I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

mkvg
-y vgname
-s ppsize in MB (I use -s 1024, but therer’re cases where other numbers make sense)
-S | -B | (not specified) is the VG type (scaleable | Big | default) — this has to do with how many volumes (PVs) you’re going to have in the VG

so, I added 24 TB filesystem today creating a scaleable vg
mkvg -y myvgname -S -s 1024 hdisk1 hdisk2 hdisk3 … whatever your disk names are
mklv -t jfs2 -ex -y mylv_name myvgname 24000
crfs -v jfs2 -d mylv_name -m /myfs_name -A yes -a logname=INLINE
chmod 555 /myfs_name
mount /myfs_name

This is obviously just an example off the top of my head, everything you do, you need to consider your needs and standards…


Original Message:
Sent: 8/9/2022 9:38:00 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Tom,

Thanks for the example.  It cleared up some of my issues.

------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 08:12 PM
From: Tom McGivern
Subject: Creating a new VG

mkvg
-y vgname
-s ppsize in MB (I use -s 1024, but therer're cases where other numbers make sense)
-S | -B | (not specified) is the VG type (scaleable | Big | default) - this has to do with how many volumes (PVs) you're going to have in the VG

so, I added 24 TB filesystem today creating a scaleable vg
mkvg -y myvgname -S -s 1024 hdisk1 hdisk2 hdisk3 … whatever your disk names are
mklv -t jfs2 -ex -y mylv_name myvgname 24000
crfs -v jfs2 -d mylv_name -m /myfs_name -A yes -a logname=INLINE
chmod 555 /myfs_name
mount /myfs_name

This is obviously just an example off the top of my head, everything you do, you need to consider your needs and standards…


Original Message:
Sent: 8/9/2022 9:38:00 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 8/9/2022 9:38:00 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Grover,

Thanks for the references.  I do have the second book but didn't know if there was anything current.

------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Wed August 10, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Grover Davidson
Subject: Creating a new VG

Hello Michael,

 

The BEST references I have ever seen for LVM are:

 

https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg245432.html

 

And

 

https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg245433.pdf

 

Yes, they are old. But these books very clearly explain the fundamentals of LVM. They do not cover many of the options that are available now, but the fundamentals are still the same.

 

 

 

Sent from Mail for Windows

 

Original Message:
Sent: 8/9/2022 9:38:00 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 8/10/2022 9:39:00 AM
From: Grover Davidson
Subject: RE: Creating a new VG

Hello Michael,

 

The BEST references I have ever seen for LVM are:

 

https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg245432.html

 

And

 

https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg245433.pdf

 

Yes, they are old. But these books very clearly explain the fundamentals of LVM. They do not cover many of the options that are available now, but the fundamentals are still the same.

 

 

 

Sent from Mail for Windows

 

Original Message:
Sent: 8/9/2022 9:38:00 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

You've had some good replies so far.  Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command.  That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

I just reread the original question and it dawned on me, do you really need a new VG?

there are pros and cons to a deprecate VG, but more cons than pros IMHO.  Would you mind sharing how your disks are currently laid out?

adding space to a system, if you ever want to extend an existing file system, then the disk needs to be in the same VG

so if your new, and looking into mkvg, you need to also look into extendvg

tom

------------------------------
Tom McGivern
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 02:28 AM
From: Carlo Castillo
Subject: Creating a new VG

You've had some good replies so far.  Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command.  That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

I am familiar with extendvg and have used it in the past.  As I had never created a VG, I wanted to make sure the VG was the proper size when I created it if possible.  I'm good and have created the VG and everything is functioning well.  

Thanks again for the reply.

------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 03:42 AM
From: Tom McGivern
Subject: Creating a new VG

I just reread the original question and it dawned on me, do you really need a new VG?

there are pros and cons to a deprecate VG, but more cons than pros IMHO.  Would you mind sharing how your disks are currently laid out?

adding space to a system, if you ever want to extend an existing file system, then the disk needs to be in the same VG

so if your new, and looking into mkvg, you need to also look into extendvg

tom

------------------------------
Tom McGivern

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 02:28 AM
From: Carlo Castillo
Subject: Creating a new VG

You've had some good replies so far.  Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command.  That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

This is good to study. Storage geometry is very important for
performance and maintainability. I have a customer right now with a VG
that can no longer expand due to poor geometry, and it's causing
issues. We'd have to take an outage and rebuild/restore to fix it.

Consider it carefully. Study what the LVM can do. Review the
application requirements and what the SAN can offer.

Never shy away from SMIT. Even seasoned admins use SMIT because it's
faster than looking up flags you only use on occasion, plus it has the
benefit of doing some checking to help make sure you're doing the
right thing.

Good luck!

