Caution - Do not create volumes larger than 1TB if you expect to run the Solaris Operating Environment with a 32-bit kernel or if you expect to use a version of the Solaris Operating Environment prior to Solaris 9 4/03. See Overview of Solaris Volume Manager Large Volume Support for more information about large volume support in Solaris Volume Manager.

Example--Expanding a File System By Creating a Concatenation

# umount /docs
# metainit d25 2 1 c0t1d0s2 1 c0t2d0s2
d25: Concat/Stripe is setup
(Edit the /etc/vfstab file so that the file system 
references the volume d25 instead of slice c0t1d0s2)
# mount /docs

This example shows the creation of a concatenation called d25 out of two slices, /dev/dsk/c0t1d0s2 (which contains a file system mounted on /docs) and /dev/dsk/c0t2d0s2. The file system must first be unmounted.

Caution - The first slice in the metainit command must be the slice that contains the file system. If not, you will corrupt your data.

Next, the entry for the file system in the /etc/vfstab file is changed (or entered for the first time) to reference the concatenation. For example, the following line:

/dev/dsk/c0t1d0s2 /dev/rdsk/c0t1d0s2 /docs ufs 2 yes -

should be changed to:

/dev/md/dsk/d25 /dev/md/rdsk/d25 /docs ufs 2 yes -

Finally, the file system is remounted.

Where to Go From Here

For a UFS file system, run the growfs command on the concatenation. See How to Grow a File System.

An application, such as a database, that uses the raw concatenation must have its own way of recognizing the concatenation, or of growing the added space.

How to Expand an Existing RAID 0 Volume

A concatenated stripe enables you to expand an existing stripe. For example, if a stripe has run out of space, you can make it into a concatenated stripe, and expand it without having to back up and restore data.

This procedure assumes that you are adding an additional stripe to an existing stripe.

1. Check Prerequisites for Creating Solaris Volume Manager Elements and Background Information for Creating RAID 0 Volumes.

2. To create a concatenated stripe, use one of the following methods:

   • From the Enhanced Storage tool within the Solaris Management Console, open the Volumes node. Choose Action->Create Volume, then follow the instructions in the wizard. For more information, see the online help.

   • To concatenate existing stripes from the command line, use the following form of the metattach command:

     metattach {volume-name} {component-names…}

     • volume-name is the name of the volume to expand.

     • components specifies the names of the components that will be used.

     See Example--Creating a Concatenated Stripe By Attaching a Single Slice, Example--Creating a Concatenated Stripe By Adding Several Slices, and the metattach(1M) man page for more information.

Caution - Do not create volumes larger than 1TB if you expect to run the Solaris Operating Environment with a 32-bit kernel or if you expect to use a version of the Solaris Operating Environment prior to Solaris 9 4/03. See Overview of Solaris Volume Manager Large Volume Support for more information about large volume support in Solaris Volume Manager.

Example--Creating a Concatenated Stripe By Attaching a Single Slice

# metattach d2 c1t2d0s2
d2: components are attached

This example illustrates how to attach a slice to an existing stripe, d2. The system confirms that the slice is attached.

Example--Creating a Concatenated Stripe By Adding Several Slices

# metattach d25 c1t2d0s2 c1t2d1s2 c1t2d3s2
d25: components are attached

This example takes an existing three-way stripe, d25, and concatenates another three-way stripe. Because no interlace value is given for the attached slices, they inherit the interlace value configured for d25. The system verifies that the volume has been set up.

Where To Go From Here

For a UFS, run the growfs command on the volume. See How to Grow a File System.

An application, such as a database, that uses the raw volume must have its own way of recognizing the volume, or of growing the added space.

To prepare a newly created concatenated stripe for a file system, see "Creating File Systems (Tasks)" in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

Removing a Volume

How to Remove a Volume

1. Make sure you have a current backup of all data and that you have root privilege.

2. Make sure you no longer need the volume.

   If you delete a stripe or concatenation and reuse the slices that were part of the deleted volume, all data on the volume is gone from the system.

3. Unmount the file system, if needed.

   # umount /filesystem

   
   

4. To remove a volume, use one of the following methods:

   • From the Enhanced Storage tool within the Solaris Management Console, open the Volumes node. Choose Edit->Delete, then follow the instructions. For more information, see the online help.

   • Use the following format of the metaclear command to delete the volume:

     metaclear {volume-name}

     See the following example and the metaclear(1M) man page for more information.

Example--Removing a Concatenation

# umount d8
# metaclear d8
d8: Concat/Stripe is cleared
(Edit the /etc/vfstab file)

This example illustrated clearing the concatenation d8 that also contains a mounted file system. The file system must be unmounted before the volume can be cleared. The system displays a confirmation message that the concatenation is cleared. If there is an entry in the /etc/vfstab file for this volume, delete that entry. You do not want to confuse the system by asking it to mount a file system on a nonexistent volume.