SCSI drive for Linux

[AUJ]

Hi Linux Guru,

I would like to ask about the parted utilities in Linux AS 2.1. I have downloaded parted 1.6.x and install in my Linux box. Earlier, I used parted 1.4.x and everytime I create a partition, I need to reboot the server first before I can create a filesystem but since I have installed parted 1.6.x, these problem gone. That means I can create partition and filesystem right away, without rebooting the server.

Now, the problem is, when I reach 15 partitions including primary partitions and try to create new partition (the 16th partition), I got the same error, the system complain and i have to reboot the server to be able to recognized the new partition. Then I rebooted the machine. However, after rebooting the machine and try create the filesystem, I got this error.

# mkfs -t ext2 -j /dev/cciss/c1d0p16
mke2fs 1.26 (3-Feb-2002)

Could not stat /dev/cciss/c1d0p16 --- No such file or directory

The device apparently does not exist; did you specify it correctly?

On the above error, it seems that I am specifying the wrong device but I 100% sure that I used the correct device.... And one of the linux guy told me that the maximum number of partition I can create for SCSI drive is 15. So, what if i still have disk space and need to add more logical drive? Does it mean that the disk space left on my machine will be waist????

Any other solution or work around on this?
And is it true that the maximum number of partition for SCSI drive is only 15?

Appreciate your help!

Thanks & Best Regards,
AUJ

[Steven E. Protter]

I don't think you are right about that limitation.

You can create an extended partition and then lots of little partitions in the extended area.

There is absolutely no need to waist disk space in this context.

SEP

[AUJ]

Hi Steven

Thanks for your immediate response. Anyway, this is the screen of my parted.

I try to use fdisk and got the error "maximum number of partitions has been created".

----------------------------------------------
Using /dev/cciss/c1d0
Information: The operating system thinks the geometry on /dev/cciss/c1d0 is
8717/255/32. Therefore, cylinder 1024 ends at 4079.999M.
(parted) p

Disk geometry for /dev/cciss/c1d0: 0.000-34731.796 megabytes
Disk label type: msdos

Minor Start End Type Filesystem Flags
1 0.016 51.796 primary ext3 boot
2 51.797 5171.718 primary ext3
3 5171.719 7167.890 primary linux-swap
4 7167.891 34731.796 extended
5 7167.906 8666.015 logical ext3
6 8666.031 9180.000 logical ext3
7 9180.016 10203.984 logical ext3
8 10204.000 11227.968 logical ext3
9 11227.984 12228.046 logical
10 12228.062 12431.250 logical
11 12431.266 12933.281 logical
12 12933.297 13933.359 logical
13 13933.375 14933.437 logical
14 14933.453 15933.515 logical
15 15933.531 16933.593 logical
16 16933.609 18933.750 logical
(parted)

----------------------------------------------
Using FDISK:

Command (m for help): n
The maximum number of partitions has been created

[Steven E. Protter]

Create an extended partition and then inside that you can add lots more logical partitions.

Steven "Works for points" E. Protter
SEP
On the way to Wyoming, not HP-World.

:-)

[Steven E. Protter]

sorry,

you'll probably need to remove one of those current partitions before you can add the extended one.

SEP

[AUJ]

Steven,

Sorry, I didn't get what you mean. Because the extended partition is in place already and I have already created 11 logical partitions. That's why the total number of partition now is 15. (3 primary partition, 1 extended and 11 logical partition) and the problem only appear on the 16th partitions and as I mentioned earlier, I got the same error using fdisk.

Thanks.
AUJ

[Stuart Browne]

Welcome to old-school DOS/i386 issues.

Originally, there was FAT in the Intel world.

It was limited to 4 partitions. 'Primary'.

As the partition size was also extremely limited, and disk technology hadn't pushed boundaries at the creation of these ideas, things were good.

Disk technology got better. 4 partitions was no longer enough. The partition table was given a new partition type. 'Extended'.

Into the Extended came the ability to create more partitions, known as 'logical' partitions.

Eventually, the OS also go better, being able to recognise lager disk sizes.

The partitioning scheme did not.

You are limited to 15. Period. It's a limitation of the way x86 based machines work.

[AUJ]

Hi Stuart,

Anyway, any suggestions or work around?

Thanks.
AUJ

[Stuart Browne]

extend your existing partitions to use the excess space.

You might be able to use 'lvm' though to make more partitions, but I've not played with it at all (SEP? You tried this?).

In any case, why on earth do you want *SO MANY* partitions? It makes for a rather chatoic filesystem design doesn't it?