[TriLUG] LVM issue - Making /var larger

[Jason White]

* Jon Carnes (jonc at nc.rr.com) [030901 13:57]:
> I find it easier to drop my box into single user mode (rather than
> reboot and adjust it to come up in single user mode).  From a command
> line, as the user root, type:
>   init 1

> BOOM! You'll drop to single user mode and you can then umount /var and
> expand it using the LVM.  I've done this many, many times to working
> boxes.

> In the old days, you would add a drive and bring it up as a partition
> /var2, then:
>   cp -a /var/ /var2

>   ; Drop to single user mode
>   init 1
>   umount /var
>   ; Adjust the /etc/fstab to point /var to the new drive
>   vi /etc/fstab
>   mount /var
>   ; Bring the server back online
>   init 3

> On a good day, you were down for less than 2 minutes.

I agree, Jon, and that's what I have to do....on ext[2|3].  However,
with reiserfs, I can do this on the fly without having to unmount.  :-)

It's my understanding that there is a way to grow on the fly with
ext3, but I think it's a kernel patch, if I remember correctly.  Can
anyone comment on their experiences with on the fly resizing with
ext3?