How To Do Centos Disk Expansion

Expanding disk space in CentOS 7 is a critical task for managing and optimizing server resources. This process can be essential when you need more storage capacity for your applications, databases, or general data. Below, we provide a detailed guide on how to expand disk space using Logical Volume Manager (LVM), which is a flexible and powerful tool for managing disk space on Linux systems.

Disk expansion in CentOS 7 can be done in a few steps. The operation steps are given below: This command will display the size and usage of all file systems in a human-readable format, allowing you to see how much space is currently in use and how much is available.

Step 1: Checking the Disk Size

The first step is to check the size of the disk you want to expand. This step allows you to proceed with the expansion process.

df -h

This command shows the size and used space of all file systems.

Step 2: Expanding the Disk

There are several methods for expanding a disk, but here we will explain how to expand a disk using Logical Volume Manager (LVM).

Expand the virtual machine’s disk on the host machine, then use LVM to expand the disk if running CentOS 7.

Steps for Expanding a Disk with LVM:

Step 3: Changing the Disk Partition Size

Before expanding the disk, you need to change the size of the disk partition.

To change the size of the disk partition, follow these steps:

1. 1. First, use the fdisk command to identify the disk you want to change the size of the partition.

sudo fdisk /dev/sda

Here, /dev/sda is the name of the disk you want to expand. After running the command, a list of disk partitions will be displayed.

1. Next, use the p command to show the partition table and display a list of disk partitions.
2. Create a new partition using the n command and enter the value you want to expand its size.
3. Save the changes using the w command.
4. After this operation, the disk needs to be re-read. You can use the partprobe command for this.

Step 4: Re-defining Physical and Logical Partitions

After expanding the disk size, you need to re-define physical and logical partitions. To do this, follow these steps:

1. 1. First, run the following command to re-detect the physical volume:

sudo pvresize /dev/sdaX

Note that /dev/sdaX is the name of the physical partition you want to make changes to.

1. 1. Then, run the following command to re-define the logical volume:

sudo lvextend -l +100%FREE /dev/mapper/VolGroup00-LogVol00

Here, /dev/mapper/VolGroup00-LogVol00 is the name of the logical partition you want to make changes to.

1. 1. Finally, run the following command to resize the file system:

sudo resize2fs /dev/mapper/VolGroup00-LogVol00

Here, /dev/mapper/VolGroup00-LogVol00 is the name of the file system you want to resize.

Step 5: Checking the Disk Expansion Process

After completing the disk expansion process, use the following command to check the new disk size:

df -h

This command will display the available disk space on the system in a human-readable format. Make sure that the new disk size is reflected in the output.

By following these steps, you can complete the disk expansion process on CentOS 7.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and expand disk space on CentOS 7. This process is crucial for ensuring that your server has sufficient storage capacity to handle your growing data needs. Remember to always verify the changes and ensure that your file systems are properly resized to utilize the new space. If you encounter any issues or require further assistance, consulting CentOS documentation or seeking support from the community can be helpful.