Veritas Volume Manager command reference

Most Veritas Volume Manager (VxVM) commands (excepting daemons, library commands and supporting scripts) are linked to the /usr/sbin directory from the /opt/VRTS/bin directory. It is recommended that you add the following directories to your PATH environment variable:

VxVM library commands and supporting scripts are located under the /usr/lib/vxvm directory hierarchy. You can include these directories in your path if you need to use them on a regular basis.

For detailed information about an individual command, refer to the appropriate manual page in the 1M section.

Commands and scripts that are provided to support other commands and scripts, and which are not intended for general use, are not located in /opt/VRTS/bin and do not have manual pages.

Commonly-used commands are summarized in the following tables:

Table: Obtaining information about objects in VxVM

Command

Description

vxdctl license [init]

List licensed features of VxVM.

The init parameter is required when a license has been added or removed from the host for the new license to take effect.

vxdisk [-g diskgroup] list [diskname]

Lists disks under control of VxVM.

Example:

# vxdisk -g mydg list

vxdg list [diskgroup]

Lists information about disk groups.

Example:

# vxdg list mydg

vxdg -s list

Lists information about shared disk groups.

Example:

# vxdg -s list

vxdisk -o alldgs list

Lists all diskgroups on the disks. The imported diskgroups are shown as standard, and additionally all other diskgroups are listed in single quotes.

vxinfo [-g diskgroup] [volume ...]

Displays information about the accessibility and usability of volumes.

See the Veritas Storage Foundation and High Availability Troubleshooting Guide.

Example:

# vxinfo -g mydg myvol1 \
  myvol2

vxprint -hrt [-g diskgroup] [object ...]

Prints single-line information about objects in VxVM.

Example:

# vxprint -g mydg myvol1 \
  myvol2
vxlist

Provides a consolidated view of the SF configuration, including information from Veritas Volume Manager (VxVM) and Veritas File System (VxFS).

See vxlist(1m) manual page.

vxprint -st [-g diskgroup] [subdisk ...]

Displays information about subdisks.

Example:

# vxprint -st -g mydg

vxprint -pt [-g diskgroup] [plex ...]

Displays information about plexes.

Example:

# vxprint -pt -g mydg

Table: Administering disks

Command

Description

vxdisk [-o full] reclaim {disk|enclosure|diskgroup}...

Performs storage reclamation on thin provision LUNs.

vxdiskadm

Administers disks in VxVM using a menu-based interface.

vxdiskadd [devicename ...]

Adds a disk specified by device name.

Example:

# vxdiskadd sde
vxedit [-g diskgroup] rename \
olddisk newdisk

Renames a disk under control of VxVM.

Example:

# vxedit -g mydg rename \
  mydg03 mydg02
vxedit [-g diskgroup] set \
reserve=on|off diskname

Sets aside/does not set aside a disk from use in a disk group.

Examples:

# vxedit -g mydg set \
  reserve=on mydg02
# vxedit -g mydg set \
  reserve=off mydg02
vxedit [-g diskgroup] set \
nohotuse=on|off diskname

Does not/does allow free space on a disk to be used for hot-relocation.

Examples:

# vxedit -g mydg set \ 
  nohotuse=on mydg03
# vxedit -g mydg set \ 
  nohotuse=off mydg03
vxedit [-g diskgroup] set \
spare=on|off diskname

Adds/removes a disk from the pool of hot-relocation spares.

Examples:

# vxedit -g mydg set \
  spare=on mydg04
# vxedit -g mydg set \
  spare=off mydg04

vxdisk offline devicename

Takes a disk offline.

Example:

# vxdisk offline sde

vxdg -g diskgroup rmdisk diskname

Removes a disk from its disk group.

Example:

# vxdg -g mydg rmdisk mydg02

vxdiskunsetup devicename

Removes a disk from control of VxVM.

Example:

# vxdiskunsetup sdg

Table: Creating and administering disk groups

Command

Description

vxdg [-s] init diskgroup \
[diskname=]devicename

Creates a disk group using a pre-initialized disk.

Example:

# vxdg init mydg \
  mydg01=sde
vxdg -g diskgroup listssbinfo

Reports conflicting configuration information.

Example:

# vxdg -g mydg listssbinfo

vxdg [-n newname] deport diskgroup

Deports a disk group and optionally renames it.

Example:

# vxdg -n newdg deport mydg

vxdg [-n newname] import diskgroup

Imports a disk group and optionally renames it.

