Hey guys,
I am running Redhta 5.4 Ent with 32GB of Mem and Raid 5 6TB of hard drive space.
running on a Dell 2950

I had to break up the hard drive into less then 2TB partitions.
I used the Dell raid utility to create the paritions

I created 1 parititon to be 800GB Redhat is installed on that parititon.
I plan to install Oracle on the 800GB parition and have the databases on the 2TB paritions.

So my question is how do I get the OS to recognize the other 2 x 2TB partitions?
if I do a df -h all I see is the parititon where RedHat has been installed.

I am having a heck of a time just formatting it Ext3 on /dev/sdb
Or does it need to be Ext3 in order for RedHat to see the other paritions?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My partition layout is below

parted) print all

Model: DELL PERC 6/i (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 805GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 32.3kB 206MB 206MB primary ext3 boot
2 206MB 68.4GB 68.2GB primary linux-swap
3 68.4GB 805GB 737GB primary ext3



Model: DELL PERC 6/i (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 2097GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags



Model: DELL PERC 6/i (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 2096GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags


Error: Unable to open /dev/md0 - unrecognised disk label.

If I do an fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 805.3 GB, 805306368000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 97906 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 25 200781 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 26 8311 66557295 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 8312 97906 719671837+ 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 2097.1 GB, 2097152000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 254964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdc'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


Disk /dev/sdc: 2095.8 GB, 2095809822720 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 254801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

So what would be the command to format /dev/sdb?

parted /dev/sdd 2097152000000 mkfs fat32 ?

The issue I see is there is no start or end cylinder.

Any help wpuld be greatly appreciated.

Hi WarNinja,

Normally you first need to create the partition on the hard disk devices (/dev/sdb in your case). I generally use fdisk, not parted. But both should do the trick.
Besides I woud recommand you use ext3 as the file system format.

So basically your command will be
fdisk /dev/sdb
Then will be in the fdisk shell, successively use
n
to create a new partition, just confirm the default will create a big primary partition on the whole available space
t
85
to create a Linux extended (ext3) partition
w
to write the modification (this is irreversible)
q
to quit

partprobe
to make the kernel aware of the partition changes (without restarting the system)

mkfs -t ext3 /dev/sdb1
to format the partition as ext3

Then edit the /etc/fstab

And then mount the partition
mount /the/path/set/in_fstab

I wrote those instructions on the fly, so you better read the relevant man pages and ensure you understand the effects of every command before launching it.

Regards,

Tshimanga.

Tshimanga,

Thanks so much!

Ok I am into the fdisk and this is familiar territory, it's been a long time since i have had to do this.

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-254964, default 1):
Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-254964, default 254964):
Using default value 254964

Command (m for help):

This is where it gets strange because it tells me

Command (m for help): t
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list codes): 85
You cannot change a partition into an extended one or vice versa
Delete it first.


I do a print and this is what I see. I am closer

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 254964 2047998298+ 83 Linux

Of course when I delete it I cannot create a ext3 from the intial creation of the Primary partition.

So I did this instead

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
e
Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-254964, default 1):
Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-254964, default 254964):
Using default value 254964

Command (m for help): print

Disk /dev/sdb: 2097.1 GB, 2097152000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 254964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 254964 2047998298+ 5 Extended

Command (m for help): t
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list codes): 85
Changed system type of partition 1 to 85 (Linux extended)

Would this be the correct way to go?

Command (m for help): print

Disk /dev/sdb: 2097.1 GB, 2097152000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 254964 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 254964 2047998298+ 85 Linux extended

Hi WarNinja,

Sorry, my mistakes the file systems code is 83 for ext3 not 85.

Regards,

Tshimanga.

Tshimanga,

Ok here is what I did. Since I didn't want to have multiple partitions I restarted the Dell server and then erased the partitions.

I then created a 500GB Virtual disk for RedHat Ent 5.4 64bit. Oracle will also be installed on this partition then assigned the remaining HD space which is 4.5TB to another Virtual Disk. (I really hate DELL's terminilogy when utilizing thier raid controller software)
This is of course Raid5

so after the OS is installed I log in and do an fdisk and it gives me a warrning

fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 524.2 GB, 524288000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 63741 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 25 200781 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 26 8184 65537167+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 8185 63741 446261602+ 83 Linux

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdb'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


WARNING: The size of this disk is 4.5 TB (4473980190720 bytes).
DOS partition table format can not be used on drives for volumes
larger than 2.2 TB (2199023255040 bytes). Use parted(1) and GUID
partition table format (GPT).


