Novell Doc: NW 6.5 SP8: NSS File System Administration Guide - Using Linux POSIX File Systems and NSS Pools and Volumes on the Same Device

D.2 Using Linux POSIX File Systems and NSS Pools and Volumes on the Same Device

You can use the free space on devices for NSS or Linux POSIX file systems by using EVMS to manage devices. Consider the guidelines below when working with EVMS-managed devices.

When you use NSS tools to create a pool on a new EVMS-managed device, the tools automatically carve out a partition with the DOS Segment Manager so that the device can be used later for either NSS or Linux POSIX file systems. Then the NetWare Segment Manager creates the NSS partition and pool.

IMPORTANT:Always use NSS tools (NSSMU and the Storage plug-in to iManager) to create NSS pools.

For EVMS-managed data devices, Linux POSIX file systems require that the Linux partitions be managed by the DOS Segment Manager (DOSSegMgr). Consider the following guidelines when working with evmsgui to create a Linux partition:

Scenario	To create the Linux partition in evmsgui:
Disk is not initialized.	Select No at the prompt to initialize. On a pure SLES system (no NSS), ignore this step. Delete the disk object from the Volumes tab. Add the DOS Segment Manager to the device. Create the Linux partition as usual.
Free space is controlled by the DOS Segment Manager.	Create the Linux partition as usual.
Free space is controlled by the NetWare Segment Manager.	Do one of the following: If no partitions are on the device, remove the NetWare Segment Manager from the device, add the DOS Segment Manager, then create the partition as usual. WARNING:Changing the segment manager initializes the disk again (destroys existing data), so you only want to do this with disks that have no partitions on it, or if you do not want any of the partitions that are currently on the disk. If partitions exist, reboot the server to automatically give control of the device back to the DOS Segment Manager, then create the partition as usual.

If no partitions are on the device, do the following to add a DOS Segment Manager to a non-clustered device:

Log in as the root user, open a terminal console, then enter
```
evmsgui
```
WARNING:EVMS administration utilities (evms, evmsgui, and evmsn) should not be running when they are not being used. EVMS utilities lock the EVMS engine, which prevents other EVMS-related actions from being performed. This affects both NSS and Linux POSIX volume actions.

NSS and Linux POSIX volume cluster resources should not be migrated while any of the EVMS administration utilities are running.
If necessary, remove the NetWare Segment Manager:
1. Click the Disks tab, then locate and select the device, such as device sdb.
2. Right-click, then select Remove segment manager from Object.
  
  This option appears only if there is an existing segment manager for the selected disk.
3. Select the listed segment manager, click Remove, then click OK.
  
  WARNING:All data on the selected disk space is destroyed.
4. Click Save, then click Save again to save your changes.
Add the DOS Segment Manager.
1. From the evmsgui menu, click Actions > Add > Segment Manager to Storage Object.
2. On the Add Segment Manager to Storage Object page, choose DOS Segment Manager, then click Next.
3. On the Select Plugin Acceptable Objects page, choose the device where you want to add the segment manager, then click Next.
4. On the Configurable Options page, select the disk type (Linux is the default), click Add, then click OK.
5. Click Save, then click Save again to save your changes.
Create a segment for the DOS Segment Manager.

The DOS Segment Manager requires you to create a segment before creating an EVMS volume. Without a segment, the additional segment manager does not appear when you attempt to create an EVMS volume.
1. From the evmsgui menu, click Actions > Create > Segment.
2. On the Create Disk Segment page, select DOS Segment Manager, then click Next.
3. On the Select Plugin Acceptable Objects page, choose device where you want to add the segment, then click Next.
4. Specify the size of the segment, the partition type (such as Linux LVM), click Create, then click OK.
5. Click Save, then click Save again to save your changes.

For information about adding or changing segment managers when you are clustering a shared device with Novell Cluster Services, see Creating Linux POSIX Volumes on Shared Disks in the OES 2 SP2: Novell Cluster Services 1.8.7 for Linux Administration Guide.