The traditional way you manage storage on Linux systems is partitions and fixed volumes. But when it comes to the storage demand that needs to be up and running, this traditional way of storing starts showing its limitations. It’s time to learn what is the logical volume manager in Linux. The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) within Linux – a strong tool for managing and allocating storage more flexibly and efficiently. LVM, or “Logical Volume Manager”, is a method of treating storage volumes as logical entities so that administrators can resize, extend, or reduce storage without having to format/repartition entire disks.
LVM abstracts the raw underlying storage, allowing you to pool together multiple hard drives or SSDs into a combined logical volume group (VG) from which you can then carve out logical volumes (LVs). This means a more flexible, scalable, and secure approach to managing data — particularly in organizations working in complex environments with large amounts of data.
So whether Ubuntu Logical Volume Management is in use, or you simply want to comprehend some of the deep principles of the Linux Logical Volumes, this is a guide from the beginning to the end for you — covering even advanced management commands. So, without further ado, let us venture into the realm of LVM and see how you can make the most of it with Linux storage management.
What is Logical Volume Manager in Linux
What is LVM?
This is an initiative for learning purposes. With LVM, you can group multiple physical volumes (PVs), such as hard drives or SSDs, in a single volume group (VG), which can then be divided into logical volumes (LVs). Dynamic resizing is an added advantage LVM, which is particularly useful for the systems that require frequent scaling or adjustment of the storage.
LVM has a few critical components:
- Physical Volumes (PVs): This is the physical storage device, such as a hard drive or partition.
- VG (Volume Group): A pool of storage formed from physical volumes.
- Logical Volumes (LVs): These are the individual usable storage spaces that live within a volume group.
Why Use Logical Volume Management in Linux?
- Scalability: You can scale up or down the storage dynamically without any system disruption by adding/removing physical volumes
- Resizability: LVM supports increasing the size of the logical volumes and, thus, is suitable for dynamic environments.
- Snapshots: LVM adds snapshot support, allowing you to create a point-in-time copy of a volume that’s ideal for backups.
- Performance: LVM offers options for RAID-like features (striping, mirroring), which improve performance and the redundancy of the data.
Logical Volume Management Ubuntu
LVM also works in Ubuntu, and users can use it to manage storage efficiently. LVM on Ubuntu is not that hard to set up as most modern distributions have excellent support for LVM.
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Setting Up LVM on Ubuntu
1. If you do not already have it, install LVM2:
sudo apt update sudo apt install lvm22. Prepare your physical disks (or partitions):
sudo fdisk /dev/sdbIn this example /dev/sdb is the second disk. Follow the prompts to create a new partition.
3. Create Physical Volume:
sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb14. Create Volume Group:
sudo vgcreate my_volume_group /dev/sdb15. Create Logical Volume:
sudo lvcreate -L 10G -n my_logical_volume my_volume_group6. Format the Logical Volume:
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume7. Mount the Logical Volume:
When you start up Ubuntu, type in the command below:
sudo mount /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume /mntOutput
$ sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb1 Physical volume "/dev/sdb1" successfully created. $ sudo vgcreate my_volume_group /dev/sdb1 Volume group "my_volume_group" successfully created $ sudo lvcreate -L 10G -n my_logical_volume my_volume_group Logical volume "my_logical_volume" created $ sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume mke2fs 1.45.5 (07-Jan-2020) Creating filesystem with 2621440 4k blocks and 655360 inodes $ sudo mount /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume /mntLinux Logical Volume Manager Commands
Commands used to manage storage with LVM Here are some of the most commonly used Linux Logical Volume Manager commands:
1. pvcreate: Create a Physical Volume
sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb12. vgcrate: Create a Volume Group
sudo vgcreate my_volume_group /dev/sdb13. lvcreate: Create a Logical Volume
sudo lvcreate -L 10G -n my_logical_volume my_volume_group4. lvextend: Extend a Logical Volume
sudo lvextend -L +5G /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume5. lvreduce: Reduce a Logical Volume
sudo lvreduce -L -5G /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume6. lvremove: Remove a Logical Volume
sudo lvremove /dev/my_volume_group/my_logical_volume7. vgs: Show Information about Volume Groups
sudo vgs8. lvs: List Logical Volumes
sudo lvsHow CyberPanel Fits in with LVM Management
CyberPanel is a robust web hosting control panel. It manages websites and applications hosted on systems managed by LVM. The built-in LVM management allowed much more experience-led interaction and gave control to perform actions like creating, resizing volumes, and so on, more accessible for storage solutions especially for web hosting, business, etc. This can greatly increase flexibility, scalability, and data integrity when using LVM with CyberPanel.
FAQs: What is Logical Volume Manager in Linux
1. Why would you use LVM instead of traditional partitioning?
LVM supports volume resizing and logical volume management for redundant storage. Haven’t been able to configure partitions with our existing scheme? There is a solution: the Logical Volume Manager (LVM), which facilitates dynamic performance without the need to partition a few drives.
2. Can I extend a logical volume?
Yes, logical volumes can be easily extended using lvextend. To extend the logical volume by 10GB, do lvextend -L +10G /dev/vg_name/lv_name
3. Can LVM be applied to every kind of Linux environment?
LVM provides great flexibility and scalability but might not be needed for basic single-disk configurations. Recommendation: For multi-disk systems or high storage systems, always use LVM (Logical Volume Management).
4. Can I use LVM with RAID?
Yes, LVM works on top of RAID. When used with RAID, LVM should be considered a powerful tool because it supports some additional features such as striping and mirroring.
Conclusion: Get Full Control of your Storage with LVM in Linux
As a Linux professional, you will be working with the Logical Volume Manager (LVM). As an administrator scaling storage, or a user optimizing Ubuntu systems, LVM provides unrivaled flexibility and control. Dynamic volume expansion, volume grouping, and comprehensive snapshot capabilities—all without service interruption. With an understanding of LVM commands and best practices, you can effectively administer your Linux storage architectures and lay the groundwork for your future systems.
Want to get started on the road to storage control? Start exploring LVM today!
