How to Increase Virtual Machine Disk Space Without Rebooting

This procedure works on Fedora based Linux distributions e.g. Fedora, CentOS, Rocky, Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Login to vCenter UI, find the virtual machine you need to increase the disk space of and change the hard disk size and units to your desired size.

vCenter – Virtual Machine – Edit Settings

Command Line: Check the current physical disk layout.

lsblk

lsblk

Bash

Result: There is only 1 physical disk labelled SDA with a size of 900GB.

NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS
sda           8:0    0   900G  0 disk
├─sda1        8:1    0   600M  0 part /boot/efi
├─sda2        8:2    0     1G  0 part /boot
└─sda3        8:3    0 898.4G  0 part
├─rl-root 253:0    0 896.4G  0 lvm  /
└─rl-swap 253:1    0     2G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
sr0          11:0    1  1024M  0 rom

NAMEMAJ:MINRMSIZEROTYPEMOUNTPOINTS
sda8:00900G0disk
├─sda18:10600M0part/boot/efi
├─sda28:201G0part/boot
└─sda38:30898.4G0part
├─rl-root253:00896.4G0lvm/
└─rl-swap253:102G0lvm  [SWAP]
sr011:011024M0rom

Bash

Command Line: Scan the physical disk labelled SDA for any changes.

echo 1 > /sys/block/sda/device/rescan

echo1>/sys/block/sda/device/rescan

Bash

Result: This command does not have any output.

# NO OUTPUT

# NO OUTPUT

Bash

Command Line: Check the current physical disk layout.

lsblk

lsblk

Bash

Result: Notice that SDA now shows as been a physical disk with a size of 1.2TB.

NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS
sda           8:0    0   1.2T  0 disk
├─sda1        8:1    0   600M  0 part /boot/efi
├─sda2        8:2    0     1G  0 part /boot
└─sda3        8:3    0 898.4G  0 part
├─rl-root 253:0    0 896.4G  0 lvm  /
└─rl-swap 253:1    0     2G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
sr0          11:0    1  1024M  0 rom

NAMEMAJ:MINRMSIZEROTYPEMOUNTPOINTS
sda8:001.2T0disk
├─sda18:10600M0part/boot/efi
├─sda28:201G0part/boot
└─sda38:30898.4G0part
├─rl-root253:00896.4G0lvm/
└─rl-swap253:102G0lvm  [SWAP]
sr011:011024M0rom

Bash

Command Line: Use Dandified YUM to install the package.

dnf install cloud-utils-growpart

dnfinstallcloud-utils-growpart

Bash

Result: Dandified YUM has installed the package.

Last metadata expiration check: 2:17:26 ago on Tue Mar  3 08:25:22 2026.
Dependencies resolved.
=======================================================================================================================================================================================
Package                                             Architecture                          Version                                      Repository                                Size
=======================================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
cloud-utils-growpart                                x86_64                                0.33-1.el9                                   appstream                                 34 k
Transaction Summary
=======================================================================================================================================================================================
Install  1 Package
Total download size: 34 k
Installed size: 75 k
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64.rpm                                                                                                             286 kB/s |  34 kB     00:00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                                                                                                                  115 kB/s |  34 kB     00:00
Running transaction check
Transaction check succeeded.
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded.
Running transaction
Preparing        :                                                                                                                                                               1/1
Installing       : cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1
Running scriptlet: cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1
Verifying        : cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64                                                                                                                        1/1
Installed products updated.
Installed:
cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64
Complete!

Lastmetadataexpirationcheck:2:17:26agoonTueMar308:25:222026.
Dependenciesresolved.
=======================================================================================================================================================================================
PackageArchitectureVersionRepositorySize
=======================================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
cloud-utils-growpartx86_640.33-1.el9appstream34k

TransactionSummary
=======================================================================================================================================================================================
Install1Package

Totaldownloadsize:34k
Installedsize:75k
Isthisok [y/N]: y
DownloadingPackages:
cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64.rpm286kB/s|34kB00:00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total115kB/s|34kB00:00
Runningtransactioncheck
Transactionchecksucceeded.
Runningtransactiontest
Transactiontestsucceeded.
Runningtransaction
Preparing:1/1
Installing:cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_641/1
Runningscriptlet:cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_641/1
Verifying:cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_641/1
Installedproductsupdated.

Installed:
cloud-utils-growpart-0.33-1.el9.x86_64

Complete!

Bash

Command Line: Use the growpart utility to run a dry run of the process to extend partition number 3 of the physical disk labelled SDA.

growpart /dev/sda 3 --dry-run

growpart/dev/sda3--dry-run

Bash

Result: The growpart utility dry run process reports the actions it will take when it is not used in dry run mode.

CHANGE: partition=3 start=3328000 old: size=1884108767 end=1887436766 new: size=2513254367 end=2516582366
# === old sfdisk -d ===
label: gpt
label-id: ED0A7588-2032-4DE4-8360-6B569C854D64
device: /dev/sda
unit: sectors
first-lba: 34
sector-size: 512
/dev/sda1 : start=        2048, size=     1228800, type=C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B, uuid=02E74B9C-1704-4FEE-8F16-32FAB02CB10A, name="EFI System Partition"
/dev/sda2 : start=     1230848, size=     2097152, type=0FC63DAF-8483-4772-8E79-3D69D8477DE4, uuid=64C2B81A-9613-4DD6-8D87-C3D75CD4D81D
/dev/sda3 : start=     3328000, size=  1884108767, type=E6D6D379-F507-44C2-A23C-238F2A3DF928, uuid=80C9D957-0D30-42C0-A603-D9078982485D
# === new sfdisk -d ===
label: gpt
label-id: ED0A7588-2032-4DE4-8360-6B569C854D64
device: /dev/sda
unit: sectors
first-lba: 34
sector-size: 512
/dev/sda1 : start=        2048, size=     1228800, type=C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B, uuid=02E74B9C-1704-4FEE-8F16-32FAB02CB10A, name="EFI System Partition"
/dev/sda2 : start=     1230848, size=     2097152, type=0FC63DAF-8483-4772-8E79-3D69D8477DE4, uuid=64C2B81A-9613-4DD6-8D87-C3D75CD4D81D
/dev/sda3 : start=     3328000, size=  2513254367, type=E6D6D379-F507-44C2-A23C-238F2A3DF928, uuid=80C9D957-0D30-42C0-A603-D9078982485D