Disk /dev/sdb: 4473.9 GB, 4473980190720 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 543930 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 267350 2147483647+ ee EFI GPT

So now here is where I get lost in the GNU parted forrest.

I would like to use the entire remaining partition as one large one.

any ideas?

Ok so i decided to dable but am afraid of making a mistake.
here is my output

1. I did an fdisk to see what the paritions dev name was
in this case it's dev/sdb.

2. Then I did a
parted /dev/sdb

3. mklabel gpt
It gave me a warnning but I know there is not data on sdb so I typed Yes

4. Then did a mkpart primary 0 4473.9GB (I am not sure if this was correct)

5. I typed quit

6. did a mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb

Now this is where it gets scary because SDB is a VD on the entire Raid 5. Remember I create a 500GB parition within the raid5 to install RedHat on.

mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb
mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006)
/dev/sdb is entire device, not just one partition!
Proceed anyway? (y,n)

This is where I need help before I hit yes and pray that I am still able to boot up RedHat and still have my 500Gb parition and the OS is able to see the entire 4.5TB hard drive.

Anyone have any advice? I know I could rebuild the box but time and driving to the co-lo is of essence.



fidsk -l
-bash: fidsk: command not found
[root@Hodaka ~]# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 524.2 GB, 524288000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 63741 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 25 200781 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 26 8184 65537167+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 8185 63741 446261602+ 83 Linux

WARNING: GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sdb'! The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.


WARNING: The size of this disk is 4.5 TB (4473980190720 bytes).
DOS partition table format can not be used on drives for volumes
larger than 2.2 TB (2199023255040 bytes). Use parted(1) and GUID
partition table format (GPT).


Disk /dev/sdb: 4473.9 GB, 4473980190720 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 543930 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 267350 2147483647+ ee EFI GPT
[root@Home ~]# parted /dev/sdb
GNU Parted 1.8.1
Using /dev/sdb
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) mklabel gpt
Warning: The existing disk label on /dev/sdb will be destroyed and all data on this disk will be lost. Do you want to
continue?
parted: invalid token: gpt
Yes/No? yes
New disk label type? [gpt]?
(parted) mkpart primary 0 4473.9GB
(parted) quit
Information: Don't forget to update /etc/fstab, if necessary.

[root@Home ~]# mkfs.ext3 /dev/sdb
mke2fs 1.39 (29-May-2006)
/dev/sdb is entire device, not just one partition!
Proceed anyway? (y,n)

Hi WarNinja,

I am sorry, but when I was preparing to write my certifiaction I chose to only learn fdisk and not parted!

Dive in the man pages and google, surely you will sort it out.

Good luck.

Tshimanga.

Well I found a solution to the issue.

Dell 2950 utilizing 6TB of hard drive space Raid 5
32Gb of memory
2x quad core processors
Using RedHat Ent 5.4 64bit

Within the Dell raid controller you create 2 virtual disks

1st VD make it 80GB

2nd VD use up the remaining space in my case it was 4.4TB

save your changes and reboot with your RedHat disk in your 2950 server.

When you get to the paritioning section ceate a custom layout

You should see 2 paritioned hard drives

on the SDA partition you will first create your Boot. I used 100MB

on the same SDA partition you will create your swap since my machine had 32GB of physical memory I decided to use 64GB for my swap

Then on the SDB parition you assign it all to /

Unfortunately RedHat Ent 5.4 only uses Ext3 since I believe they consider Ext4 to be an experimental file system at the time of RedHat Ent 5.4 release.
CentOS and Fedora have the option to utilize the Ext4 file system.

Now if you were using CentOS or Fedora all you would have to do is create your Raid5 in the Dell raid controller and then pop your Cent or Fedora disk in and you should not have any problems creating your paritions within the parition manager in the OS itself.


Thanks for all the help I recieved.