Over time, both disk space requirements and ClearQuest performance can be affected by storing an increasing number of record attachments in the ClearQuest database. Instead, you can store attachments on an external server. Storing attachments outside of the ClearQuest database provides the following benefits:
When external attachments are enabled, the Attachments tab has the following two read-only fields:
The external storage server
The server that you use to store attachments must support creating and reading files and directories. It should not support renaming or deleting files and directories. When attachments are stored on an external server, ClearQuest no longer manages the attachments. The attachments must be managed by tools that are on the external server. For example, you cannot use ClearQuest to delete an attachment that is on a server. You must use external file management tools, such as an FTP client, to delete the attachment.
When the FTP server is not running, there is a 50 character limit on the length of the attached file name and the file description.