more storage space using ln command

[Sunil Kumar K.U.]

Hello all,

One of our customers wanted to keep some data on a filesystem only for some time. But, there is not enough space on it. Since it is temporary and they wanted it at a particular location, I suggested to keep the data at different directory (on another filesystem which has enough free space) and link it to the location (using ln -s command) where they wanted.

Is there any other way to add disk space to a filesystem (not by extending the filesystem) using the ln command or any other command?(Pls note that I am aware of the standard procedure of extending the vg,lv and fs).

Thanks in advance for the help.

Regards/SUNIL KUMAR K.U.

[Michael Tully · Accepted solution]

A good example of this is having
your omniback database mounted on
a different filesystem. For example
the database must be under /var/opt/omni
which as we know is under /var
If we created a new filesystem like
/omni_db and did
ln -s /omni_db /var/opt/omni
This would have all of the omniback
database under /omni_db and have a link
to /var/opt/omni

There is no way of adding 'real' space
to a filesystem without actually extending
it. You would need to move the files out
of the directory like above and then create
the symbolic link

Michael

[Shahul]

Hi

Why don't U use mount command for this? I will tell U how to do this with an example.

Suppose U have a directory called /user/programs in /user filesystem. U want to keep this program directory in /user1 filesystem, But U don't have enough space in /user1 for copying this..This is ur current status..right? In this case what U will have to do is

#cd /user1
#mkdir programs
#mount /user/programs /user1/programs

Now ur programs directory is in /user1 filesystem. After the purpuose over unmount the same.

Best of luck


Shahul

[Magdi KAMAL]

Hi Sunil,

You may do the following :

1. Move ( mv ) your data to the free space (free_dir) on the free server(free_server).
2. Logon on the free_server and execute exportfs.
3. From your initial server execute a NFS mount from the initial directory.

By this your initial file system had been reduced it's used space, and your data is still accessible ( via NFS ).

If you choose this solution, let me know for commands.

Magdi

[Vincent Fleming]

If you have some extra disk space, you can always create a new vg and/or lv, make a filesystem on it, and mount it where ever you want. Mount points don't have to be on /, such as /usr; you can use /usr/src (for example) as a mount point. When you're done, unmount it and vgremove it.

[leereg_5]

1.Find a box which can serve as a NFS server to export filesystem with spare space to store all your datas.
2.Move the datas to the NFS server under certain dir, like: /export/vol/vol1/destinedir
3.export that dir and start the NFS server;
4.Configure the original box as a NFS client and rename the target dir;
5.Make a link:
#ln -s /vol/vol1/destinedir /dir/you/want/to/expend


Hope this meet your request.

[Sunil Kumar K.U.]

Hello all,

Thanks for the timely and accrate replies posted by you all.

Regards/SUNIL KUMAR K.U.