Creating a container
This chapter discusses when and how to create a container.
When to create a container
Segments and disks can be combined to form a container. Containers allow
you to combine
storage objects and then subdivide those combined storage objects
into new storage objects. You can
combine storage objects to implement the volume group concept
as found in the AIX and Linux logical volume managers.
Containers are the beginning of more flexible
volume management. You might want to create a container in order to account for flexibility in your future storage needs. For example, you might
need to add additional disks when your applications or users need more storage.
Example: create a container
This section provides a detailed explanation of how to create a container with EVMS by providing instructions
to help you complete the following task.
Create "Sample Container"
Given a system with three available disk drives
(sdc, sdd, hdc),
use the EVMS LVM Region Manager to combine these disk drives into a
container called "Sample Container" with a PE size of 16 MB.
Using the EVMS GUI
To create a container using the EVMS GUI, follow these steps:
Select
Actions
Create
Container
to see a list plug-ins that support container creation.
Select the
LVM Region Manager. Click
Next.
The next dialog window contains a list of storage objects
that the LVM Region Manager can use to create a container.
Select sdc, sdd, and
hdc from the list. Click
Next.
Enter the name Sample Container
for the container and 16MB in the
PE size field.
Click
Create.
A window opens to display the
outcome.
Using Ncurses
To create a container using the Ncurses interface, follow these
steps:
Select Actions
CreateContainer
to see a list of plug-ins that support container creation.
Select the
LVM Region Manager. Activate
Next.
The next dialog window contains a list
of storage objects that the LVM Region Manager can use to
create the container.
Select sdc, sdd, and
hdc from the list. Activate
Next.
Press spacebar to select the field for
the container name.
Type Sample Container at the "::" prompt. Press
Enter.
Scroll down until PE Size is highlighted.
Press spacebar.
Scroll down until 16MB is highlighted.
Press spacebar.
Activate OK.
Activate Create.
Using the CLI
The Create command
creates containers. The first argument
in the Create command is the type of object to
produce, in this case a container. The
Create command then accepts
the following arguments: the region manager to
use along with any parameters it might need, and
the segments or disks to create the container
from. The command to complete the previous example is:
Create:Container,LvmRegMgr={name="Sample Container",pe_size=16MB},sdc,sdd,hdc
The previous example accepts the default values for all options
you don't specify. To see the options for this command type:
query:plugins,plugin=LvmRegMgr,list options