hardened repository & lvm

[mcz]

Hi Linux-Pros,

I'm able to manage a Linux-System to a certain degree, but I'm far away from perfect. So I'm having an existing hardened repository under Linux (what else), but the capacity of that extent is not enough. Now I'm having a second LUN on that storage controller, so two in total now (the existing plus the new one). LVM would be able to create one mounting point out of these two LUNs and now I'm having two questions:

• If I had created a mounting point out of these two LUNs, I guess it can be used as any other mounting point for the hardened repository (so no limitations), correct?

• Can I add my second lun to the existing mounting point, preserving all the existing data/config?

You know, currently there are chains, linked to many other jobs (copy jobs, surebackup, etc.) and if I had to start from scratch, it could cause a lot of havoc. Moving the whole chains was an option, if there was any other repository holding the same amount of space - which isn't the case

I'm sure someone out there had the same tasks and can give me some input on that. btw, I have searched for "harden" and "lvm" and haven't found anything on that forum, so sorry if this topic was mentioned in another thread.

Thanks in advance!

[Mildur]

Hi Michael

I'm not a Linux Expert. But I try to answer your questions.

If I had created a mounting point out of these two LUNs, I guess it can be used as any other mounting point for the hardened repository (so no limitations), correct?

Correct, you can add different folder paths as additional repositories. From the same hardened repository machine.

Can I add my second lun to the existing mounting point, preserving all the existing data/config?

May I ask, is your first LUN already configured as an LVM volume? Then you should be able to extend your Volume group with the second LUN and then extend your LVM volume as well. Data should not be destroyed (I recommend to test the procedure first on a test LUN).
A guide from redhat: https://www.redhat.com/sysadmin/resize-lvm-simple

But if you currently use standard partitions (not LVM), then in my best knowledge converting a simple disk volume to LVM volume is not possible. The entire content on the standard partiton/filesystem needs to be copied to the new LVM volume. After that, you can add the first LUN to the volume group and extend the LVM volume.

Best,
Fabian

[mcz]

Hi Fabian,

my first LUN wasn't configured as an LVM volume, but I had the chance to do the following:

• added the new LUN to the machine

• added the new LUN to new LVM volume and mounted it

• added a new hardened repository pointing to the new mount

• moved all backups via VBR console from the existing hardened repository to the new one. btw, very nice, traffic stays local and so everything was done in an hour.

• pointed backup targets to the new repository and started backups and other stuff - worked fine

• removed the old hardened repository from the VBR console

• unmounted the existing repository on the linux server

• added the old repository/device to the lvm volume

• extended the lvm volume

• extended the XFS

• done. happy face

Of course, this was only possible because I had enough space on the new LUN, but sometimes you have to be lucky as well...
Thanks!

[Mildur]

Hello Michael

Cool
Thank you for the feedback and providing the steps you have done.

Best,
Fabian