Extending Disk Partitions and File Systems (Windows Server 2008)

Scenarios

After a disk has been expanded on the management console, the disk size is enlarged, but the additional space cannot be used directly.

In Windows, you must allocate the additional space to an existing partition or a new partition.

This section uses Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise 64bit as the sample OS to describe the expansion methods:

The method for allocating the additional space varies with the server OS. This section is used for reference only. For detailed operations and differences, see the corresponding OS documents.

Important

Performing the expansion operations with caution. Incorrect operations may lead to data loss or exceptions. So you are advised to back up the disk data using CBR or snapshots before expansion. For details about using CBR, see Managing EVS Backups. For details about using snapshots, see Creating a Snapshot.

Prerequisites

System Disk: Add Additional Space to Volume (C:)

In this example, the system disk has 50 GiB originally, and 22 GiB is added on the management console. The following procedure describes how to add this 22 GiB to volume (C:) on the server. After the operation is complete, volume (C:) will have 72 GiB of capacity and can be used as a system volume.

  1. On the desktop of the server, right-click Computer and choose Manage from the shortcut menu.

    The Server Manager window is displayed.

  2. In the navigation tree, choose Storage > Disk Management.

    The Disk Management window is displayed.

    **Figure 1** Disk Management (system disk)

    Figure 1 Disk Management (system disk)

    Note

    If you cannot view the additional space, right-click Disk Management and choose Refresh from the shortcut menu.

  3. On the Disk Management page, select the disk and volume that you want to extend. The current volume size and unallocated space are displayed.

  4. Right-click the target volume and choose Extend Volume.

    **Figure 2** Choosing **Extend Volume**

    Figure 2 Choosing Extend Volume

  5. On the displayed Extend Volume Wizard window, click Next.

    **Figure 3** Extend Volume Wizard

    Figure 3 Extend Volume Wizard

  6. In the text box to the right of Select the amount of space in MB, enter the amount of the additional space and click Next.

    **Figure 4** Selecting space

    Figure 4 Selecting space

  7. Click Finish.

    After the expansion succeeded, the partition size is larger than the original size.

    **Figure 5** Capacity expansion succeeded

    Figure 5 Capacity expansion succeeded

System Disk: Create New Volume (F:) with Additional Space

In this example, the system disk has 40 GiB originally, and 60 GiB is added on the management console. The following procedure describes how to use this 60 GiB to create a new volume, for example volume (F:), on the server. After the operation is complete, new volume (F:) has 60 GiB of capacity and can be used as a data volume.

  1. On the desktop of the server, right-click Computer and choose Manage from the shortcut menu.

    The Server Manager window is displayed.

  2. In the navigation tree, choose Storage > Disk Management.

    The Disk Management window is displayed.

    **Figure 6** Refresh (system disk)

    Figure 6 Refresh (system disk)

  3. If you cannot view the additional space, right-click Disk Management and choose Refresh from the shortcut menu.

    After the refresh, the additional space is displayed in the right area and is unallocated.

    **Figure 7** Unallocated disk space (system disk)

    Figure 7 Unallocated disk space (system disk)

  4. In the Unallocated area of Disk 0, right-click the blank area and choose New Simple Volume.

    **Figure 8** New Simple Volume (system disk)

    Figure 8 New Simple Volume (system disk)

  5. On the displayed New Simple Volume Wizard window, click Next.

    **Figure 9** New Simple Volume Wizard (system disk)

    Figure 9 New Simple Volume Wizard (system disk)

  6. On the displayed Specify Volume Size page, set Simple volume size in MB and click Next. In this example, the default size is used.

    **Figure 10** Specify Volume Size (system disk)

    Figure 10 Specify Volume Size (system disk)

  7. On the displayed Assign Drive Letter and Path page, click Assign the following drive letter, select a drive letter, and click Next. In this example, drive letter F is selected.

    **Figure 11** Assign Driver Letter or Path (system disk)

    Figure 11 Assign Driver Letter or Path (system disk)

  8. On the displayed Format Partition page, click Format this volume with the following settings, set parameters based on the requirements, and select Perform a quick format. Then, click Next.

    **Figure 12** Format Partition (system disk)

    Figure 12 Format Partition (system disk)

  9. Click Finish.

    After the expansion succeeded, new volume (F:) is displayed.

