Nutanix Files Manual: Smart Tiering and Cloud Storage

Smart Tiering Overview

Smart Tiering allows Nutanix Files to automatically offload cold or infrequently accessed file data to S3-compatible cloud storage targets, freeing up expensive primary HCI storage.

Supported Tiering Targets

• Nutanix Objects (On-premises or hybrid S3)
• AWS S3 (Standard, Infrequent Access)
• Azure Blob Storage
• Wasabi Cloud Storage

Tiering Policies & Capacity Thresholds

• Capacity Trigger: Tiering activates when file server storage consumption exceeds a set threshold (e.g., 70% capacity).
• Inactivity Period: Files un-accessed for a specified duration (e.g., 30 days, 90 days) are selected for tiering.
• File Size Filter: Tiering targets files larger than a minimum size (e.g., > 64 KB).

Data Recall Workflows

• Transparent Access: Tiered files remain visible in share directory listings as stub files.
• Automatic Recall: When a client reads or writes a stub file, Nutanix Files streams data back from the cloud tier transparently.
• Manual Recall: Admins can trigger bulk recall of tiered folders prior to offline migration.

Last updated Oct 08, 2026