Convert existing Root Filesystem to LVM Partition like a pro with this handy guide. 

At Bobcares, we offer solutions for every query, big and small, as a part of our Server Management Service.

Let’s take a look at how our Support Team recently helped a customer with converting an Existing Root Filesystem to LVM Partition

How to Convert existing Root File system to LVM Partition

If you are looking for a way to convert the root file system to LVM, you have come to the right place. Our Support Engineers are here with the following steps to make this task easier for you.

1. Initially, we have to create an LVM partition by selecting a free disk first as seen below:

   # pvcreate /dev/sdb1
   # vgcreate vg_new_root  /dev/sdb1
   # lvcreate -L 4G -n lv0 vg_new_root

2. Then, we will format the new LVM partition with either ext3 or ext4. For instance:

   # mkfs.ext4 /dev/vg_new_root/lv0

3. Next, we have to create a new mount point and then mount the new LVM partition on it with these commands:

   # mkdir /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION
   # mount /dev/vg_new_root/lv0  /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION

4. After that, we have to copy the contents of the “/” folder to the newly mounted folder:

   # tar -cvpf - --one-file-system --acls --xattrs --selinux / | tar -C /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION -xf -
   # cp -aux /dev /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION

5. Then, we will edit /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION/etc/fstab in order to include the new root:

   /dev/vg_new_root/lv0      /       ext4    defaults     1 1

6. Next, we have to change the root to the new file system, followed by creating initrd with raid as well as lvm support:

   # mount --bind /dev /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION
   # chroot /mnt/NEW_ROOT_PARTITION
   # mount -t proc /proc /proc
   # mount -t sysfs /sys /sys

   # vgscan
   # vgchange -ay
   # mkinitrd -v /boot/initrd-`uname -r`.lvm.img `uname -r`

   # umount /sys
   # umount /proc
   # exit
   # mv /mnt/lv0/boot/initrd-`uname -r`.lvm.img /boot

7. After that, we will edit the /boot/grub/grub.conf file to point to the new root. Our Support Engineers also recommend backing up the old initrd in the “/boot” directory and renaming the new initrd to the existing one or editing the entry in the grub.conf file.
8. Finally, we will reboot the system with this command:

   # shutdown -r now

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the skilled Support Engineers at Bobcares demonstrated how to convert an existing root filesystem to LVM Partition