mkvg [ -d MaximumPhysicalVolumes ] [ -B ] [ -C ] [ -G ] [ -f ] [ -i ] [ -c ] [ -x ] [ -L LTGSize ] [ -m MaxPvSize ] [ -n ] [ -s Size ] [ -t factor ] [ -V MajorNumber ] [ -y VolumeGroup ] PhysicalVolume ...
Note: The -d and -m flags are not supported when creating a big vg format volume group.
The mkvg command creates a new volume group, using the physical volumes represented by the PhysicalVolume parameter. After creating the volume group, the mkvg command automatically varies on the new volume group using the varyonvg command. The exception to this fact is when the volume group is created with the -c flag. When the volume group is successfully created, the volume group will not be varied on automatically. Instead, the user must manually varyon the volume group.
The mkvg command by default creates a volume group which can accommodate 255 logical volumes and 32 physical volumes (disks). These limits can be extended to 512 logical volumes and 128 physical volumes by specifying the -B flag.
MAXPVS 32 (128 if -B flag is used)
Warning: If a big volume is created with the -B option, it cannot be imported into AIX 4.3.1 or lower versions.
Notes:
- The physical volume is checked to verify that it is not already in another volume group. If the system believes the physical volume belongs to a volume group that is varied on, it exits. But if the system detects a description area from a volume group that is not varied on, it prompts the user for confirmation in continuing with the command. The previous contents of the physical volume are lost, so the user must be cautious when using the override function.
- To use this command, you must either have root user authority or be a member of the system group.
- For disks greater that 4GB, make sure that the Physical Partition Size -s) is set to a large enough value so that 1016 physical partitions per PV limit is not violated. The default value, 4MB, along with the default maximum number of physical partitions (1016), a disk up to 4GB can only be accommodated. Or use large enough factor value (-t) such that (factor x 1016) is greater than the number of partitions that would need to be created with given partition size and disk size. For example, a partition size of at least 16M would be needed to create a volume group with a 10G disk. Or with at factor size of 2, a smaller partition size of 8Meg can be used. However, this limits the total number of disks that can be added to the volume group. If a factor value is used, a maximum of MAXPVS/factor disks can be included in the volume group.
- After AIX 4.1, whenever you create a volume group, the operating system automatically does a varyon. However if you create a volume group with the -c flag, the system will not autovaryon the volume group at the end of the Concurrent Capable volume group creation. Instead, the mkvg command notifies you to manually varyonvg the volume group in either non-concurrent or concurrent mode.
You can use the Volumes application in Web-based System Manager (wsm) to change volume characteristics. You could also use the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) smit mkvg fast path to run this command.
| -B | Creates a big vg format volume group. This can accommodate up to 128 physical volumes and 512 logical volumes. |
| -c | Creates a Concurrent Capable or Enhanced Concurrent Capable volume
group. Only use the -c flag with the HACMP or HACMP
ES. It has no effect on volume groups and systems not using these HACMP
products.
A Concurrent Capable volume group is only supported on Serial DASD and SSA disks. The Enhanced Concurrent Capable volume group is supported for all other disk types.
Notes: |
| -C | Creates an Enhanced Concurrent Capable volume group. Only use the
-C flag with the HACMP ES. It is not usable on volume groups
and systems not using the HACMP ES product.
Use this flag to create an Enhanced Concurrent Capable volume group containing Serial DASD or SSA disks.
Notes: |
| -d MaximumPhysicalVolumes | Estimates the maximum number of physical volumes contained in the volume
group. The default is 32; a smaller number reduces physical volume
space overhead.
Note: This flag is not supported when creating a big vg format volume group. |
| -f | Forces the volume group to be created on the specified physical volume unless the physical volume is part of another volume group in the Device Configuration Database or a volume group that is active. |
| -G | Similar to -B flag except that disk space that can accommodate up to 1024 physical volumes will be reserved at the beginning of the disk. Use this flag if this volume group may ever need be expanded to include more than 128 physical volumes. |
| -i | Reads the PhysicalVolume parameter from standard input. |
| -L LTGSize | Sets the logical track group size, in number of kilobytes, of the volume group. The value of the LTGSize parameter must be 128, 256, 512, or 1024. In addition, it should be less than or equal to the maximum transfer size of all disks in the volume group. The default size is 128 kilobytes. |
| -m MaxPvSize | Specifies the maximum size of the physical volume. When this flag
is used, the number of physical partitions is calculated based on the size of
the physical volume. If this flag is not specified, then 1016 physical
partitions are assumed.
Note: This flag is not supported when creating a big vg format volume group. |
| -n | Specifies that the volume group is not automatically available during a system restart. The default value activates the volume group automatically. |
| -s Size | Sets the number of megabytes in each physical partition, where the Size variable is expressed in units of megabytes from 1 through 1024. The Size variable must be equal to a power of 2 (example 1, 2, 4, 8). The default value is 4 megabytes. |
| -t [factor] | Changes the limit of the number of physical partitions per physical
volume, specified by factor. factor should be
between 1 and 16 for 32 disk volume groups and 1 and 64 for 128 disk volume
groups.
If factor is not supplied, it is set to the lowest value such that the number of physical partitions of the largest disk in volume group is less than factor x 1016. If factor is specified, the maximum number of physical partitions per physical volume for this volume group changes to factor x 1016.
Notes: |
| -V MajorNumber | Specifies the major number of the volume group that is created. |
| -x | Specifies to varyon automatically in Concurrent mode a Concurrent Capable
volume group set to varyon automatically during a system restart. This
flag has no meaning on systems which do not have the HACMP product
installed. This flag only applies to AIX 4.2 or later.
Note: There is no auto on support for Enhanced Concurrent Capable volume groups.
In order for this auto-varyon into concurrency of the volume group to take effect, you must enter the following line into the /etc/inittab file: rc_clvmv:2:wait:/usr/sbin/clvm_cfg 2>&1
Attention: This entry must be added after the entry used to initiate srcmstr. |
| -y VolumeGroup | Specifies the volume group name rather than having the name generated
automatically. Volume group names must be unique system wide and can
range from 1 to 15 characters. The name cannot begin with a prefix
already defined in the PdDv class in the Device Configuration
database for other devices. The volume group name created is sent to
standard output.
The volume group name can only contain the following characters: "A" through "Z," "a" through "z," "0" through "9," or "_" (the underscore), "-" (the minus sign), or "." (the period). All other characters are considered invalid. |
To create a volume group that
contains three physical volumes with partition size set to 1 megabyte,
enter:
mkvg -s 1 hdisk3 hdisk5 hdisk6
The volume group is created with an automatically generated name, which is displayed and available at system restart time.
mkvg -s 2 -t 2 -y newvg hdisk1
The volume group newvg is created with a physical partition size of 2Meg and maximum number of physical partitions per physical volume of 2032. The above configuration means that the size of hdisk1 could not be larger than 4064Meg (2032*2)
The chvg command, lsvg command, varyonvg command.
The Logical Volume Storage Overview in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System Management Concepts: Operating System and Devices.
For information on installing the Web-based System Manager, see Chapter 2: Installation and System Requirements in AIX 5L Version 5.1 Web-based System Manager Administration Guide.
The System Management Interface Tool (SMIT) Overview in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System Management Concepts: Operating System and Devices.