Ransomware attackers specifically target and attempt to destroy backup systems to increase the probability of payment. Hardening your system is critical. Please ensure you have reviewed your platform security using the Security Hardening Checklist
Cohesity

COHESITY Documentation

Explore our documentation to get started, discover products & new features, access troubleshooting guides, register sources, platforms support.

Products
Data Security Alliance
Visit Cohesity.com
Demos
Support
Blogs
Developers
Partner Portals
Cohesity Community
© 2026 Cohesity, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use|
Privacy Policy|
Legal|
  1. Home
  2. NetBackup™ Web UI Administrator's Guide
  3. Section II. Managing storage and backups
  4. Configuring storage
  5. Create a universal share

Create a universal share

A universal share offers the ability to ingest data directly into a space efficient SMB (CIFS) or NFS share. Space efficiency is achieved by storing the ingested data directly to an existing NetBackup deduplication pool (MSDP). No NetBackup software needs to be installed on the client that is mounting the share. Any operating system that is running a POSIX-compliant file system and can mount an SMB (CIFS) or NFS network share can write data to a universal share.

With the NetBackup web UI, you can:

  • Create, modify, view, and delete universal shares and manage them across appliances and build-your-own (BYO) servers.

    Note:

    Universal shares created through NetBackup Appliance web GUI cannot be managed through NetBackup web UI. For NetBackup 8.3 and later, it is recommended to use the NetBackup web UI to manage universal shares on a NetBackup appliance.

  • Change the quota settings, Active Directory (AD) user and group names, and target hosts that pertain to the universal share.

Note:

To create a policy for a universal share, use the NetBackup Java GUI. See the NetBackup Administrator's Guide, Volume I for more information about universal share policies.

To create a universal share in the NetBackup web UI

  1. On the left, click Storage > Universal Share and then click Add.

    If there are no storage servers, then configure an MSDP storage server:

    See Create a Media Server Deduplication Pool (MSDP) storage server.

    After you create the MSDP storage server, return to Universal Shares tab and click Add to add a universal share.

  2. Provide the following required information:

    • Enter a Display name. This name does not need to be unique. Multiple universal shares can use the same display name.

    • Select the Storage Server.

    • Select the Protocol: NSF or SMB (CIFS)

    • Specify a Host that is allowed to mount the share and then click Add to list. You can use the host name, IP address, short name, or the FQDN to specify the Host. You can enter multiple hosts for each share.

  3. At this point, continue to enter values in the remaining fields or click Save to save the universal share. You can update the remaining fields later from the universal share's details page:

    • Select a Quota type: Unlimited or Custom. If you select Custom, also specify the quota in MB, GB, or TB units.

      The Custom quota value limits the amount of data that is ingested into the share. Quotas are enforced using the front-end terabyte (FETB) calculation method. They are Implemented per share and can be modified at any time. You do not need to remount the share for the change to a take effect.

      To update the quote type or value from the universal share's details page, click Edit in the Quota section.

    • Specify Active Directory user names and Active Directory group names. Only the specified users or groups can access the share. You can add and update the Active Directory user names and Active Directory group names later from the details page of an existing universal share.

      Note:

      Currently Active Directory user names and Active Directory group names are supported only for the SMB (CIFS) protocol.

  4. To view details about a universal share, click its name in the Universal Shares table.
  5. To delete a universal share, select one or more and click Delete or select Delete from the action menu.

    Deleting a universal share also deletes all data in the share. This action is irreversible and may take some time if the amount of data is large. Any active data transfers are immediately terminated, and any mounted shares are immediately removed.

Feedback

Was this page helpful?
Previous

Create a storage unit

Next

Using image sharing from the NetBackup Web UI

Feedback

Was this page helpful?