Setting up LVM

[ozitraveller]

I'm just wondering whether anyone has any experience with LVM? I don't know much about it but it looks like something I should be using. I have an SSD and a HDD and I have just done a clean build, so before I go too far now would be a time to change. Can I just have /home setup on LVM? Are there any downsides?

Cheers
Ozi

[VastOne]

^ I agree and want to use it as well.. I would not mind collaborating on this with you and anyone else interested to get it setup on VSIDO and then do a write up about it

[ozitraveller]

Excellent! here is a starting point.

Debian Sid / Wheezy Netinstall with LVM – Network Installation Guide
http://www.if-not-true-then-false.com/2012/debian-unstable-testing-netinstall/

[VastOne]

^ I want to be able to setup LVM on a current install ... I am wondering if that is possible

[ozitraveller]

My current thoughts are that it would be possible by adding another drive and setup LVM on it, and then start moving stuff to it and the recommissioning existing drives to LVM, arranging your stuff as you go as LVM gets bigger. Rather than smoke everything and start again.

I haven't tried this, I'm just assuming it will work.

[VastOne]

I have 3 drives in this system and I also have several fsarchiver backups of the absolute most critical one (the VSIDO build partition)

So I can do that... I will start the process tomorrow, it is supposed to rain! (no golf)

[ozitraveller]

What are you afraid of getting wet?

I'm assuming that LVM can't be overlayed on an existing partitioned drive. I'd like to know if someone has any ideas about this too.

[ozitraveller]

Some useful stuff!

The monumental #! LVM guide - el_koraco
http://crunchbang.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=19411

[ozitraveller]

ZFS might be also a possibility too.

ZFS is a combined file system and logical volume manager designed by Sun Microsystems. The features of ZFS include protection against data corruption, support for high storage capacities, integration of the concepts of filesystem and volume management, snapshots and copy-on-write clones, continuous integrity checking and automatic repair, RAID-Z and native NFSv4 ACLs. ZFS is implemented as open-source software, licensed under the Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL). The ZFS name was registered as a trademark of Oracle until September 20, 2011

http://linuxaria.com/pills/zfs-is-ready-for-your-linux-desktop?lang=en

[dizzie]

ZFS on Linux? Good luck! you're going to need a lot of it (oh and do take backups, to a few disks and cds)

[ozitraveller]

Hi dizzie that's what I thought too! Just thought I'd throw it into the mix, and then wait for someone else to try.

[hinto]

I'm still not sure why LVM is good. (maybe for restore points?)  At least once a week I wish I had repartitioned away LVM when I blew away RHEL.
-Hinto

[VastOne]

^ Thats the same way I feel about it... fsarchiver does an unbelievable job in archiving and restoring my critical systems and it takes less than 30 seconds for each one.. I have my critical systems at less that 1 gig so I can throw them on a usb and restore them anywhere...

It is by far the most effective Disaster Recovery tool I have ever used, and I spent a career working in Disaster Recovery

[dizzie]

Hi dizzie that's what I thought too! Just thought I'd throw it into the mix, and then wait for someone else to try.

My ZFS guide : http://fredslev.dk/2012/zfs-2-drives-mirrored/

[ozitraveller]

Excellent well done thanks dizzie.