Add disk slice, live?

I have a drive used exclusively by Informix for raw chunks. It contains the rootdbs as well as general table dbspace. It also has some totally unused space. "Totally", as in not even any slice defined for the cylinders in question. I would like to modify the disk label (the disk partition table) to define a new slice over that unused space. If I modify the disk label to accomplish this, I would, of course, overwrite the existing partition table, but with the exact same partitioning for the slices that currently already exists. Only the newly created slice would be different from the existing disk label. Is there danger in doing this while Informix is online? Thank you. DG

This operation SHOULD be fine, but that may depend on the particular partitioning package and how it works. I would verify this with whatever vendor provides the partitioning package. Obviously I would also make sure that I have a current archive and logical logs backed up to date before attempting to build the new partition, even if everyone tells you it's OK. Good DBAs are paranoid DBAs, and you are showing a healthy paranoia just asking the question here. B^) Art Art S. Kagel, President and Principal Consultant ASK Database Management www.askdbmgt.com Blog: http://informix-myview.blogspot.com/ Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that my own opinions are my own opinions and do not reflect on the IIUG, nor any other organization with which I am associated either explicitly, implicitly, or by inference. Neither do those opinions reflect those of other individuals affiliated with any entity with which I am affiliated nor those of the entities themselves. On Mon, Aug 29, 2016 at 2:39 PM, DAVID GROVE <david.grove@alaska.gov> wrote: > I have a drive used exclusively by Informix for raw chunks. It contains the > rootdbs as well as general table dbspace. It also has some totally unused > space. "Totally", as in not even any slice defined for the cylinders in > question. > > I would like to modify the disk label (the disk partition table) to define > a > new slice over that unused space. If I modify the disk label to accomplish > this, I would, of course, overwrite the existing partition table, but with > the > exact same partitioning for the slices that currently already exists. Only > the > newly created slice would be different from the existing disk label. > > Is there danger in doing this while Informix is online? > > Thank you. > > DG > > > ************************************************************ > ******************* > Forum Note: Use "Reply" to post a response in the discussion forum. > > --94eb2c0b17a8df226e053b3a53fb

Thank you, Art. Good idea... I'll run it by Oracle tech support (the partitioning would be via Solaris 'format' command). DG

Maybe it would be better to try it as an actual experiment. I can interrupt the mirror, and try it. The only thing is that I don't know that a success in a nearly quiescent system would mean success in a loaded system. Still, if it crashes, I will definitely know that I should schedule it for a maintenance window, eh. DG

Like Art, I think this will go fine, but wouldn't be trying it at a bust time or without a full Level 0 archive. Moving forward you could move to the Solaris LVM which, while a bit dated, is a safe and reliable way of managing disk partitions.