Discussion:
[linux-lvm] initializing a PV, which was part of an old VG
Alexander Lyakas
2011-10-05 15:20:36 UTC
Permalink
Hello Zdenek,

I am frequently hitting issues when trying to create a new VG on a PV
that had existing VG. (This PV is usually an MD raid0 or raid1
device). I am wondering what is the correct procedure to completely
wipe out any remains of LVM signatures from a PV, and initialize the
PV afresh?

Here is what I do: for each new VG, I use a new GUID as part of its
name, to avoid VG name conflicts.

To try to handle the old VG, the VG creation code first calls
lvm_vg_name_from_device(pv_name). If it founds a VG there and succeeds
to open it, it goes over its LVs, and tries to deactivate them and
then removes them. Finally, the code removes the old VG itself. In
some cases, however, the code fails to open the old VG, so it
proceeds.

Next thing I call pvcreate (fork/exec) to initialize the PV (I always
use --force twice). After this is completed, I do lvm_scan(), because
pvcreate ran in a different context, and I want to refresh the LVM
cache of my process (makes sense?). Finally, I do lvm_vg_create,
lvm_vg_extend, lvm_vg_write.

Sometimes I hit problems like following:

- I want to create a VG named pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA
with a single PV (/dev/md2)
- lvm_vg_name_from_device() returns the name of an old VG:
pool_6A5C57F39FFB4C609D5438D1FCCCDDF0
- lvm_vg_open() fails to open this old VG

- pvcreate(/dev/md2) output:
STDOUT:
Physical volume "/dev/md2" successfully created
STDERR:
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
Writing physical volume data to disk "/dev/md2"

After lvm_scan(),lvm_vg_create(pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA),
lvm_vg_extend(), lvm_vg_write(), the syslog shows:

Wiping cache of LVM-capable devices
get_pv_from_vg_by_id: vg_read_internal failed to read VG
pool_74C7247AE06F4B7DAC557D9A1842EEBD
Adding physical volume '/dev/md2' to volume group
'pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA'
Creating directory "/etc/lvm/archive"
Archiving volume group "pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA"
metadata (seqno 0).

While pool_74C7247AE06F4B7DAC557D9A1842EEBD is yet some other old VG.
At this point the VG seems to be created ok. But later, when I try to
create first LV, syslog shows:

Wiping cache of LVM-capable devices
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
There are 1 physical volumes missing.
Cannot change VG pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA while PVs are missing.
Consider vgreduce --removemissing.

Why does LVM think that my new VG has PVs missing? Probably it thinks
that this PV belongs to another VG? But it looks like LVM agreed to
add the PV to the new VG.
Is there anything else I am missing?

Thanks,
Alex.
Zdenek Kabelac
2011-10-05 19:30:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Hello Zdenek,
I am frequently hitting issues when trying to create a new VG on a PV
that had existing VG. (This PV is usually an MD raid0 or raid1
device). I am wondering what is the correct procedure to completely
wipe out any remains of LVM signatures from a PV, and initialize the
PV afresh?
util-linux comes with wipefs - to wipe fs & raid signatures
pvremove should wipe label of LVM device - so it should not be recognized as PV.

You may try to use blkid to see how is the device recognized.
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Here is what I do: for each new VG, I use a new GUID as part of its
name, to avoid VG name conflicts.
To try to handle the old VG, the VG creation code first calls
lvm_vg_name_from_device(pv_name). If it founds a VG there and succeeds
to open it, it goes over its LVs, and tries to deactivate them and
then removes them. Finally, the code removes the old VG itself. In
some cases, however, the code fails to open the old VG, so it
proceeds.
removal of VG doesn't wipe PV headers
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Next thing I call pvcreate (fork/exec) to initialize the PV (I always
use --force twice). After this is completed, I do lvm_scan(), because
Using -ff is probably a problem here - it's supposed to only used in case you
really need it - it's not a 'nice' option.

So first vgremove the VG which occupies your PVs - then pvremove should work
without -ff.
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Physical volume "/dev/md2" successfully created
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
Writing physical volume data to disk "/dev/md2"
After lvm_scan(),lvm_vg_create(pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA),
Wiping cache of LVM-capable devices
get_pv_from_vg_by_id: vg_read_internal failed to read VG
pool_74C7247AE06F4B7DAC557D9A1842EEBD
Adding physical volume '/dev/md2' to volume group
'pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA'
Creating directory "/etc/lvm/archive"
Archiving volume group "pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA"
metadata (seqno 0).
While pool_74C7247AE06F4B7DAC557D9A1842EEBD is yet some other old VG.
At this point the VG seems to be created ok. But later, when I try to
Wiping cache of LVM-capable devices
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
There are 1 physical volumes missing.
Cannot change VG pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA while PVs are missing.
Consider vgreduce --removemissing.
Have you pvremove-d all PV devices ?

