topic vgcreate error in Operating System - HP-UX

vgcreate error

Mauro Gatti — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:02:45 GMT

Hi All, I get an error creating a VG:

root@devux/prdtn/dbs/dbf>vgcreate -s 8 -e 65535 vg_prdtn /dev/dsk/c7t0d0
vgcreate: Volume group "/dev/vg_prdtn" could not be created:
A volume group is already using this major and minor number.
Please check the minor number of the "group" device file.

but
root@devux/prdtn/dbs/dbf>ls -la /dev/*/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x000000 Nov 13 2000 /dev/vg00/group
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 64 0x010000 Jan 17 2001 /dev/vg01/group
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 64 0x020000 Nov 22 2000 /dev/vg02/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x030000 Dec 28 2000 /dev/vg03/group
crw-r--r-- 1 root sys 64 0x040000 Jul 3 2001 /dev/vg04/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x100000 Jul 17 2002 /dev/vg_aste_1/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x110000 Jul 17 2002 /dev/vg_aste_2/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x120000 Jul 17 2002 /dev/vg_aste_3/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x130000 Jul 17 2002 /dev/vg_aste_4/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x140000 Jul 19 2002 /dev/vg_aste_5/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x1a0000 Jul 13 11:11 /dev/vg_asterix/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x060000 Jun 5 2003 /dev/vg_obelix/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x1b0000 Jul 14 08:55 /dev/vg_prdtn/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x070000 Jul 14 08:45 /dev/vg_prdtn_old/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x160000 Jun 3 2003 /dev/vg_rwh/group

What am I mistaken?

Thank You

Re: vgcreate error

Bharat Katkar — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:17:10 GMT

HI Mauri,
Repeat this again, be sure about VG name.
1. # vgexport /dev/vg_prdtn
2. # mkdir /dev/vg_prdtn
3. # mknod /dev/vg_prdtn/group c 64 0x1b0000
4. # vgcreate -s 8 -e 65535 vg_prdtn /dev/dsk/c7t0d0

This should work.
Regards,

Re: vgcreate error

Ravi_8 — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:18:58 GMT

Hi,

can you explain the vg creation procedure that you followed.

we normally follow this

#pvcreate -f
#mkdir /dev/
#cd /dev/
#mknod /dev//group c 64 0x0y0000
where y is vg number
#vgcreate /dev/

Re: vgcreate error

Franky_1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:30:47 GMT

Hi,

you should first use

mkdir /dev/vg_prdtn
and then in that dir
mknod group c 64 0x0000
(for example vg01 - 0x010000)
This should do the trick

Franky

Re: vgcreate error

Thierry Poels_1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:37:39 GMT

hi,

PHCO_29379
When more than one Volume Groups in LVM uses the same minor
number they overstep on each others data structures in the
kernel resulting in unpredictable behaviour with any of the
operations with these volume groups. This problem will not
go away even after removing both the volume groups. Any
creation of a volume group with the same minor number (after
removing all the Volume Groups using that minor number)
would fail with the following message even though there is
no volume group using that minor number at this time.

so try patching, rebooting, or another unused minor number.

regards,
Thierry.

Re: vgcreate error

Mauro Gatti — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:52:54 GMT

My HP-UX is 10.20 patch mentioned in this thread is for 11.11 isnt' it?

I did:
1) vgexport vg_prdtn
2) vgimport vg_prdtn with another name (vg_prdtn_old)
(I've to rename vg first because I have to migrate data)
3) mkdir /dev/vg_prdtn
4) mknod /dev/vg_prdtn/group c 64 0x1b0000
5) vgcreate new vg_prdtn

Re: vgcreate error

Bharat Katkar — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 02:58:18 GMT

Can you try with this minor no. 0x050000 or 0x080000 or 0x090000.

Regards,

Re: vgcreate error

Isralyn Manalac_1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 03:20:26 GMT

It was because that major number and minor number is already in use as in the listing you have. Try to use another major and minor number.

Re: vgcreate error

Isralyn Manalac_1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 03:26:02 GMT

ooops..missed out that it was actually vg_prdtn

Re: vgcreate error

Thierry Poels_1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 03:48:08 GMT

hpux 10.20? lol
out of support since ages, I believe last patch bundles dates from december 2002

We do not support 10.20, thread closed!

now seriously:
- try other minor numbers
- try a new VG name with same minor number (if vg_prdtn_old is a renamed vg_prdtn)
- check maxvgs in your kernel, must be at least 28 to use 1B as a minor number

good luck,
Thierry

Re: vgcreate error

Sridhar Bhaskarla — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 03:57:19 GMT

Hi,

This can happen if someone accidentally deleted /dev/vgxx directory corresponding to the minor number you are trying to use. You may find the VG in your /etc/lvmtab (strings /etc/lvmtab). Do 'strings /etc/lvmtab |grep vg' and compare the VGs against the list you have in your /dev directory. Also, run 'vgdisplay -v |grep 'VG Name'' if your /etc/lvmtab is not correct.

As suggested try a different minor number to create this volume group. If you have a phantom VG in /etc/lvmtab, then you can get rid of it by creating the directory structure with that device file, do a 'vgchange -a n vgxx' followed by 'vgexport vgxx'. If you don't have it in your lvmtab, then the next reboot should take care of the phantom VG.

-Sri

Re: vgcreate error

Dean Johnson_10 — Thu, 15 Jul 2004 03:00:32 GMT

I have had a similar experience when the kernel parameter maxvgs was not set high enough for the minor number being used even if there were not that number of vg's

Re: vgcreate error

philipp_9 — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 06:36:02 GMT

Hi all

first thank'sa lot for all explaination.

I passed maxvgs to 100 with sam utility (kernel configuration), create a new kernel and finaly i have reboot. after this i am able to create a volume group.

best regards

JÃ©rÃ´me Philipp