Disk Management in Linux Disk management in Linux involves the process of handling disk devices, partitioning, formatting, mounting, and managing storage space on a Linux system. It’s essential for maintaining the system's data integrity and optimizing storage usage. Here's a comprehensive overview of disk management in Linux: 1. Understanding Disk Devices in Linux In Linux, storage devices are represented as files in the /dev directory. These files are not actual physical files but represent disk devices. Some common device names are: /dev/sda, /dev/sdb: These represent the first, second, and subsequent hard drives (SATA, SCSI, etc.). /dev/sda1, /dev/sda2: These represent partitions on the first hard drive. /dev/sr0: Represents an optical drive (CD/DVD). /dev/mapper/: Represents logical volumes (in the case of LVM – Logical Volume Manager). 2. Disk Partitioning Partitioning is the process of dividing a storage device into distinct sections, called partitions, each of which can act as a separate disk. Linux typically uses partitioning tools like fdisk, parted, or gparted (graphical) to create and manage partitions. Common Partitioning Tools: fdisk (for MBR - Master Boot Record): sudo fdisk /dev/sda: Launch fdisk for the first disk (/dev/sda). Commands: n (new partition), d (delete partition), p (print partition table), w (write changes). parted (for GPT - GUID Partition Table): sudo parted /dev/sda: Launch parted to manage partitions. Commands: mkpart (create a new partition), rm (remove a partition), print (list partitions). gparted (Graphical interface): sudo apt install gparted: Install gparted for graphical partition management. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating, resizing, and deleting partitions. 3. File System Creation Once a partition is created, it needs to be formatted with a file system (e.g., ext4, xfs, btrfs, etc.) to make it usable. Common File System Types: ext4: The most commonly used file system for Linux. It supports large volumes and files. xfs: A high-performance journaling file system used for large systems. btrfs: A newer file system with advanced features like snapshots, RAID support, and volume management. ntfs: File system used by Windows (Linux can read/write with additional drivers). vfat/exFAT: Common file systems used for flash drives, compatible with Windows and macOS. Formatting a Partition: To format a partition, use the mkfs command: ext4: sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1 xfs: sudo mkfs.xfs /dev/sda1 4. Mounting and Unmounting Partitions Mounting is the process of making a partition or disk available for use by attaching it to a directory in the Linux file system. The directory to which it is attached is called the mount point. lsblk - Lists information about block devices (disks and partitions). This command provides details about disks, including their size, type, and mount points. Shows detailed partition tables of all disks. fdisk -l blkid - Shows block device attributes like filesystem types. A more advanced partitioning tool, useful for managing partitions on both MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk schemes. parted -l Partitioning Disks Partitioning a disk involves dividing it into multiple partitions.The most common tools used for partitioning in Linux are: fdisk: For MBR (Master Boot Record) disks. sudo fdisk /dev/sda This command starts an interactive session where you can create, delete, and modify partitions. gdisk: For GPT (GUID Partition Table) disks.. sudo gdisk /dev/sda Creating Filesystems Once a disk or partition is created, you need to format it with a filesystem. Some common filesystem types include ext4, XFS, and Btrfs. To create a filesystem, use the following commands: sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1 Example: Create an XFS filesystem: sudo mkfs.xfs /dev/sda1 mkfs.fat: Used for creating FAT32 filesystems, often used for USB drives or small partitions. sudo mkfs.fat -F 32 /dev/sda1 Disk Partition Tools (Graphical) Ifou prefer using a graphical interface, several tools are available: GParted: A GUI tool for managing partitions. It allows resizing, creating, and deleting partitions with an easy-to-use interface. Disks (gnome-disk-utility): Another simple GUI tool available in many Linux distributions for partitioning and mounting drives. How to check hdd? sudo fdisk -l How to check partition MBR/GPT? gdisk /dev/sda lsblk How to create partition ? sudo fdisk /dev/sda help- m n enter enter +20G p- print w-save fdisk -l How to format partition ? mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda lsblk -f -chcek format or not partition How to mount partiton? sudo mount /dev/sda /<mount folder> check - sudo mount lsblk How to Manage and Use LVM (Logical Volume Management) LVM Physical Volume = pv Volume Group = vg Logical Volume = lv How to View Current LVM Information pvdisplay fdisk /dev/sdb n = create new partition p = creates primary partition 1 = makes partition the first on the disk t = change partition type 8e = changes to LVM partition type p = view partition setup so we can review before writing changes to disk w = write changes to disk 1 - pvcreate /dev/sdb1 <create a LVM physical volume on the partition we just created> Create volume Group 2 - vgcreate vgpool /dev/sdb1 Create logical volume 3 - lvcreate -L 3G -n lvstuff vgpool Format and Mount the Logical Volume 4 - mkfs -t ext3 /dev/vgpool/lvstuff Create a mount point and then mount the volume somewhere you can use it. 5 - mkdir /mnt/stuff mount -t ext3 /dev/vgpool/lvstuff /mnt/stuff Resizing a Logical Volume 6 - vgextend vgpool /dev/sdc1 Extend Logical Volume 7 - lvextend -L8G /dev/vgpool/lvstuff 8 - resize2fs /dev/vgpool/lvstuff How To Cheking Linux Ubantu Disk Status ? lsblk fdisk -l df -hT lsblk -f <Cheking Formating Partition > mount -av <cheking Mounting> How To Create Linux Ubantu LVM ? Step#01 fdisk /dev/sdb <Go To HDD > Step#02 n, p, t, 8e, w <New Partion Create> Step#03 partprobe /dev/sdb <Karnel Infom For New HDD Partition> Step#04 pvcreate /dev/sdb1 <Create Pv> Step#05 vgcreate nextcloud /dev/sdb1 <Create VG> Step#06 lvcreate -L 500G -n nextcloud nextcloudlv <Create LV> Step#07 mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/nextcloud-nextcloudlv <Formating> Step#08 mount /dev/mapper/nextcloud-nextcloudlv /var/www/html <Create Mount Point For Use Disk Space> Step#09 df -hT <For Checking Mount> Step#10 cat/etc/mtab <Copy Full Path nextcloud-nextcloudlv For Entry Fstab> Step#11 nano /etc/fstab Step#11 /dev/mapper/nextcloud-nextcloudlv /var/www/html ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1 <Paste This Line Fstab Then Save> How To Cheking Linux Ubantu LVM Status ? pvdisplay vgdisplay lvdisplay lvs vgs pvs lvscan pvscan vgscan How To Remove Linux Ubantu LVM ? lvremove /dev/nextcloud/nextcloudlv How To Check Partition Style MBR or GPT fdisk -l /dev/sda parted /dev/sda print <Checking HDD Information> parted /dev/sda mklavel msdos <MBR> parted /dev/sda mklavel gpt <gpt>
