Loading ...Linux Creating a Partition Size Larger than 2TB
Linux desktop user generally uses small hard disk and partition, but on server you need a large partition. For example, you cannot create 4TB partition size (RAID based) using fdisk command. It will not allow you to create a partition that is greater than 2TB.
To solve this problem use GNU parted command with GPT. It supports Intel EFI/GPT partition tables. Partition Table (GPT) is a standard for the layout of the partition table on a physical hard disk. It is a part of the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) standard proposed by Intel as a replacement for the outdated PC BIOS, one of the few remaining relics of the original IBM PC. EFI uses GPT where BIOS uses a Master Boot Record (MBR).
(Diagram illustrating the layout of the GUID Partition Table scheme. Each logical block (LBA) is 512 bytes in size. LBA addresses that are negative indicate position from the end of the volume, with −1 being the last addressable block. Imaged Credit Wikipedia)
GPT Kernel Support
EFI GUID Partition support works on both 32bit and 64bit platforms. You must include GPT support in kernel in order to use GPT. If you don't include GPT support in Linux kernelt, after rebooting the server, the file system will no longer be mountable or the GPT table will get corrupted. By default Redhat Enterprise Linux / CentOS comes with GPT kernel support. However, if you are using Debian or Ubuntu Linux, you need to recompile the kernel. Set CONFIG_EFI_PARTITION to y to compile this feature.
File Systems
Partition Types
[*] Advanced partition selection
[*] EFI GUID Partition support (NEW)
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Linux create 3TB partition size
One of my clients has Raid 5 Array -7x500GB hard disks to store large data. To create partition start GNU parted as follows:
# parted /dev/sdx
Output:
GNU Parted 1.8.1 Using /dev/sdx Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands. (parted)
Creates a new GPT disklabel i.e. partition table:
mklabel gpt
Create 3TB partition size:
mkpart primary 0 3001G
Quit and save the changes:
quit
Use mkfs to format file system:
# mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdx1
Note: Replace /dev/sdx with actual RAID or disk name or block Ethernet device such as /dev/etherd/e0.0 . Don't forget to update /etc/fstab, if necessary.
Further readings:
- How Basic Disks and Volumes Work (little outdated but good to understand basic concept)
- GUID Partition Table from the Wikipedia
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Tags: CONFIG_EFI_PARTITION, efi parititons, extensible firmware interface, GPT, linux large partition size, parted_command, partition size, partition table, raid 5 array ~ Last updated on: November 6, 2007
Typically with Linux and large disks, I prefer just to use LVM directly on the disk, no partitioning at all. I find this to be very stable and manageable.
Ryan, how do you tell grub to load the kernel from a lvm partition? IMHO, grub wont mount logical volumes and thus, cannot find your kernel.
Thanks for the CLI verify - I used gPartED for the same - with graphical confirmation;)
Using the default distro kernel in Debian 4.0 (etch):
$ uname -a