Example:

# vxdg -n newdg import mydg

vxdg [-n newname] -s import diskgroup

Imports a disk group as shared by a cluster, and optionally renames it.

Example:

# vxdg -n newsdg -s import \
  mysdg
vxdg [-o expand] listmove sourcedg \ 
targetdg object ...

Lists the objects potentially affected by moving a disk group.

Example:

# vxdg -o expand listmove \
  mydg newdg myvol1
vxdg [-o expand] move sourcedg \
targetdg object ...

Moves objects between disk groups.

Example:

# vxdg -o expand move mydg \
  newdg myvol1
vxdg [-o expand] split sourcedg \
targetdg object ...

Splits a disk group and moves the specified objects into the target disk group.

Example:

# vxdg -o expand split mydg \
  newdg myvol2 myvol3

vxdg join sourcedg targetdg

Joins two disk groups.

Example:

# vxdg join newdg mydg
vxdg -g diskgroup set \
activation=ew|ro|sr|sw|off

Sets the activation mode of a shared disk group in a cluster.

Example:

# vxdg -g mysdg set \
 activation=sw

vxrecover -g diskgroup -sb

Starts all volumes in an imported disk group.

Example:

# vxrecover -g mydg -sb

vxdg destroy diskgroup

Destroys a disk group and releases its disks.

Example:

# vxdg destroy mydg

Table: Creating and administering subdisks

Command

Description

vxmake [-g diskgroup] sd subdisk \
diskname,offset,length

Creates a subdisk.

Example:

# vxmake -g mydg sd \
 mydg02-01 mydg02,0,8000
vxsd [-g diskgroup] assoc plex \
subdisk...

Associates subdisks with an existing plex.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg assoc home-1 \
  mydg02-01 mydg02-00 \
  mydg02-01
vxsd [-g diskgroup] assoc plex \
subdisk1:0 ... subdiskM:N-1

Adds subdisks to the ends of the columns in a striped or RAID-5 volume.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg assoc \
  vol01-01 mydg10-01:0 \
  mydg11-01:1 mydg12-01:2
vxsd [-g diskgroup] mv oldsubdisk \
newsubdisk ...

Replaces a subdisk.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg mv mydg01-01 \
  mydg02-01
vxsd [-g diskgroup] -s size split \
subdisk sd1 sd2

Splits a subdisk in two.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg -s 1000m \
  split mydg03-02 mydg03-02 \
  mydg03-03
vxsd [-g diskgroup] join \ 
sd1 sd2 ... subdisk

Joins two or more subdisks.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg join \
  mydg03-02 mydg03-03 \
  mydg03-02
vxassist [-g diskgroup] move \
 volume \!olddisk newdisk

Relocates subdisks in a volume between disks.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg move \
  myvol \!mydg02 mydg05

Note:

The ! character is a special character in some shells. This example shows how to escape it in a bash shell.

vxunreloc [-g diskgroup] original_disk

Relocates subdisks to their original disks.

Example:

# vxunreloc -g mydg mydg01

vxsd [-g diskgroup] dis subdisk

Dissociates a subdisk from a plex.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg dis mydg02-01

vxedit [-g diskgroup] rm subdisk

Removes a subdisk.

Example:

# vxedit -g mydg rm mydg02-01

vxsd [-g diskgroup] -o rm dis subdisk

Dissociates and removes a subdisk from a plex.

Example:

# vxsd -g mydg -o rm dis \
  mydg02-01

Table: Creating and administering plexes

Command

Description

vxmake [-g diskgroup] plex plex \
sd=subdisk1[,subdisk2,...]

Creates a concatenated plex.

Example:

# vxmake -g mydg plex \
  vol01-02 \
  sd=mydg02-01,mydg02-02
vxmake [-g diskgroup] plex plex \
layout=stripe|raid5 stwidth=W \
ncolumn=N \
sd=subdisk1[,subdisk2,...]

Creates a striped or RAID-5 plex.

Example:

# vxmake -g mydg plex pl-01 \
  layout=stripe stwidth=32 \
  ncolumn=2 \
  sd=mydg01-01,mydg02-01

vxplex [-g diskgroup] att volume plex

Attaches a plex to an existing volume.

Example:

# vxplex -g mydg att vol01 \
  vol01-02

vxplex [-g diskgroup] det plex

Detaches a plex.

Example:

# vxplex -g mydg det vol01-02

vxmend [-g diskgroup] off plex

Takes a plex offline for maintenance.

