Drive Management

Utilities

lsblk: List information about block devices
df: Report file system disk space usage
sgdisk: Command-line GUID partition table (GPT) manipulator for Linux and Unix
fdisk: Manipulate disk partition table
parted: GNU Parted - a partition manipulation program

Print Drive Information

Using sgdisk --print <device>

[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# sgdisk --print /dev/nvme0n1
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 3125627568 sectors, 1.5 TiB
Model: MZXL51T6HBJR-000H3
Sector size (logical/physical): 512/512 bytes
Disk identifier (GUID): EF3781EC-7B13-453B-9651-FE12C5375137
Partition table holds up to 128 entries
Main partition table begins at sector 2 and ends at sector 33
First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 3125627534
Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
Total free space is 2967095917 sectors (1.4 TiB)

Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name
   1            2048         1230847   600.0 MiB   EF00  EFI System Partition
   2         1230848         3327999   1024.0 MiB  8300
   3         3328000       158533631   74.0 GiB    8E00

Using fdisk --list <device>

[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# fdisk --list /dev/nvme0n1
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 1.5 TiB, 1600321314816 bytes, 3125627568 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: EF3781EC-7B13-453B-9651-FE12C5375137

Device           Start       End   Sectors  Size Type
/dev/nvme0n1p1    2048   1230847   1228800  600M EFI System
/dev/nvme0n1p2 1230848   3327999   2097152    1G Linux filesystem
/dev/nvme0n1p3 3328000 158533631 155205632   74G Linux LVM

Using lsblk

[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# lsblk
NAME        MAJ:MIN RM  SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sr0          11:0    1  2.1G  0 rom
nvme2n1     259:0    0  1.5T  0 disk
nvme0n1     259:1    0  1.5T  0 disk
├─nvme0n1p1 259:5    0  600M  0 part /boot/efi
├─nvme0n1p2 259:6    0    1G  0 part /boot
└─nvme0n1p3 259:7    0   74G  0 part
  ├─rl-root 253:0    0   70G  0 lvm  /
  └─rl-swap 253:1    0    4G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
nvme4n1     259:2    0  1.5T  0 disk
└─nvme4n1p1 259:8    0  100G  0 part
nvme3n1     259:3    0  1.5T  0 disk
nvme1n1     259:4    0  1.5T  0 disk

Clear/Delete Partitions

Whenever deleting partitions make sure to either reboot or run partprobe to inform the kernel of the partition changes.

Using sgdisk --zap-all <device>: zap (destroy) all GPT and MBR data structures

[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# sgdisk --zap-all /dev/nvme4n1
GPT data structures destroyed! You may now partition the disk using fdisk or
other utilities.

Using sgdisk --delete <partnum> <device>, delete the second partition on the /dev/nvme4n1 drive

[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# sgdisk --delete 2 /dev/nvme4n1
The operation has completed successfully.

Create Partitions

Whenever creating partitions make sure to either reboot or run partprobe to inform the kernel of the partition changes.

Using sgdisk, create a new partition on the /dev/nvme0n1 drive, converting MBR partitions to GPT, 0 MiB from the last partition’s end, 100 GiB in size, change the partition label from 2 to dpapi
```
[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# sgdisk --mbrtogpt --randomize-guids --new 2:+0M:+100G --change-name 2:dpapi /dev/nvme4n1
Setting name!
partNum is 1
The operation has completed successfully.
```

This creates an entry /dev/disk/by-partlabel/dpapi → /dev/nvme0n1p2.

Using fdisk /dev/nvme0n4, an interactive CLI, create a new GPT partition table, and a single partition of size 100 GiB

[root@mawenzi-06 ~]# fdisk /dev/nvme4n1

Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.32.1).
Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.

Device does not contain a recognized partition table.
Created a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0xcfa29f92.

Command (m for help): g
Created a new GPT disklabel (GUID: EAA1BB8B-AF62-C948-9332-376F905FE637).

Command (m for help): n
Partition number (1-128, default 1): 1
First sector (2048-3125627534, default 2048): 2048
Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-3125627534, default 3125627534): +100G

Created a new partition 1 of type 'Linux filesystem' and of size 100 GiB.

Command (m for help): p
Disk /dev/nvme4n1: 1.5 TiB, 1600321314816 bytes, 3125627568 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: EAA1BB8B-AF62-C948-9332-376F905FE637

Device         Start       End   Sectors  Size Type
/dev/nvme4n1p1  2048 209717247 209715200  100G Linux filesystem

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered.
Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.