# Expanding disk space after growing a disk (ext4, xfs, LVM)

https://www.gyrohosting.com/en/knowledgebase/article/gyro-cloud-istanbul-expanding-disk-space

- **What you will learn**: How to make the new space of a disk you grew in the panel usable inside the server, picking the right command for your file system (ext4 or xfs) and layout (partitioned, unpartitioned, LVM).
- **Time**: 8 minutes

## 1. Why are there two stages?

Growing a disk is a two-stage job:

1. **Panel (or API/CLI):** increases the size of the virtual disk. The server sees the new size immediately, but the partition and file system inside stay at the old size.
2. **Inside the server (this guide):** you expand the partition, LVM if used, and the file system to the new size.

An HDD (large storage) additional disk is grown with exactly the same steps.

Good news: expansion is done while the server is **running** (online); you do not need to shut down or unmount. Shrinking is not possible; you can only grow.

> **Warning**
> 
> You **cannot grow a disk while the server has a snapshot.** Delete the snapshots first, grow, then take a snapshot again if you wish. We also recommend backing up important data off the server before growing.

## 2. First, check the situation

After growing in the panel, look at your disk layout on the server:

```
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT
df -hT
```

`lsblk` shows the disk's new size. The layout below it will be one of three kinds:

| What you see | Layout | Section |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `sdb` disk with a partition `sdb1` (`part`) below | Partitioned | 3.1 |
| `sdb` disk formatted/mounted itself, no partition below | Unpartitioned | 3.2 |
| `sdc` with `vg...-lv...` (`lvm`) below | LVM | 3.3 |

If `lsblk` still shows the old size, have the server rescan the disk (replace `X` with the disk name, e.g. `sdb`):

```
echo 1 > /sys/class/block/sdX/device/rescan
lsblk
```

## 3. Expanding the space

### 3.1 Partitioned disk (`sdb1`)

Grow the partition first, then the file system:

```
growpart /dev/sdb 1          # grows partition 1 of disk sdb to the end of the disk
resize2fs /dev/sdb1          # if ext4
# if xfs, use instead: xfs_growfs /mnt/data     (give the mounted folder)
df -h /mnt/data
```

If `growpart` is missing, install `cloud-guest-utils` (Ubuntu/Debian: `apt install cloud-guest-utils`) or `cloud-utils-growpart` (AlmaLinux/Rocky: `dnf install cloud-utils-growpart`). If `growpart` says "NOCHANGE: partition ... cannot be grown", the partition already reaches the end of the disk; go straight to the file system command.

### 3.2 Unpartitioned disk (formatted directly)

With no partition only the file system command is needed:

```
resize2fs /dev/sdb           # if ext4
xfs_growfs /mnt/data         # if xfs (mounted folder)
df -h /mnt/data
```

### 3.3 If you use LVM

Expand the physical volume first, then the logical volume (`-r` grows the file system too):

```
pvresize /dev/sdc
lvextend -r -l +100%FREE /dev/vgdata/lvdata    # take the vg and lv names from your system
df -h /mnt/lvm
```

If you do not know the names run `vgs` and `lvs`. If the disk is partitioned (LVM sits on `sdc1`), first run `growpart /dev/sdc 1`, then `pvresize /dev/sdc1`.

## 4. Growing the root disk

When you upgrade your plan on Gyro Cloud Istanbul, the root disk grows too (disks only grow, never shrink). In most cases the server expands it automatically: when we tested Ubuntu 24.04 and AlmaLinux 9 servers, `lsblk` and `df -h` showed the new size right away and no manual command was needed. Still, check:

```
df -h /
```

If `/` does not show the new size, expand it by hand. Find the root partition number with `lsblk` (e.g. `sda1` on Ubuntu, `sda4` on AlmaLinux):

```
growpart /dev/sda 1          # for AlmaLinux/Rocky usually: growpart /dev/sda 4
resize2fs /dev/sda1          # ext4 (Ubuntu/Debian); use your own root partition number
xfs_growfs /                 # xfs (AlmaLinux/Rocky)
df -h /
```

> **Note**
> 
> The file system type in `df -hT /` tells you which command applies: `ext4` → `resize2fs`, `xfs` → `xfs_growfs`.

## 5. Common problems

**I grew the disk but the space is the same.** `df -h` shows the size of the file system, not the disk; `lsblk` shows the disk size. Compare the two: if `lsblk` shows the new size, the missing piece is the command in Section 3. If `lsblk` also shows the old size, run `echo 1 > /sys/class/block/sdX/device/rescan`, and if that does not help check in the panel that the grow task finished.

**The panel says "delete snapshots" and does not grow.** A disk cannot be grown while the server has a snapshot. Delete the snapshot, grow the disk, take a new snapshot if needed.

**`resize2fs: Bad magic number in super-block` error.** The file system is not ext4 (probably xfs). Check the type with `df -hT` and use `xfs_growfs`.

**`xfs_growfs: ... is not a mounted XFS filesystem` error.** Give `xfs_growfs` the **mounted folder**, not the device (e.g. `xfs_growfs /mnt/data`).

**I want to shrink the disk.** Additional and root disks cannot be shrunk. If you need a smaller space, add a new small disk ([using a disk guide](https://www.gyrohosting.com/en/knowledgebase/article/gyro-cloud-istanbul-using-additional-disk)), move the data and delete the old one. Before deleting, run `umount` and remove the `fstab` line.

**I reinstalled the operating system; my additional disk is gone.** A reinstall deletes additional disks and resets the root disk. Back up important data beforehand.

**Do I need to reboot after expanding?** No. Expansion is done online.

## 6. Frequently asked questions

**Can I lose data while expanding?**

Expanding normally does not affect data, but as with any disk operation we recommend backing up important data first. Shrinking a file system (not possible here) is risky; growing is safe.

**Are the commands the same for additional and root disks?**

Yes; the only difference is the partition and file system names. Check your own layout from `lsblk` and `df -hT`.

**When does the price change after growing?**

A grown disk is charged at its new size from the next hour. See the [additional disk guide](https://www.gyrohosting.com/en/knowledgebase/article/gyro-cloud-istanbul-additional-disks) for details.

**Can I grow several disks at once?**

Yes; grow each in the panel, then run the relevant commands for each on the server in turn.

## Next step

- [Using an additional disk on your server](https://www.gyrohosting.com/en/knowledgebase/article/gyro-cloud-istanbul-using-additional-disk)
- [Adding disks: price and limits](https://www.gyrohosting.com/en/knowledgebase/article/gyro-cloud-istanbul-additional-disks)
- [Plan upgrade](https://www.gyrohosting.com/en/knowledgebase/article/gyro-cloud-istanbul-resize-and-hostname)