---
name: "thin_metadata_size"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "thin-provisioning-tools"
version: "1.3.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/thin_metadata_size"
---

# thin\_metadata\_size(8)

thin provisioning metadata device/file size calculator.

## NAME

**thin\_metadata\_size** - thin provisioning metadata device/file size calculator.

## SYNOPSIS

```
thin_metadata_size [options]
```

## DESCRIPTION

**thin\_metadata\_size calculates the size of the thin provisioning metadata** **based on the block size of the thin provisioned devices, the size of the thin** **provisioning pool and the maximum number of all thin provisioned devices and** **snapshots. Because thin provisioning pools are holding widely variable** **contents, this tool is needed to provide sensible initial default size.**

## OPTIONS

- **-h, --help**

  **Print help and exit.**

- **-V, --version**

  **Print version information and exit.**

- **-b, --block-size {BLOCKSIZE\[bskKmMgGtTpPeEzZyY\]}**

  **Set block size.**

```
    Block size of thin provisioned devices in units of bytes, sectors,
    kibibytes, kilobytes, ... respectively. Default is in sectors without a
    block size unit specifier. Size/number option arguments can be followed by
    unit specifiers in short one character and long form (eg. -b1m or
    -b1mebibytes).
```

- **-s, --pool-size {POOLSIZE\[bskKmMgGtTpPeEzZyY\]}**

  **Set pool size.**

```
    Thin provisioning pool size in units of bytes, sectors, kibibytes,
    kilobytes, ... respectively. Default is in sectors without a pool size
    unit specifier.
```

- **-m, --max-thins {count\[bskKmMgGtTpPeEzZyY\]}**

  **Set max thins.**

```
    Maximum sum of all thin provisioned devices and snapshots. Unit identifier
    supported to allow for convenient entry of large quantities, eg. 1000000 =
    1M. Default is absolute quantity without a number unit specifier.
```

**-u, --unit {bskKmMgGtTpPeEzZyY}**

```
    Output unit specifier in units of bytes, sectors, kibibytes, kilobytes, ...
    respectively. Default is in sectors without an output unit specifier.
```

- **-n, --numeric-only {short\|long}**

  **Limit output to just the size number.**

## EXAMPLES

**Calculates the thin provisioning metadata device size for block size 64** **kibibytes, pool size 1 tebibytes and maximum number of thin provisioned** **devices and snapshots of 1000 in units of sectors with long output:**

```
    $ thin_metadata_size -b64k -s1t -m1000
```

**Or (using the long** *options* **instead) for block size 1 gibibyte, pool size 1** **petabyte and maximum number of thin provisioned devices and snapshots of 1** **million with numeric-only output in units of gigabytes:**

```
    $ thin_metadata_size --block-size=1g --pool-size=1P --max-thins=1M --unit=G --numeric-only
```

**Same as before (1g, 1P, 1M, numeric-only) but with unit specifier character** **appended:**

```
    $ thin_metadata_size --block-size=1gibi --pool-size=1petabytes --max-thins=1mega --unit=G --numeric-only=short
```

**Or with unit specifier string appended:**

```
    $ thin_metadata_size --block-size=1gibi --pool-size=1petabytes --max-thins=1mega --unit=G -nlong
```

## DIAGNOSTICS

**thin\_metadata\_size returns an exit code of 0 for success or 1 for error.**

## SEE ALSO

**[thin\_dump(8)](/thin_dump/8.md), [thin\_check(8)](/thin_check/8.md), [thin\_repair(8)](/thin_repair/8.md), [thin\_restore(8)](/thin_restore/8.md), [thin\_rmap(8)](/thin_rmap/8.md)**

## AUTHOR

**Joe Thornber \<ejt@redhat.com\>, Heinz Mauelshagen \<HeinzM@RedHat.com\>**