Scenarios

This topic uses CentOS 7.4 64bit to describe how to initialize data disks attached to a server running Linux using the initialization script.

The method for initializing a disk varies depending on the OS running on the server. This document is used for reference only. For the detailed operations and differences, see the product documents of the corresponding OS.

When using a disk for the first time, if you have not initialized it, including creating partitions and file systems, the additional space added to this disk in an expansion later may not be normally used.

Prerequisites

• A data disk has been attached to a server and has not been initialized.
• You have logged in to the server.
  • For how to log in to an ECS, see Logging In to an ECS.
  • For how to log in to a BMS, see Logging In to a BMS.

Constraints

This script uses the EXT4 file system by default. This script cannot be used to create LVM or VG partitions.

Initializing New Disks

1. Log in to the server and run the following command to obtain the automatic disk initialization script:

   wget https://ecs-instance-driver.obs.cn-north-1.myhuaweicloud.com/datadisk/LinuxVMDataDiskAutoInitialize.sh

2. Run the following command to change the permission of the script:

   chmod -x LinuxVMDataDiskAutoInitialize.sh

3. Execute the following script to automatically detect the data disks to be initialized:

   sh LinuxVMDataDiskAutoInitialize.sh

   The script automatically detects and displays the drive letters (for example, /dev/vdb) except the system disk on the server. Then, you need to enter the drive letter to be initialized, for example, /dev/vdb.

   Figure 1 Automatic detecting disks
   
4. Enter the drive letter and press Enter. The script automatically creates the partition for the disk and formats it.
   Figure 2 Entering the drive letter
   
5. Enter the directory on which you want to mount the partition, for example, /data-test.
   Figure 3 Entering the mounting directory
   
   The initialization is complete until the script has mounted the partition and configured automatic mounting upon server start.

   Figure 4 Disk initialization completed
   

Initializing Existing Disks

1. Log in to the server and run the following command to obtain the automatic disk initialization script:

   wget https://ecs-instance-driver.obs.cn-north-1.myhuaweicloud.com/datadisk/LinuxVMDataDiskAutoInitialize.sh

2. Run the following command to change the permission of the script:

   chmod -x LinuxVMDataDiskAutoInitialize.sh

3. Execute the following script to automatically detect the data disks to be initialized:

   sh LinuxVMDataDiskAutoInitialize.sh

4. The script automatically detects that the disk partition has been mounted and displays the mounting directory. Determine whether to unmount the partition. Enter y to unmount the partition, or enter n to exit the script. In this example, enter y to continue the initialization.
   Figure 5 Unmounting the disk partition
   
5. After the disk partition is unmounted, determine whether to format the disk. Enter y to format the disk, or enter n to exit the script.
   Figure 6 Formatting the disk
   
6. After the disk is formatted, the system automatically creates a partition and completes the formatting. Enter the directory on which you want to mount the partition, for example, /data-test.
   Figure 7 Entering the mounting directory
   

   The initialization is complete until the script has mounted the partition and configured automatic mounting upon server start.

   Figure 8 Disk formatting and partition mounting completed