> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xloud.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a Volume

> Provision persistent block storage volumes in your Xloud project. Choose a data source, storage tier, and capacity using the Dashboard or CLI.

## Overview

Volumes are persistent block storage devices that can be attached to compute instances.
They persist independently of the instance lifecycle — detach, reattach, snapshot, or
transfer them between projects as needed.

<Note>
  **Prerequisites**

  * An active Xloud account with appropriate permissions
  * Access to the **Xloud Dashboard** or CLI configured with credentials
  * API credentials sourced (`source openrc.sh`)
</Note>

***

## Data Source Types

| Source           | Description                      | Use Case                        |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **Blank Volume** | Empty disk, no pre-existing data | Data disks, scratch storage     |
| **Image**        | Pre-populated from an OS image   | Bootable root disks, appliances |
| **Snapshot**     | Restored from a volume snapshot  | Cloning data, test environments |

***

## Create a Volume

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Navigate to Volumes">
        Navigate to **Storage > Volumes** in the sidebar. Click **Create Volume**.
        The create form opens as a full page.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select the data source">
        Choose the **Data Source Type**:

        | Option           | Description                                        |
        | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
        | **Blank Volume** | Creates an empty volume (default)                  |
        | **Image**        | Select an OS image to populate the volume          |
        | **Snapshot**     | Select an existing volume snapshot to restore from |

        When **Image** is selected, an image selection table appears with tabs organized
        by OS distribution (CentOS, Ubuntu, Fedora, Windows, etc.).

        When **Snapshot** is selected, a snapshot selection table appears showing available
        snapshots with their size and status.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select a volume type">
        Choose the **Volume Type** from the available storage tiers. The table shows
        all configured volume types with their properties.

        <Tip>
          If the volume type supports multi-attach (shared volumes), a note is displayed
          indicating that the volume can be attached to multiple instances simultaneously.
        </Tip>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Set the capacity">
        Enter the **Capacity (GiB)** using the slider or input field.

        * **Blank volume**: minimum 1 GiB
        * **Image source**: minimum is the image's `min_disk` requirement
        * **Snapshot source**: minimum is the snapshot's original size

        The slider range is limited by your project's remaining volume capacity quota.
        If quota is exhausted, the submit button is disabled.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure name and description">
        | Field           | Type      | Required | Description                     |
        | --------------- | --------- | -------- | ------------------------------- |
        | **Name**        | Text      | Yes      | Volume display name             |
        | **Description** | Text area | No       | Optional notes about the volume |
      </Step>

      <Step title="Set the availability zone (optional)">
        Select an **Available Zone** from the dropdown. If not specified, the system
        selects the default zone.

        <Note>
          The volume's availability zone should match the zone of the instance you
          plan to attach it to.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create the volume">
        The footer shows the **Count** field (default: 1) to create multiple identical
        volumes in one operation. Real-time **quota usage** is displayed.

        Click **Confirm**. The volume appears in the list with status **Creating**,
        transitioning to **Available** when ready.

        <Check>Volume status is **Available** — ready to attach to an instance.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Source credentials" theme={null}
    source openrc.sh
    ```

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash title="Create a blank volume" theme={null}
      openstack volume create \
        --size 100 \
        --type ssd \
        --availability-zone nova \
        my-data-volume
      ```

      ```bash title="Create a volume from image" theme={null}
      openstack volume create \
        --size 50 \
        --type ssd \
        --image <IMAGE_ID> \
        my-boot-volume
      ```

      ```bash title="Create a volume from snapshot" theme={null}
      openstack volume create \
        --size 100 \
        --snapshot <SNAPSHOT_ID> \
        my-restored-volume
      ```

      ```bash title="Create multiple volumes" theme={null}
      for i in $(seq 1 3); do
        openstack volume create --size 50 --type ssd data-disk-$i
      done
      ```
    </CodeGroup>

    ```bash title="Verify volume status" theme={null}
    openstack volume show my-data-volume -c status
    ```

    <Check>Status shows `available`.</Check>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## View Volumes

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Navigate to **Storage > Volumes**. The list shows:

    | Column          | Description                                   |
    | --------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
    | **ID/Name**     | Volume identifier (clickable to view details) |
    | **Size**        | Capacity in GiB                               |
    | **Status**      | Available, In-use, Error, etc.                |
    | **Type**        | Storage tier (volume type)                    |
    | **Disk Tag**    | Disk usage tag                                |
    | **Attached To** | Instance name and device path (if attached)   |
    | **Bootable**    | Whether the volume can be used as a boot disk |
    | **Shared**      | Whether multi-attach is enabled               |
    | **Created At**  | Creation timestamp                            |

    Filter by **Name** or **Status**.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash title="List all volumes" theme={null}
      openstack volume list
      ```

      ```bash title="Show volume details" theme={null}
      openstack volume show <VOLUME_ID>
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Volume Detail

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Click a volume name to open the detail page. The header shows volume name,
    description, shared status, current status, size, creation time, type, and
    encryption status.

    Three tabs are available:

    * **Detail** — Base information, attachment details, source snapshot/image links
    * **Volume Backups** — All backups created from this volume
    * **Volume Snapshots** — All snapshots of this volume
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Show full volume details" theme={null}
    openstack volume show <VOLUME_ID>
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Attach a Volume" href="/services/storage/attach-volume" color="#197560">
    Connect this volume to a compute instance
  </Card>

  <Card title="Volume Snapshots" href="/services/storage/snapshots" color="#197560">
    Create point-in-time snapshots of your volumes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Volume Types" href="/services/storage/volume-types" color="#197560">
    Understand available storage tiers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Extend a Volume" href="/services/storage/extend-volume" color="#197560">
    Increase volume capacity without data loss
  </Card>
</CardGroup>