Hi

I'd like to use LVM on my linux debian system installed (without any LVM tool). I have 3 hard disks:

hda: hda1(in NTFS) containing Windows install with 9 GB free space(FS) and hda2(ext3) containing debian lenny (/, /home, /usr, opt, ...)

hdb: With single partition in Vfat and 100 GB FS

hdc also with single partition(NTFS) and 150 GB FS.

I have 4 primary partitions so I can't get more, I think. I want more space for linux /opt and /usr witch has not enough space any more. I have readen that LVM can be the approriate tool I need with device-mapper, and LVM2 : Tutorial LVM.

My questions are this: If I can use LVM on this so like configuration from the FS availaible on hdb and hdc, how Can I add some part of those FS to linux partition witout chaninging nothnig or without new partitionning? Do I really need to compile my kernel? Do I need to "Download the development source via CVS" or just appropriate files included in the giving link?

Thanks for more claification(?) for me before I process this task.

Hi,

I would not do anything like that. I have been very unlucky using LVM partitions.

What I have done in your same situation on a fedora system, was:

-installed another disk
-created a linux partition and formatted ext3 (fdisk, mkfs)
-copied the whole /usr directory (cp -R)
-created an entry in the fstab to mount the new /usr partition
-renamed the current /usr to something (mv)
-create the /usr mountpoint with the right permissions

Would suggest to consult the documentation online before attempting, I have done this quite a while ago, and I don't remember if I listed all the steps. Also, keep the older (renamed) usr directory for a while, to be sure you have all the pieces, or at least compare the two filesystems.

Make sure to have at least a working live CD to be able to boot and fix whatever may have gone wrong.

hope it may help, but with no guarantees