Add disk to new volume group and preserve structures

[Matthew Pegge_1]

Hi,

I have used business copy to clone a disk in our EVA, and have presented this to the new host. I now need to create a "backup" volume group containing this disk, but normally when you do this you have to pvcreate the disk hence losig the data. Is there way to do this without trashing the existing data and lvm structures on the cloned disk??

[Paul_481]

Hi Matthew,

It seems that vgexport/vgimport is your solution.

man vgexport/vgimport for details.

Regards,
Paul

[Alex Lavrov.]

vgexport will simply remove the volume group from your system, I don't think it's what Matthew wants.

Do you want to backup your vg?


Alex

[Simon Hargrave · Accepted solution]

You haven't provided full details so I'm going to assume the disk you have cloned is the entire volume group. You must do this a whole volume group at a time.

On the "source" server, execute: -

vgexport -m vgXX.map -p -v /dev/vgXX

-p switch is VERY important - without this your volume group will be removed on the source!

Now copy the created map file to the "backup" server. Import the volume group with: -

vgimport -m vgXX.map -v /dev/vgXX /dev/dsk/cXtXdX

Of course you'll need to create the /dev/vgXX/group first.

[Lee Harris_5]

Hi Matt!

Don't know how to help you, but give us some points.

[Alex Lavrov.]

If Simon Hargrave guessed right about your intentions, then I have two points:

1. Before vgimport be sure that the other host can access that disk (storage configuration)

2. Be carefull so the VG won't be writeable on two servers in the same time (!!!)

[Matthew Pegge_1]

Thanks for help guys!!