    **Figure 13** Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard (new volume F:)

    Figure 13 Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard (new volume F:)

    **Figure 14** New Volume (F:)

    Figure 14 New Volume (F:)

Data Disk: Add Additional Space to Volume (D:)

In this example, the data disk has 100 GiB originally, and 50 GiB is added on the management console. The following procedure describes how to add this 50 GiB to volume (D:) on the server. After the operation is complete, volume (D:) has 150 GiB of capacity and can be used as a data volume.

  1. On the desktop of the server, right-click Computer and choose Manage from the shortcut menu.

    The Server Manager window is displayed.

  2. In the navigation tree, choose Storage > Disk Management.

    The Disk Management window is displayed.

    **Figure 15** Disk Management (data disk)

    Figure 15 Disk Management (data disk)

    Note

    If you cannot view the additional space, right-click Disk Management and choose Refresh from the shortcut menu.

  3. On the Disk Management page, select the disk and volume that you want to extend. The current volume size and unallocated space are displayed.

  4. Right-click the target volume and choose Extend Volume.

    **Figure 16** Choosing Extend Volume (Windows Server 2008)

    Figure 16 Choosing Extend Volume (Windows Server 2008)

  5. On the displayed Extend Volume Wizard window, click Next.

    **Figure 17** Extend Volume Wizard (Windows Server 2008)

    Figure 17 Extend Volume Wizard (Windows Server 2008)

  6. In the text box to the right of Select the amount of space in MB, enter the amount of the additional space and click Next.

    **Figure 18** Selecting space (Windows Server 2008)

    Figure 18 Selecting space (Windows Server 2008)

  7. Click Finish.

    After the expansion succeeded, the partition size is larger than the original size.

    **Figure 19** Capacity expansion succeeded (Windows Server 2008)

    Figure 19 Capacity expansion succeeded (Windows Server 2008)

Data Disk: Create New Volume (E:) with Additional Space

In this example, the data disk has 40 GiB originally, and 60 GiB is added on the management console. The following procedure describes how to use this 60 GiB to create a new volume, for example volume (E:), on the server. After the operation is complete, new volume (E:) has 60 GiB of capacity and can be used as a data volume.

  1. On the desktop of the server, right-click Computer and choose Manage from the shortcut menu.

    The Server Manager window is displayed.

  2. In the navigation tree, choose Storage > Disk Management.

    The Disk Management window is displayed.

    **Figure 20** Refresh (data disk)

    Figure 20 Refresh (data disk)

  3. If you cannot view the additional space, right-click Disk Management and choose Refresh from the shortcut menu.

    After the refresh, the additional space is displayed in the right area and is unallocated.

    **Figure 21** Unallocated disk space (data disk)

    Figure 21 Unallocated disk space (data disk)

  4. In the Unallocated area of Disk 1, right-click the blank area and choose New Simple Volume.

    **Figure 22** New Simple Volume (data disk)

    Figure 22 New Simple Volume (data disk)

  5. On the displayed New Simple Volume Wizard window, click Next.

    **Figure 23** New Simple Volume Wizard (data disk)

    Figure 23 New Simple Volume Wizard (data disk)

  6. On the displayed Specify Volume Size page, set Simple volume size in MB and click Next. In this example, the default size is used.

    **Figure 24** Specify Volume Size (data disk)

    Figure 24 Specify Volume Size (data disk)

  7. On the displayed Assign Drive Letter and Path page, click Assign the following drive letter, select a drive letter, and click Next. In this example, drive letter E is selected.

    **Figure 25** Assign Driver Letter or Path (data disk)

    Figure 25 Assign Driver Letter or Path (data disk)

  8. On the displayed Format Partition page, click Format this volume with the following settings, set parameters based on the requirements, and select Perform a quick format. Then, click Next.

    **Figure 26** Format Partition (data disk)

    Figure 26 Format Partition (data disk)

  9. Click Finish.

    After the expansion succeeded, new volume (E:) is displayed.

    **Figure 27** Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard (new volume E:)

    Figure 27 Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard (new volume E:)

    **Figure 28** New Volume (E:)

    Figure 28 New Volume (E:)