Zdenek
Alexander Lyakas
2011-10-06 08:47:39 UTC
Permalink
Zdenek,

yes, I only had a single PV, and I did pvcreate on it, and then
lvm_scan() from my process.

So you suggest to use first pvremove and then pvcreate? Because
pvcreate I do in any case. So pvcreate alone is not similar to
pvremove followed by pvcreate?

If I use -ff, does it do things differently, than if I would call
pvremove/pvcreate without -ff? Should I do first without -ff and use
-ff only if the former fails?

Thanks,
Alex.
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Hello Zdenek,
I am frequently hitting issues when trying to create a new VG on a PV
that had existing VG. (This PV is usually an MD raid0 or raid1
device). I am wondering what is the correct procedure to completely
wipe out any remains of LVM signatures from a PV, and initialize the
PV afresh?
util-linux comes with  wipefs  - to wipe fs & raid signatures
pvremove should wipe label of LVM device - so it should not be recognized as PV.
You may try to use blkid to see how is the device recognized.
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Here is what I do: for each new VG, I use a new GUID as part of its
name, to avoid VG name conflicts.
To try to handle the old VG, the VG creation code first calls
lvm_vg_name_from_device(pv_name). If it founds a VG there and succeeds
to open it, it goes over its LVs, and tries to deactivate them and
then removes them. Finally, the code removes the old VG itself. In
some cases, however, the code fails to open the old VG, so it
proceeds.
removal of VG doesn't wipe PV headers
Post by Alexander Lyakas
Next thing I call pvcreate (fork/exec) to initialize the PV (I always
use --force twice). After this is completed, I do lvm_scan(), because
Using -ff is probably a problem here - it's supposed to only used in case
you really need it - it's not a 'nice' option.
So first  vgremove  the VG which occupies your PVs - then pvremove should
work
without -ff.
Post by Alexander Lyakas
       Physical volume "/dev/md2" successfully created
       Couldn't find device with uuid
NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
       Writing physical volume data to disk "/dev/md2"
After lvm_scan(),lvm_vg_create(pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA),
Wiping cache of LVM-capable devices
get_pv_from_vg_by_id: vg_read_internal failed to read VG
pool_74C7247AE06F4B7DAC557D9A1842EEBD
Adding physical volume '/dev/md2' to volume group
'pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA'
Creating directory "/etc/lvm/archive"
Archiving volume group "pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA"
metadata (seqno 0).
While pool_74C7247AE06F4B7DAC557D9A1842EEBD is yet some other old VG.
At this point the VG seems to be created ok. But later, when I try to
Wiping cache of LVM-capable devices
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
Couldn't find device with uuid NCtRLE-1ffs-GLaH-MYNS-d1hk-ikAt-7dbhm0.
There are 1 physical volumes missing.
Cannot change VG pool_9644BCB5D4704164976DBD85E471EAAA while PVs are missing.
Consider vgreduce --removemissing.
Have you pvremove-d all PV devices ?
Zdenek
Stuart D. Gathman
2011-10-06 13:11:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Alexander Lyakas
yes, I only had a single PV, and I did pvcreate on it, and then
lvm_scan() from my process.
So you suggest to use first pvremove and then pvcreate? Because
pvcreate I do in any case. So pvcreate alone is not similar to
pvremove followed by pvcreate?
Yes, you need to pvremove first to start from scratch.

--
Stuart D. Gathman <***@bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.
Alexander Lyakas
2011-10-09 19:47:16 UTC
Permalink
Thank you Stuart,
I will add a call to pvremove -ff before pvcreate.

Alex.
Post by Stuart D. Gathman
Post by Alexander Lyakas
yes, I only had a single PV, and I did pvcreate on it, and then
lvm_scan() from my process.
So you suggest to use first pvremove and then pvcreate? Because
pvcreate I do in any case. So pvcreate alone is not similar to
pvremove followed by pvcreate?
Yes, you need to pvremove first to start from scratch.
--
   Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.
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Stuart D. Gathman
2011-10-10 13:20:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Alexander Lyakas
I will add a call to pvremove -ff before pvcreate.
You shouldn't need the -ff with pvremove.

--
Stuart D. Gathman <***@bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.
Stuart D. Gathman
2011-10-05 19:34:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by Alexander Lyakas
I am frequently hitting issues when trying to create a new VG on a PV
that had existing VG. (This PV is usually an MD raid0 or raid1
device). I am wondering what is the correct procedure to completely
wipe out any remains of LVM signatures from a PV, and initialize the
PV afresh?
pvremove /dev/xxxx

--
Stuart D. Gathman <***@bmsi.com>
Business Management Systems Inc. Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.
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