Re: converting a whole disk to a partition disk

[Andrew Clausen]

Glenn McGrath wrote:
> 
> Im pretty sure its possible use an ide disk as a whole disk (e.g. hda)
> instead of a partitioned disk (e.g hda1) as is normally the case.
> 
> If a whole disk is created and formated, anyone know of a way to convert
> it no destructively to a partitioned disk, parted doesnt handle this at
> the moment does it ?

It is possible to do this with parted.  But it's not pretty.

> In theory it wouldnt be too hard to do, the fs on the whole disk could
> be shrunk and move clear of the partition table and other reserved space
> (moved past sector 63 or whatever), then make a correct partition entry
> for the fs that was moved.

Yes.  In practise you can do this, too.  For 63 sectors/head:

        # parted /dev/hda
        (parted) resize 1 0.031 XXX
        (parted) mklabel msdos
        (parted) select /dev/hda
        hda:
        (parted) mkpart primary FS 0.031 XXX
 
> I guess if the start of ext2 partitions cant be moved it would mean it
> would only work for fat fs's

Yes.

> Sound liek a good idea ?

Yes.

More important (IMHO): converting partitions into LVM physical volumes
(optionally adding to an existing VG...) with the original file system
as a logical volume.

Andrew Clausen