Re: [gentoo-user] LVM for data drives but not the OS

[Dale]

Alan McKinnon wrote:
> Apparently, though unproven, at 18:25 on Friday 08 April 2011, Dale did opine
> thusly:
>
>
>> I'm going to give this a stab here.  I go buy a new drive. I use cfdisk
>> to make it ready for LVM, the 8E thingy.
>>
> Yes
>
>
>> I then tell LVM to make it a
>> Physical Volume, either in whole or in part.
>>
> Yes
>
>
>> I then tell LVM to make it
>> a Volume Group
>>
> No.
>
> You add the PV to a Volume Group (which will be created if necessary)
>
>

Yea, I didn't type that in the way I meant it.  PV is the bottom level, 
then VG goes on top of that then the LV.  I think I am typing that in 
right.  Basically, I create the PV first, then the VG then the LV. < 
scratches head a bit>  I think I get it but may need better wording.

>> and if I already had a drive using LVM I could then add
>> the new drive to it.
>>
> Yes.
>
>
>> After that, I create Logical Volumes and put file
>> systems on it for use sort of like the old partitions.
>>
> Yes. Once you have made the LV, you then do this:
>
> mkfs /dev/mapper/<whatever>
>
> instead of
>
> mkfs /dev/sda1
>
> The kernel sees /dev/mapper/<whatever>  as just another block device (aka
> something it can mkfs)
>
>

So when I get ready to make a file system, say ext3, then it would be 
mkfs.ext3 /dev/mapper/<whatever>.  Then it would be ready to put stuff on.

>> Am I sort of getting on the right track?
>>
> Spot on
>
>
>> Did someone mention a GUI for this?   ^-^
>>
> Piffle. GUIs for LVM confuse the issue. Stay away from them like the plague.
>
>

That is likely a good idea too.  I get used to the GUI then if the GUI 
can't work, maybe X won't come up or something, then I have no idea 
where to start.  Good advice.

Thanks.

Dale

:-)  :-)