Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > linux.debian.user > #182144

Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB

Show all headers | View raw

On 06/12/2017 11:33 PM, R. Ramesh wrote:
>> You implied you don't even have a backup of that data, which means you
>> have exactly one chance of getting it right.  This is a non-starter.
>>
>> First: you are warned to NEVER proceed with a filesystem resize before
>> you have a valid, current, and *tested* backup.
>>
>> You are also warned that the ext4 *conversion* to 64-bit block numbers
>> so as to be able to span more than 16TB is NOT your typical filesystem
>> resize operation in the first place.  It touches a *lot more* of the
>> filesystem and the risks are much higher than just adding an extent.
>> Even if it works flawlessly, it is not going to result in an optimal
>> filesystem.
>>
>> The recommended procedure is to create a *new* filesystem and restore
>> from backup (or copy from the legacy filesystem if you find a way to
>> have both at the same time).  And for such large filesystems, the use of
>> "xfs" instead of "ext4" should be seriously considered.
>>
>> Second: whatever reasons you had, or excuses you gave yourself, nothing
>> is going to get your data back if the filesystem ends up damaged beyond
>> repair and you don't have a backup.
>>
>> "it would require updates that I am not ready do to yet"? Then DON'T.
>> Find another way to solve your immediate problem, and postpone the
>> larger filesystem for when you update everything.
>>
>> You *have* been warned.
>>
>>
>> Now, you did not give us any idea of what is in that filesystem and what
>> you use it for, but as an alternative to resizing it, maybe you could
>> create several extra filesystems instead of enlarging the one you have
>> and attaching these extra ones to wherever you need more space? Any
>> subdirectory can be made an entirely separate filesystem...
>>
>> This wouldn't work for everything (e.g. you can't hardlink or
>> fast-rename across filesystems), but maybe it would work for whatever
>> you use that big filesystem for?
>>
>> -- 
>>    Henrique Holschuh
> Henrique,
>
>   Let us not worry about backup. The data is just videos and not worth 
> the effort. They are all recreatable with some effort. So, it is ok to 
> try resize2fs and if that dies, I will simply get the data from my 
> DVDs/Blurays.
>
>   I don't think there is in place ext4 to xfs conversion. So, 
> converting to xfs is less possible that resize2fs.
>
>   I am just looking for path of least resistance. That is why I asked 
> if it possible to resize without any upgrade. I will eventually 
> upgrade and eventually figure out something. I just need to hear that 
> there isn't a simple solution I have overlooked *today*. That is all.
>
> Ramesh
>
>
It would seem to me that the simplest way to solve this problem would be 
to buy a second drive that is big enough, format it with xfs, and copy 
everything
you want to keep onto the new drive. Then when everything is done to 
your satisfaction, you can keep the original drive as a backup, or if 
you really
don't care about backups, reformat the original drive and then use it, 
for whatever you want. (Make sure you copy the boot setup onto the new 
drive!)

--doug

Back to linux.debian.user | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Ram Ramesh <rramesh2400@gmail.com> - 2017-06-12 00:20 +0200
  Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Jonathan Marquardt <parckwart@parckwart.de> - 2017-06-12 14:30 +0200
    Re: Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Ramasubramanian Ramesh <rramesh@ti.com> - 2017-06-12 23:20 +0200
      Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <hmh@debian.org> - 2017-06-13 01:40 +0200
        Re: Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB "R. Ramesh" <rramesh@verizon.net> - 2017-06-13 07:00 +0200
          Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <hmh@debian.org> - 2017-06-13 12:10 +0200
            Re: Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB "R. Ramesh" <rramesh@verizon.net> - 2017-06-14 02:50 +0200
              Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <hmh@debian.org> - 2017-06-14 15:30 +0200
          Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB Doug <dmcgarrett@optonline.net> - 2017-06-13 18:10 +0200
            Re: Please help me resize my ext4 file system to size > 16TB "R. Ramesh" <rramesh@verizon.net> - 2017-06-14 02:40 +0200

csiph-web