How can I track the size of a folder?
Q: I want to keep an eye on the size of a folder (the total size of all files within it). What’s the best way to achieve this?
A: IPNetwork Monitor comes with several pre-built monitoring scripts. Among these is a utility that calculates the size of a directory. This program (dirsize_kb.exe) is included with both its source code and a batch file for compilation. To utilize this tool, choose ipnetwork_dirsize_kb.exe from the scripts directory within the IPNetwork Monitor installation path, and specify the following arguments:
directory or share name the directory whose size you want to measure -t timeout the timeout period in seconds -l domain:username:password login credentials if required to connect to a remote server
A standard set of command-line parameters would look something like this:
\\SERVER\share -t 20 -l $AdminDomain:$AdminName:$AdminPassword
Keep in mind that computing the directory size can be time-consuming, so avoid running it too frequently to prevent system overload.
Related articles
How can I verify if a string exists in a file?
Check out our Knowledge Base where we answer questions regarding various topics. Use ipnetwork_dirsize_kb.exe from the scripts directory in the IPNetwork Monitor installation path. Pass the directory or share name, optionally add -t for timeout in seconds, and add -l with domain, username, and password when remote access requires credentials. Calculating the total size of all files in a folder can take time, especially on large or remote directories, so frequent polling can add unnecessary load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which utility measures directory size?
Which arguments does the directory size utility accept?
Why should directory size checks avoid very short intervals?