Expanding disk partition sizes in Linux systems is a common task, especially as data storage needs grow over time. Fortunately, Linux provides powerful tools to manage disk partitions efficiently. In this guide, we’ll explore the process of increasing disk partition sizes using command-line tools.

Checking Current Disk Partition Layout

Before resizing any partitions, it’s essential to understand the current disk partition layout.
Disk partition layout refers to the organization and structure of partitions on a disk drive. A partition is a logical division of a physical disk drive that allows the operating system to treat each partition as a separate unit.

You can use the fdisk or parted command to check the current disk partition layout. Here’s an example using fdisk:

sudo fdisk -l

This command provides a detailed listing of all available disks and their respective partitions. Here’s a simplified example of what the output might look like:

Disk /dev/sda: 250 GB, 250000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30417 cylinders, total 488281250 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *        2048     1026047      512000   83  Linux
/dev/sda2         1026048   488281249   243127101+  8e  Linux LVM

Disk /dev/sdb: 500 GB, 500000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60750 cylinders, total 976562500 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1            2048   976562499   488280226   83  Linux

In this example:

• /dev/sda and /dev/sdb are the disk devices.
• /dev/sda1 and /dev/sda2 are partitions on the /dev/sda disk.
• /dev/sdb1 is a partition on the /dev/sdb disk.
• Information such as start, end, and block size is provided for each partition.
• The System column indicates the file system type of each partition.
• The Id column specifies the partition type, typically in hexadecimal format.
• The Disk identifier provides a unique identifier for the disk.

This output helps users understand the partition layout of their disks, making it easier to manage and perform operations like resizing partitions.

Unmounting the Partition

Ensure that the partition you intend to resize is not in use. If it’s currently mounted, unmount it using the umount command:

sudo umount /dev/sdXY

Replace /dev/sdXY with the appropriate partition identifier.y

Resizing the Partition

Linux provides the resize2fs command to resize ext2, ext3, and ext4 file systems. Suppose you’re resizing an ext4 partition, use the following command:

sudo resize2fs /dev/sdXY

Replace /dev/sdXY with the identifier of the partition you’re resizing.

Modifying the Partition

Now, you need to modify the partition itself to reflect the new size. You can use either fdisk or parted for this task. Here’s an example using fdisk:

sudo fdisk /dev/sdX

Then, type d to delete the existing partition, followed by n to create a new partition, ensuring to specify the new size accordingly.

Writing Changes and Exiting

After modifying the partition, you need to write the changes to disk and exit the partitioning tool. In fdisk, type w to write the changes and exit.

Checking the New Partition Layout

It’s essential to verify that the partition has been resized correctly. Re-run the fdisk command to view the updated partition layout:

sudo fdisk -l

Ensure that the partition you resized reflects the new size.

Remounting the Partition

Once the partition has been resized and verified, remount it to make it accessible again:

sudo mount /dev/sdXY /path/to/mount/point

Replace /dev/sdXY with the appropriate partition identifier and /path/to/mount/point with the directory where the partition should be mounted.