-----Original Message----- From: centos-bounces@centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces@centos.org] On Behalf Of Jon Detert Sent: Friday, 18 November 2011 5:13 a.m. To: CentOS mailing list Subject: Re: [CentOS] not using LVM for Linux VM guests?
Hello,
----- Original Message -----
From: "Russell Smithies" Russell.Smithies@agresearch.co.nz To: "CentOS mailing list" centos@centos.org Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 2:37:54 PM Subject: [CentOS] not using LVM for Linux VM guests?
I came across an old post comment yesterday (from http://echenh.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-extend-lvm-on-vmware-
guest-o
s.html ) discussing the "hack" of LVM on Linux VM guests and whether it's better not to use it to simplify disk management. I've re-posted the comment below, does it sound reasonable? Is it better to not use LVM on Linux VM guests?
--Russell
I've had the same question. I've decided to continue to use LVM, for these 2 reasons:
- my hypervisor, good, bad or indifferent, is VMware ESX 4.x and ESXi 4.x.
Those hypervisors can't create virtual disks greater than 256 GB. So, if I want a file-system larger than 256 GB, I have to have some other software - LVM, in this case.
- I like being able to give disk devices descriptive names, like
/dev/mapper/zimbra-data instead of simply '/dev/sdb' or similar. There are probably ways other than LVM to do that, but LVM does offer that flexibility.
One thing I do avoid, however, is partitioning the virtual disks that might need to grow. This is because of the pain described in part below. The kernel often seems to have a hard time letting go of it's view of the partition table - either i have to umount the partition, or reboot. However, if i use the disk unpartitioned, the kernel has no prob, and I can *extend and/or resize*fs without umount or reboot.
- Jon
I have the same problem - I can never get the partition table reread without a reboot. It's a little annoying as I can resize the disk on a Win2k8 VM without a reboot but not Linux :-(
--Russell ======================================================================= Attention: The information contained in this message and/or attachments from AgResearch Limited is intended only for the persons or entities to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipients is prohibited by AgResearch Limited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately. =======================================================================