resize / partition

[gidhinjoe]

Hi All,

I am running ESX 3.5 in poweredge 2950 server.I need to increase the size of / partion inorder to accumulate OS images and some other purpose.

Just like any other linux version i thiought of resize / by booting from vmware bootable cd and do it but no luck with that.

root@vmpocesx35 root# df -m

Filesystem 1M-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on

/dev/sda2 4919 2202 2468 48% /

/dev/sda1 99 26 69 28% /boot

none 132 0 132 0% /dev/shm

/dev/sda6 1962 85 1777 5% /var/log

# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 1497.1 GB, 1497198755840 bytes

255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 182024 cylinders

Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

/dev/sda1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux

/dev/sda2 14 650 5116702+ 83 Linux

/dev/sda3 651 181688 1454187735 fb Unknown

/dev/sda4 181689 182024 2698920 f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)

/dev/sda5 181689 181757 554211 82 Linux swap

/dev/sda6 181758 182011 2040223+ 83 Linux

/dev/sda7 182012 182024 104391 fc Unknown

#

Can somebody please let me know how can i increase "/" partition size by 2 more GB.

~Thanks,

[madda]

Are you talking about a partition for a VM or expanding a datastore?

If you want to expand the partition of a VM, just go into edit settings on the VM and increase the size of the hard disk on there (VM must be off)

To expand a datastore you need to go into the datastore properties and add an extent of another drive onto it. Which will basically join the 2 together, expanding the original disk size.

[gidhinjoe]

Hi,

I am not mentioned about a VM's hardisk or datastore size.

what i am planning to do is increse the base OS's (linux kernel) "/" partition size..

( Linux vmpocesx35.xxx.com 2.4.21-47.0.1.ELvmnix #1 Thu Nov 29 17:50:29 PST 2007 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux)

~Thanks

[madda]

That will be the local datastore you need to expand then

[gidhinjoe]

Ok,how it can be achived?

I know how to extend a ext3 file system by booting off cd.Is there something like "linux resuce" mode in vmware. I don't find any by booting from cd.

~Thanks

[weinstein5]

I believe what you will have to do is reboot your host and at the Grub Boot menu select troubleshooting mode which will just load the service console (the linux vm you are trying to change / partition on) and you should be able to change it there -

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[TurinTurambar]

Hi gidhinjoe,

Resize the / partition is specially complex because ESX COS does not support/use LVM (as i know).

Ok if we start considering that current COS is a modified RHEL3, may be the RedHat Procedure can help you :

Pay atention that this procedure doesn't know anything about vmkcore, vmfs, ... volumnes, so be carefull.

May be one of the experts / gurus, around here, could give you more details for the ESX case.

Best regards

[gidhinjoe]

Hi ,

The way you suggested can't be done since we can't alter a filesystem which is in mounted state.

I am looking for alternatives.

~Thanks

[gidhinjoe]

Ok, I know it is tedious!

I am trying to get help from VMware technical support..

~Thanks

[Cary]

Was a solution ever found? I am curious as I want to reduce the VMFS partition on the primary storage ESX is running on. I dont' store VM images there. I want to resize one of the Linux Native partitions where I have os-images stored.

Thanks in advance! Cheers...