cannot create volume group

[Rashid Hamid]

Hi
When trying to create a new volume group, I got this message " vgcreate: volume group /dev/vg02 could ne be created: A volume is already using this major and minor number. Please check the minor numer in group device file".
All files related to vg02 were already remove.

[G. Vrijhoeven]

hi,

try strings /etc/lvmtab
vgdisplay -v vg02

vgremove if exists.

Gideon

[Sukant Naik · Accepted solution]

Hi Rashid,

The problems seems to be with the major number and minor number which you are assigning to the group file of /dev/vg02. You are assigning a minor number which you had already assigned to a vg earlier.

Do the following.
1. Do a vgexport of vg02
# vgexport /dev/vg02

# rm -rf /dev/vg02
# mkdir /dev/vg02

2. Now we need to assign a unique minor number for your vg02.

First list out the minor numbers on your server by running the following command.
# ll /dev/*/group
eg:
# ll /dev/*/group
crw-r----- 1 root sys 64 0x000000 May 5 13:36 /dev/vg00/group
crw-rw-rw- 1 root sys 64 0x070000 May 7 14:20 /dev/vglock/group

crw-rw-rw- 1 root sys 64 0x080000 May 7 14:20 /dev/vgshare/grou
p

3. Now create the group file by issuing the following
command.

# mknod /dev/vg02/group c 64 0x030000

4. And then go ahead and create the vg
# vgcreate /dev/vg02 /dev/dsk/xyz

-Sukant

[T G Manikandan]

You are creating a new volume group vg02.

mkdir /dev/vg_name
mknod /dev/vg_name/group c 64 0x0n0000
Here n should be unique.
Check using ll /dev/*/group

Just check your /dev/vg02/group file.
If you have removed the vg02 volume group then also remove the /dev/vg02/group file.

Thanks

[Geetha Alagappan]

Sukhant's procedure is exactly what I would recommend. If you are still having problems
check the maximum number of vg's the kernel is configured for.

# kmtune |grep maxvgs

default is 10. If you have already hit 10 increase this kernel parameter.