Example:

# vxmend -g mydg off vol02-02

vxmend [-g diskgroup] on plex

Re-enables a plex for use.

Example:

# vxmend -g mydg on vol02-02
vxplex [-g diskgroup] mv oldplex \
newplex

Replaces a plex.

Example:

# vxplex -g mydg mv \
  vol02-02 vol02-03
vxplex [-g diskgroup] cp volume \
newplex

Copies a volume onto a plex.

Example:

# vxplex -g mydg cp vol02 \
  vol03-01

vxmend [-g diskgroup] fix clean plex

Sets the state of a plex in an unstartable volume to CLEAN.

Example:

# vxmend -g mydg fix clean \
  vol02-02

vxplex [-g diskgroup] -o rm dis plex

Dissociates and removes a plex from a volume.

Example:

# vxplex -g mydg -o rm dis \
  vol03-01

Table: Creating volumes

Command

Description

vxassist [-g diskgroup] maxsize \
layout=layout [attributes]

Displays the maximum size of volume that can be created.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg maxsize \
  layout=raid5 nlog=2
vxassist -b [-g diskgroup] make \
volume length [layout=layout] \
[attributes]

Creates a volume.

Example:

# vxassist -b -g mydg make \
  myvol 20g layout=concat \
  mydg01 mydg02
vxassist -b [-g diskgroup] make \
volume length layout=mirror \
[nmirror=N][attributes]

Creates a mirrored volume.

Example:

# vxassist -b -g mydg make \
  mymvol 20g layout=mirror \
  nmirror=2
vxassist -b [-g diskgroup] make \
volume length layout=layout \ 
exclusive=on [attributes]

Creates a volume that may be opened exclusively by a single node in a cluster.

Example:

# vxassist -b -g mysdg make \
  mysmvol 20g layout=mirror \
  exclusive=on
vxassist -b [-g diskgroup] make \
volume length layout={stripe|raid5} \
[stripeunit=W] [ncol=N] \
[attributes]

Creates a striped or RAID-5 volume.

Example:

# vxassist -b -g mydg make \
  mysvol 20g layout=stripe \
  stripeunit=32 ncol=4
vxassist -b [-g diskgroup] make \
volume length layout=mirror \
mirror=ctlr [attributes]

Creates a volume with mirrored data plexes on separate controllers.

Example:

# vxassist -b -g mydg make \
  mymcvol 20g layout=mirror \
  mirror=ctlr
vxmake -b [-g diskgroup] \
-Uusage_type vol volume \
[len=length] plex=plex,...

Creates a volume from existing plexes.

Example:

# vxmake -g mydg -Uraid5 \
  vol r5vol \
  plex=raidplex,raidlog1,\
  raidlog2
vxvol [-g diskgroup] start volume

Initializes and starts a volume for use.

Example:

# vxvol -g mydg start r5vol
vxvol [-g 
diskgroup] init zero \
volume

Initializes and zeros out a volume for use.

Example:

# vxvol -g mydg init zero \
  myvol

Table: Administering volumes

Command

Description

vxassist [-g diskgroup] mirror \
volume [attributes]

Adds a mirror to a volume.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg mirror \
  myvol mydg10
vxassist [-g diskgroup] remove \
mirror volume [attributes]

Removes a mirror from a volume.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg remove \
  mirror myvol \!mydg11

Note:

The ! character is a special character in some shells. This example shows how to escape it in a bash shell.

vxassist [-g diskgroup] \
{growto|growby} volume length

Grows a volume to a specified size or by a specified amount.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg growby \
  myvol 10g
vxassist [-g diskgroup] \
{shrinkto|shrinkby} volume length

Shrinks a volume to a specified size or by a specified amount.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg shrinkto \
  myvol 20g
vxresize -b -F vxfs [-g diskgroup] \
volume length diskname ...

Resizes a volume and the underlying Veritas File System.

Example:

# vxresize -b -F vxfs \
  -g mydg myvol 20g mydg10 \
  mydg11
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] prepare volume \
[drl=on|sequential|off]

Prepares a volume for instant snapshots and for DRL logging.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg prepare \
  myvol drl=on
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] make \
source=volume\
/newvol=snapvol\
[/nmirror=number]

Takes a full-sized instant snapshot of a volume by breaking off plexes of the original volume.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg make \
  source=myvol/\
  newvol=mysnpvol/\
  nmirror=2
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] make \
source=volume/snapvol=snapvol

Takes a full-sized instant snapshot of a volume using a prepared empty volume.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg make \
  source=myvol/snapvol=snpvol
vxmake [-g diskgroup] cache \
cache_object cachevolname=volume \
[regionsize=size]

Creates a cache object for use by space-optimized instant snapshots.

