Reasons for Having a Quota

Unfortunately it has happened several times in the past that individual users have occupied an astronomical amount of hard disk space. This can happen, if a program runs amok or simply if people are hoarding too much data (e.g. by not cleaning up trash folders etc). The problem is that when all users together fill up our file server, nobody is able to work anymore. Since in the past, our hints that users accumulate too much disk space has met various levels of interest, we had to introduce quotas because of the problems it causes for everybody when work can be saved no longer.

It would have been preferable if all users handled their amount of data with care and all programs were without bugs. But we have to guarantee a functioning workplace in a real world situation.