Storage Management

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Storage Management

In this lab, we’re going to go over managing and formatting partitions. Having a solid understanding of how to use these tools is a fundamental component of a Linux sysadmin career. *This course is not approved or sponsored by Red Hat.*

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Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Sep 17, 2025

Duration

1h 0m

Challenge

Create a 2 GB GPT Partition
1. Create the partition:
  
  gdisk /dev/nvme1n1
2. Enter n to create a new partition.
3. Accept the default for the partition number.
4. Accept the default for the starting sector.
5. For the ending sector, enter +2G to create a 2 GB partition.
6. Accept the default partition type.
7. Enter w to write the partition information.
8. Enter y to proceed.
9. Finalize the settings:
  
  partprobe
Challenge

Create a 2 GB MBR Partition
1. Create the partition:
```
```
fdisk /dev/nvme2n1
```
```
1. Enter n to create a new partition.
2. Accept the default partition type.
3. Accept the default for the partition number.
4. Accept the default for the starting sector.
5. For the ending sector, type +2G to create a 2 GB partition.
6. Enter w to write the partition information.
7. Finalize the settings:
  
  partprobe
Challenge

Format the GPT Partition with XFS and Mount the Device persistently
1. Format the partition:
  
  mkfs.xfs /dev/nvme1n1p1
Getting It Ready for Mounting
1. Run the following:
  
  blkid
2. Copy the UUID of the partition at /dev/nvme1n1p1.
3. Open the /etc/fstab file:
  
  vim /etc/fstab
4. Add the following, replacing <UUID> with the UUID you just copied:
  
  UUID="<UUID>" /mnt/gptxfs xfs defaults 0 0
5. Save and exit the file by pressing Escape followed by :wq.
Create a Mount Point
1. Create the mount point we specified in fstab:
  
  mkdir /mnt/gptxfs
2. Mount everything that's described in fstab:
  
  mount -a
Challenge

Format the MBR Partition with ext4 and Mount the Device.
Format the MBR Partition with ext4 and Mount the Device on /mnt/mbrext4
1. Format the partition:
  
  mkfs.ext4 /dev/nvme2n1p1
Create a Mount Point
1. Create the mount point:
  
  mkdir /mnt/mbrext4
2. Mount it:
  
  mount /dev/nvme2n1p1 /mnt/mbrext4
3. Check that it's mounted:
  
  mount
  
  The partition should be listed in the output.
4. Mount the disk:
  
  mount /dev/nvme2n1p1 /mnt/mbrext4

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