Attaching an Existing System Disk

Scenarios

This section describes how to attach an existing system disk.

System disks can only be attached offline, which means that the server must be in the Stopped state.

You can view the disk function in the disk list. A disk can be attached to a server to be used as the system disk only when its function is Bootable disk and its status is Available.

• Bootable disks are the system disks detached from servers. A bootable disk can be re-attached to a server to be used as a system disk or data disk depending on the disk function selected.
• Non-shared, yearly/monthly disks purchased together with or later added to a yearly/monthly ECS cannot be attached to other ECSs.

Notes and Constraints

• Cloud servers created from ISO images are only used for OS installation. They have limited functions and cannot have EVS disks attached.
• A non-shared disk can be attached to one server only.
• The disk and server must be in the same region and AZ.
• A detached, non-shared yearly/monthly data disk purchased together with a server can only be re-attached to the original server to be used as a data disk.
• A server must be in the Running or Stopped state before disks can be attached to it.
• A frozen disk cannot be attached.
• A detached, yearly/monthly system disk purchased together with a server can be re-attached to be used as a data disk for any server. If you want to use it again as a system disk, you must attach it to the original server.
• A detached, pay-per-use system disk purchased together with a server can be re-attached to be used as a data disk for any server. If you want to use it again as a system disk, you must attach it to a server that uses the same image as the original server.

Procedure

1. Log in to the management console.
2. Click in the upper left corner and choose Storage > Elastic Volume Service.

   The Elastic Volume Service page is displayed.

3. In the disk list, locate the disk and click Attach.
4. Select a server to attach the disk. Ensure that the disk and server are in the same AZ and that the server is in the Stopped state. After you select the server, the system automatically inputs System disk as the disk function.

   One device name can be used for one disk only. For how to obtain the disk name in the OS, see FAQ "How Do I Obtain My Disk Name in the ECS OS Using the Device Identifier Provided on the Console?" in the Elastic Cloud Server FAQs.

   Figure 1 Attach Disk
   

5. Click OK to go back to the disk list page.

   The status of the disk is Attaching, indicating that the disk is being attached to the server. When the function of the disk changes from Bootable disk to System disk and the disk status changes to In-use, the disk has been attached.

Helpful Links

To find out why your disk cannot be attached, see Why Can't I Attach My Disk to a Server?

To check out more attachment FAQs, see Attachment.