Extensible storage locations allow a DS-System to use multiple storage paths at the same time when storing data. Extensible storage locations can be configured as local drives or UNC paths. You can expand the DS-System capacity when required by adding a new storage location without the need to shut down the DS-System service. DS-System will automatically create the new directory structure.

If a storage location approaches full capacity, you can add a new extensible storage location that the DS-System can use immediately. When you configure an extensible storage location, you define the maximum amount of data that can be stored at the location (file size and file count). The DS-System automatically tracks how much data is in each storage location. Based on this information, it balances the new data that is backed up across the different storage locations.

You only need to define the fill levels, which the DS-System uses to balance the data load across the different available storage locations. If a storage location becomes full (its fill level is higher than another storage location), all new data will be stored in the storage locations that have more space. If all the storage locations become full (or almost full), more storage locations can be created and simply added to the list of available storage locations. The DS-System will take care of the rest. For example, if you have a DS-System that is using four storage locations that have passed an 80% fill level, you can add two new storage locations. Most new data will go to those locations, until the storage in all six locations passes the same fill level (i.e. 80% full).