A cache volume must have already been created. After creating the cache object, enable the cache object with the vxcache start command.

For example:

# vxassist -g mydg make \
  cvol 1g layout=mirror \
  init=active mydg16 mydg17
# vxmake -g mydg cache cobj \
  cachevolname=cvol
# vxcache -g mydg start cobj
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] make \
source=volume/newvol=snapvol\
/cache=cache_object

Takes a space-optimized instant snapshot of a volume.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg make \
  source=myvol/\
  newvol=mysosvol/\
  cache=cobj
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] refresh snapshot

Refreshes a snapshot from its original volume.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg refresh \
  mysnpvol
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] dis snapshot

Turns a snapshot into an independent volume.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg dis mysnpvol
vxsnap [-g diskgroup] unprepare \
volume

Removes support for instant snapshots and DRL logging from a volume.

Example:

# vxsnap -g mydg unprepare \
  myvol
vxassist [-g diskgroup] relayout \
volume [layout=layout] \
[relayout_options]

Performs online relayout of a volume.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg relayout \
  vol2 layout=stripe
vxassist [-g diskgroup] relayout \
volume layout=raid5 \
stripeunit=W \
ncol=N

Relays out a volume as a RAID-5 volume with stripe width W and N columns.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg relayout \
  vol3 layout=raid5 \
  stripeunit=16 ncol=4
vxrelayout [-g diskgroup] -o bg \
reverse volume

Reverses the direction of a paused volume relayout.

Example:

# vxrelayout -g mydg -o bg \
  reverse vol3
vxassist [-g diskgroup] convert \
volume [layout=layout] \
[convert_options]

Converts between a layered volume and a non-layered volume layout.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg convert \
  vol3 layout=stripe-mirror
vxassist [-g diskgroup] remove \
volume volume

Removes a volume.

Example:

# vxassist -g mydg remove \
  myvol

Table: Monitoring and controlling tasks

Command

Description

command [-g diskgroup] -t tasktag \
[options] [arguments]

Specifies a task tag to a VxVM command.

Example:

# vxrecover -g mydg \
  -t mytask -b mydg05
vxtask [-h] [-g diskgroup] list

Lists tasks running on a system.

Example:

# vxtask -h -g mydg list
vxtask monitor task

Monitors the progress of a task.

Example:

# vxtask monitor mytask
vxtask pause task

Suspends operation of a task.

Example:

# vxtask pause mytask
vxtask -p [-g diskgroup] list

Lists all paused tasks.

Example:

# vxtask -p -g mydg list
vxtask resume task

Resumes a paused task.

Example:

# vxtask resume mytask
vxtask abort task

Cancels a task and attempts to reverse its effects.

Example:

# vxtask abort mytask

More Information

Veritas Volume Manager manual pages

Displaying disk information

Listing shared disk groups

Using vxdiskadd to put a disk under VxVM control

Renaming a disk

Excluding a disk from hot-relocation use

Making a disk available for hot-relocation use

Marking a disk as a hot-relocation spare

Removing a disk from use as a hot-relocation spare

Creating a shared disk group

Importing disk groups as shared

Listing objects potentially affected by a move

Moving objects between disk groups

Splitting disk groups

Joining disk groups

Changing the activation mode on a shared disk group

Moving relocated subdisks using vxunreloc

Reattaching a plex manually

Reattaching a plex manually

Reattaching a plex manually

Creating a volume on specific disks

Creating a mirrored volume

Creating volumes with exclusive open access by a node

Creating a striped volume

Creating a RAID-5 volume

Adding a mirror to a volume

Removing a mirror

Adding an instant snap DCO and DCO volume

Creating instant snapshots

Creating a volume for use as a full-sized instant or linked break-off snapshot

Creating instant snapshots

Creating a shared cache object

Creating instant snapshots

Refreshing an instant space-optimized snapshot

Dissociating an instant snapshot

Performing online relayout

Performing online relayout

Volume sets

Removing a volume

Specifying task tags

Using the vxtask command

Using the vxtask command

Using the vxtask command

Using the vxtask command

Using the vxtask command

Using the vxtask command