ideal size of unix volumes

[Donna Yedziniak]

We had a N-class server installed a couple months ago and I noticed that root and some of the other UNIX filesystems are very small at default. I had to extend /opt, /temp and /home to load our files. Is there a way to make changes at the time HP comes out to start up the new server? Also, what are some of the "ideal sizes" for some of these directories to support different utilities, Veritas backup, Glance, HP diags?
Any experiences you all have had would be appreciated. I now have 2 more N-class servers sitting here in plastic waiting for HP to come out and start-up.

Usage now is:
# bdf
Filesystem kbytes used avail %used Mounted on
/dev/vg00/lvol3 147456 58953 82999 42% /
/dev/vg00/lvol1 87701 28232 50698 36% /stand
/dev/vg00/lvol8 1163264 894410 252342 78% /var
/dev/vg00/lvol7 1236992 561154 633639 47% /usr
/dev/vg00/lvol9 2457600 1813748 604919 75% /usr/orasys/8.1.7
/dev/vg00/lvol4 1073152 292102 732822 28% /tmp
/dev/vg00/lvol6 2097152 848709 1170449 42% /opt
/dev/vg00/lvol5 1605632 457972 1075953 30% /home

There isn't much installed just Omniback, Ignite, Mirror/ux, C+ compiler, C/Ansi, Jetdirect Printer Installer.

We will be installing Veritas's backup suite and I would like to install some of the HP diags / utilities. The system drive is 36 GB.

Thanks,
Donna Yedziniak

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Donna:

I agree that the provided logical volume sizes are a bit conservative, to say the least.

The easiest way to deal with this would be to create an Ignite 'make_tape_recovery' tape and re-install your server as the very first step in your customization / localization.

Bring up your new server, and load a current version of Ignite from:

http://www.software.hp.com/products/IUX/index.html

Use this to capture the virgin configuration:

/opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery -x inc_entire=vg00 -I -v -a /dev/rmt/0mn

Note that the "-I" in 'make_tape_recovery' causes the subsequent recovery process to be interactive. If you use the '-I' option, booting from tape will automatically offer the interactive Ignite recovery mode.

Choose the Advanced Installation mode and on the FileSystem tab note the "Additional Tasks" option. Selecting this will offer you the ability to change the physical vg attributes and set things like 'largefiles' etc.

You can then choose vg00 filesystem sizes that work best in your environment. Since you have 36GB boot disks, I'd be generous in choosing filesystem sizes, particularly for /var, /usr, and /opt.

...JRF...

[Donna Yedziniak]

Thanks James - your detailed answer really helps those of us who are new to HP!

I'll give your suggestion a try!
Thanks,
Donna

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Donna:

Thank you. I'm glad to have helped!

...JRF...

[R Madhavan]

If you have onlineJFS, you can increase with fsadm command to increase the FS sizes online.(you have to do lvextend first). if not you can umount and do extendfs. This is applicable for filesystems except / & pri.swap. (refer man pages of lvextend, extendfs, fsadm_vxfs)
rgds,