On Fri, Aug 12, 2022 at 11:41:49AM +0000, Michael Garczynski via IBM Community wrote:
> I am familiar with extendvg and have used it in the past. As I had never created a VG, I wanted to make sure the VG was the proper size when I created it if possible. I'm good and have created the VG and everything is functioning well.
>
> Thanks again for the reply.
>
> ------------------------------
> Michael Garczynski
> Director - SAP Architecture
> DAP Products
> ------------------------------
> -------------------------------------------
> Original Message:
> Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 03:42 AM
> From: Tom McGivern
> Subject: Creating a new VG
>
> I just reread the original question and it dawned on me, do you really need a new VG?
>
> there are pros and cons to a deprecate VG, but more cons than pros IMHO. Would you mind sharing how your disks are currently laid out?
>
> adding space to a system, if you ever want to extend an existing file system, then the disk needs to be in the same VG
>
> so if your new, and looking into mkvg, you need to also look into extendvg
>
> tom
>
> ------------------------------
> Tom McGivern
> ------------------------------
>
> Original Message:
> Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 02:28 AM
> From: Carlo Castillo
> Subject: Creating a new VG
>
> You've had some good replies so far. Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command. That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.
>
> ------------------------------
> Carlo Castillo
>
> Original Message:
> Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
> From: Michael Garczynski
> Subject: Creating a new VG
>
> I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG. Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV. I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
> I used the command to make the VG
> mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0
>
> I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume.
> Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
> /dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS
>
> I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Michael Garczynski
> Director - SAP Architecture
> DAP Products
> ------------------------------
>
>
> Reply to Sender : https://community.ibm.com/community/user/eGroups/PostReply?GroupId=6049&MID=264367&SenderKey=358914ec-a8e6-4746-a9e9-ee380e8df4e1
>
> Reply to Discussion : https://community.ibm.com/community/user/eGroups/PostReply?GroupId=6049&MID=264367
>
>
>
> You are subscribed to "AIX" as Russell.Adams@AdamsSystems.nl. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.ibm.com/community/user/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to http://community.ibm.com/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=c23dfccc-9910-40ae-beeb-fdcbced5bf1f&sKey=KeyRemoved&GroupKey=7b554d78-d4dc-417a-b4dc-017e309e5c91.


------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell Adams Russell.Adams@AdamsSystems.nl
Principal Consultant Adams Systems Consultancy
https://adamssystems.nl/


Original Message:
Sent: 8/12/2022 7:42:00 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: RE: Creating a new VG

I am familiar with extendvg and have used it in the past.  As I had never created a VG, I wanted to make sure the VG was the proper size when I created it if possible.  I'm good and have created the VG and everything is functioning well.  

Thanks again for the reply.

------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 03:42 AM
From: Tom McGivern
Subject: Creating a new VG

I just reread the original question and it dawned on me, do you really need a new VG?

there are pros and cons to a deprecate VG, but more cons than pros IMHO.  Would you mind sharing how your disks are currently laid out?

adding space to a system, if you ever want to extend an existing file system, then the disk needs to be in the same VG

so if your new, and looking into mkvg, you need to also look into extendvg

tom

------------------------------
Tom McGivern

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 02:28 AM
From: Carlo Castillo
Subject: Creating a new VG

You've had some good replies so far.  Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command.  That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Thanks for the F6 tip with smit.  I try using smit first, but sometimes it's hard to associate the name on the screen with the variable it's changing.  Coming from the IBM i, I was always told real admins use CLI.  hahaha.

------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 02:28 AM
From: Carlo Castillo
Subject: Creating a new VG

You've had some good replies so far.  Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command.  That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------

I'd suggest you open the man page for mkvg side-by-side the SMIT screen so you can more easily follow what each option's corresponding command line switch actually is.  Turn on an option in the SMIT screen, press F6, and see what switch was added to the command.  Then look up the documentation to confirm if you understood it correctly.

Being former OS/400 myself, Control Language and the menu-based structure of the OS has always been an easier time navigating for anyone starting with scratch, I agree!  But AIX can be very configurable, while at the same time be very powerful. :)

Carlo Castillo

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Fri August 12, 2022 07:36 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

Thanks for the F6 tip with smit.  I try using smit first, but sometimes it's hard to associate the name on the screen with the variable it's changing.  Coming from the IBM i, I was always told real admins use CLI.  hahaha.

------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products

Original Message:
Sent: Thu August 11, 2022 02:28 AM
From: Carlo Castillo
Subject: Creating a new VG

You've had some good replies so far.  Another suggestion I would make is that you create your VG by going through SMIT, mess around with the different options before executing, and press F6 frequently so you can see what SMIT is building underneath to execute your command.  That way, you'll get a good idea of what each of those options to the mkvg command are and what they do exactly.

------------------------------
Carlo Castillo

Original Message:
Sent: Tue August 09, 2022 09:38 AM
From: Michael Garczynski
Subject: Creating a new VG

I am adding a 300 GB disk to my AIX server and am creating my first VG.   Is there a document that clearly explains the values PP Size, Total PP's, and Max LV.  I've tried searching various sites and not finding a document which explains the parameters easily.
I used the command to make the VG
mkvg -y CSVG hdisk0

I tried several parameters for the LV and the FS but the end result appears that I am only creating a 50G volume. 
Filesystem GB blocks Free %Used Iused %Iused Mounted on
/dev/CSLV 50.00 49.99 1% 4 1% /CS

I know I can use the chfs to increase the size to what I want, but I was trying to allocate the size at creation. 


------------------------------
Michael Garczynski
Director - SAP Architecture
DAP Products
------------------------------