also determine when to begin deleting Snapshot copies—for example, when the volume is nearly full or when the volume’s Snapshot reserve is nearly full.
You can choose which method (increasing the size of the volume or deleting Snapshot copies) you want Data ONTAP to try first. If the first method does not provide sufficient extra free space to the volume, Data ONTAP will try the other method next.