lvextend error message

[R.L]

Hi all,

When I'm doing lvextend on /var, the system gave me the following error messages:
"Failure ..... not enough space ...."
"Cannot extend due to strict allocation policy"

I've checked my vg where /var resides on and there is enough free PE for me to use.

Can anyone tell me the solution for this?

All/any helps are highly appreciated.

rgds,
RL

[Philip Chan_1]

Hi,

At its creation time your /var fs was being set to use "strict allocation" which means its data blocks are REQUIRED to be contiguous. The reason your lvextend command failed was because there aren't enough data blocks followed immediately after the last block of the /var logical volume. In SAM try setting the strict allocation off for the /var fs.

[Karthik_2]

R.L,
Are u using striping the logical volume used of /var filesystem.
This is what man lvextend man page says..
.."LVM striped logical volumes are always allocated using a strict
allocation policy. Consequently, striped logical volumes may only be
extended by a number extents that is a multiple of disks the logical
volume is striped across. For example, for a logical volume striped
across 3 disks, the logical volume will be extended in increments of 3
extents, with each of the 3 extents allocated on a different disk in
the volume group...."

So in this case the system may be trying to round up to the stripe increments for which there may not be enough space.

Cheers
Karthik...

[R.L]

Hi Philip,

You're right. In fact, there is no more free PE in the physical volume which I want to extend. So, what should I do? Add 1 more disk for the system?

[Printaporn_1]

Hi ,

I think you mean no more PE in volumn group that /var reside
by vgdisplay
look for free PE , if it is 0 then you have to extend your volumn group to new harddisk.

Thanks

[Philip Chan_1 · Accepted solution]

R.L,

The /var fs need not be contiguous (strict allocation) so you can try setting that option off. Just go into SAM -> Disk & File System, pull up the properties for the /var lvol, toggle off that strict allocation policy and see if this is allowed or not. If SAM allow this then you can exit out, enter single user mode at the console terminal, then extend the /var volume.

Hope this help.

[Satish Y]

Hi R.L,

Philip is correct.

You can use following command too, to change allocation policy to nonstrict:

lvchange -s n

Then u can extend ur LV.

Cheers...
Satish.

[Vincenzo Restuccia]

vgdisplay -v and check free PE,add a other disk
vgextend ....

[Ajitkumar Rane]

Are you trying command lines. Did you try thru SAM. I had the same problem wxtending a file system I use command lines and was getting the same error messages so I thouht let me try SAM and wonder is did not give me any errors.

Goodluck.