Resizing partitions in Linux [RH]

[flippinfleck]

Running a Redhat file server and lately I've noticed that some of my partitions are getting a little on the full side.

I run a df and see that some partitions are using approx 8% and others upwards of 93%. This is bad, I know. I thought that I had done a good job when setting up my original partition scheme but now I know better.

Is there a way for me to resize partitions? I know I can use Partition Magik for Windows machines, but is there a program I can use for Linux?

 

[Nothinman]

Depends on the filesystem.

ext2 and ext3 can be resized, although I've only grown partitions to see if it worked, never shrunk them and never did it on data I care about.
XFS can be grown, but not shrunk, I think the same thing goes for JFS.

Partition Magic supports ext2, I'm not sure if newer versions support ext3 or not yet.

 

[flippinfleck]

Thanks for the reply.

I think I'm just going to do a backup then re-install using an updated scheme according to my current usage. I'd feel safer that way anyways.

Thanks again!

 

[topaz22]

gnu parted is exactly what you need. i semi functional gui that i've seen is gtkparted, it works pretty well.
in a pinch, moving a directory or 2 to another filesystem and making symbolic link may help.

to shrink a filesystem, run resize2fs on the filesystem with the desired size, then fdisk and delete and recreate the partition of the size (but make sure it is equal or bigger than what you specified to resize2fs!)... then run fdisk and delete that partition and recreate it using the same starting cylinder.

 

[EmperorRob]

Newer versions of Partition Magic may support reiser and xfs but I'm not 100%. I was upset b/c Ghost wouldn't backup reiser xfs or ext3 partitions until I found Mondo.

 

[topaz22]

another thing that you can do is convert to ext2, ghost it, and then convert back to ext3

 

[flippinfleck]

Right now, this is what my OS drive looks like [20G Maxtor 5400rpms, all partitions ext2]

Filesystem_______1k-blocks_____Used____Available_____Use%___Mounted on
/dev/hde7...............1011928......110220..........850304..............12............/
/dev/hde1...................31079..........3485............25990..............12............/boot
/dev/hde5.............15093376....2727456......11599220..............20............/home
/dev/hde6...............1011928......817968..........142556..............86............/usr
/dev/hde8...............1011928........68676..........891848................8............/usr/local
/dev/hde10...............758936......139364..........581020..............20............/var


I would like to combine /usr, /usr/local, /var, & /. I want to keep /home as it's own partition cuz, well, just because. I don't want to fill that up and run out of room for any of my log files. Don't think that just because /home is low now that's how it will stay. It's usually pretty full till cron moves media files.

Would it be worth the trouble to try and combine all these partitions, or should I just start over? I've already backed up most of my config files that I have spent a lot of time with (samba, apache, yadda yadda) so I'm almost ready to wipe it all...

Your opinions are appreciated!