How to extend filesystem partition on Ubuntu VM?

Question

I'm running Ubuntu Desktop 14.04 as a VM on a mac with vmware fusion. I'm getting space warning issues and now want to expand from 20GB to 200GB.

I powered off the VM and on the vmware side increased the allocated disk space:

1. Power off the VM
2. VMWare Fusion -> Virtual Machine -> Settings -> Hard Disk (SCSI)

It then warned me that I should increase the partition size within the guest VM, which is unfortunate because I was hoping this would be automatic.

Looking at the disk usage analyzer inside of Ubuntu, it only currently sees the original 20 GB. How do I increase this to the 200 GB I allocated?

I'm looking for better direction than what is posted here.

From the Disks app, I see:

Answer 1

You do not need a live CD for this to work. I'm basically summarizing the other answers given here:

1. From Ubuntu (in VM) install gparted by executing sudo apt-get install gparted in terminal
2. Open sudo gparted from terminal
3. Rightclick on the swap partition, click "swapoff"
4. Delete swap partition
5. Extend your data partition, but leave enough space to create a new swap partition
6. Recreate swap partition with about the same size as before, select linux-swap as file system
7. Click that green tick in gparted to apply all operations. Then select "swapon" to enable swap again

Answer 2

From Ubuntu (in VM) Install gparted by executing sudo apt-get install gparted in Terminal.

Open gparted either from terminal or from dash. Then extend you disk, maybe you may have to move your extended partition at the end of disk.

Answer 3

You should first delete all partitions between your partition and free space. You can do it using parted command.

1. Install parted if you don't have them using :

   sudo apt-get install cloud-guest-utils
   

2. turn off swap. we gonna remove it's partition!

   sudo swapoff -a
   

3. run sudo parted.

4. get partitions list with print all:

   (parted) print all
   Model: Virtio Block Device (virtblk)
   Disk /dev/vda: 752GB
   Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
   Partition Table: msdos
   Disk Flags:
   
   Number  Start   End    Size    Type      File system     Flags
   1      1049kB  528GB  528GB   primary   ext4            boot
   2      528GB   537GB  8588MB  extended
   5      528GB   537GB  8588MB  logical   linux-swap(v1)
   

5. remove none root partitions with rm (part-index):

   (parted) rm 5
   Warning: Partition /dev/vda5 is being used. Are you sure you want to continue?
   Yes/No? yes
   Error: Partition(s) 5 on /dev/vda have been written, but we have been unable to
   inform the kernel of the change, probably because it/they are in use.  As a
   result, the old partition(s) will remain in use.  You should reboot now before
   making further changes.
   Ignore/Cancel? C
   (parted) print all
   Model: Virtio Block Device (virtblk)
   Disk /dev/vda: 752GB
   Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
   Partition Table: msdos
   Disk Flags:
   
   Number  Start   End    Size    Type      File system  Flags
    1      1049kB  528GB  528GB   primary   ext4         boot
    2      528GB   537GB  8588MB  extended
   
   
   (parted) rm 2
   Error: Partition(s) 5 on /dev/vda have been written, but we have been unable to
   inform the kernel of the change, probably because it/they are in use.  As a
   result, the old partition(s) will remain in use.  You should reboot now before
   making further changes.
   Ignore/Cancel? C
   (parted) print all
   Model: Virtio Block Device (virtblk)
   Disk /dev/vda: 752GB
   Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
   Partition Table: msdos
   Disk Flags:
   
   Number  Start   End    Size   Type     File system  Flags
    1      1049kB  528GB  528GB  primary  ext4         boot
   

The commands works on ubuntu 16.04 (NONE LVM) and machine is running on a kvm:

sudo growpart /dev/vda 1
sudo resize2fs /dev/vda1   

Answer 4

1. Download gparted LIVECD iso from here

2. From your VM Choose the iso file and boot as live CD

   • Add the iso into your cd-rom drive from the GuestVM settings

   or

   • Set to boot from the CDROM in BIOS (F2 when you start your VM)
3. Once tha gparted Live Cd runs you can use gparted now
4. Choose the partition to resize and choose the new size and then apply
5. When end reboot and be sure to remove the iso file attached to the VM CD ROM, and boot to your Ubuntu.

Answer 5

Extending a filesystem partition, from within the same operating system, may not be advisable, as its processes / services might still be writing into them. Also, gparted shows certain partitions as locked ( i.e. mounted ) and may not be able to un-mount them.

A Live CD comes in handy, in such situations.

Just use the Live CD from this Open Source Project, on Hosts / Guests ( this Live CD has the gparted program built in, in its Applications Menu, along with many other goodies like File Manager, Disk Mounter, Installer, Internet Browser etc.; also read the instructions on the site ) :

https://sourceforge.net/projects/live-cd-with-zerofree-utility/

P.S. A 32-Bit Version ( i686 architecture ) of this Live CD is available at: https://sourceforge.net/projects/live-cd-with-zerofree-32-bit/

For very OLD Architectures, Please try this Live CD : https://sourceforge.net/projects/live-cd-with-zerofree-x86/

Hope this helps all.