CHANGE:partition=3start=3328000old:size=1884108767end=1887436766new:size=2513254367end=2516582366
# === old sfdisk -d ===
label:gpt
label-id:ED0A7588-2032-4DE4-8360-6B569C854D64
device:/dev/sda
unit:sectors
first-lba:34
sector-size:512

/dev/sda1:start=2048,size=1228800,type=C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B,uuid=02E74B9C-1704-4FEE-8F16-32FAB02CB10A,name="EFI System Partition"
/dev/sda2:start=1230848,size=2097152,type=0FC63DAF-8483-4772-8E79-3D69D8477DE4,uuid=64C2B81A-9613-4DD6-8D87-C3D75CD4D81D
/dev/sda3:start=3328000,size=1884108767,type=E6D6D379-F507-44C2-A23C-238F2A3DF928,uuid=80C9D957-0D30-42C0-A603-D9078982485D
# === new sfdisk -d ===
label:gpt
label-id:ED0A7588-2032-4DE4-8360-6B569C854D64
device:/dev/sda
unit:sectors
first-lba:34
sector-size:512

/dev/sda1:start=2048,size=1228800,type=C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B,uuid=02E74B9C-1704-4FEE-8F16-32FAB02CB10A,name="EFI System Partition"
/dev/sda2:start=1230848,size=2097152,type=0FC63DAF-8483-4772-8E79-3D69D8477DE4,uuid=64C2B81A-9613-4DD6-8D87-C3D75CD4D81D
/dev/sda3:start=3328000,size=2513254367,type=E6D6D379-F507-44C2-A23C-238F2A3DF928,uuid=80C9D957-0D30-42C0-A603-D9078982485D

Bash

Command Line: Use the growpart utility to run the process to extend partition number 3 of the physical disk labelled SDA.

growpart /dev/sda 3

growpart/dev/sda3

Bash

Result: The growpart utility process reports the actions has taken.

CHANGED: partition=3 start=3328000 old: size=1884108767 end=1887436766 new: size=2513254367 end=2516582366

CHANGED:partition=3start=3328000old:size=1884108767end=1887436766new:size=2513254367end=2516582366

Bash

Command Line: Check the current physical disk layout.

lsblk

lsblk

Bash

Result: Notice that SDA partition 3 now shows as being a size of 1.2TB.

NAME        MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS
sda           8:0    0   1.2T  0 disk
├─sda1        8:1    0   600M  0 part /boot/efi
├─sda2        8:2    0     1G  0 part /boot
└─sda3        8:3    0   1.2T  0 part
├─rl-root 253:0    0 896.4G  0 lvm  /
└─rl-swap 253:1    0     2G  0 lvm  [SWAP]
sr0          11:0    1  1024M  0 rom

NAMEMAJ:MINRMSIZEROTYPEMOUNTPOINTS
sda8:001.2T0disk
├─sda18:10600M0part/boot/efi
├─sda28:201G0part/boot
└─sda38:301.2T0part
├─rl-root253:00896.4G0lvm/
└─rl-swap253:102G0lvm  [SWAP]
sr011:011024M0rom

Bash

Command Line: Run the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) physical volume display command.

pvdisplay

pvdisplay

Bash

Result: The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) displays the physical volumes.

  --- Physical volume ---
PV Name               /dev/sda3
VG Name               rl
PV Size               1.17 TiB / not usable 1.98 MiB
Allocatable           yes
PE Size               4.00 MiB
Total PE              306793
Free PE               76800
Allocated PE          229993
PV UUID               sbrOJO-Ctwi-z7PT-Fta9-T8V8-Ubxi-Oob3G4

---Physicalvolume---
PVName/dev/sda3
VGNamerl
PVSize1.17TiB/notusable1.98MiB
Allocatableyes
PESize4.00MiB
TotalPE306793
FreePE76800
AllocatedPE229993
PVUUIDsbrOJO-Ctwi-z7PT-Fta9-T8V8-Ubxi-Oob3G4

Bash

Command Line: Run the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) logical volume display command.

lvdisplay

lvdisplay

Bash

Result: The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) displays the logical volumes.

  --- Logical volume ---
LV Path                /dev/rl/swap
LV Name                swap
VG Name                rl
LV UUID                ItRBdl-lcWU-SGQ1-sgBm-aOsH-dfVL-1Lud3B
LV Write Access        read/write
LV Creation host, time rocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com, 2023-03-26 12:17:46 +0100
LV Status              available
# open                 2
LV Size                2.00 GiB
Current LE             512
Segments               1
Allocation             inherit
Read ahead sectors     auto
- currently set to     256
Block device           253:1
--- Logical volume ---
LV Path                /dev/rl/root
LV Name                root
VG Name                rl
LV UUID                kGDYqY-Pwvw-8dR0-JIna-BZNC-eSNh-euFOPk
LV Write Access        read/write
LV Creation host, time rocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com, 2023-03-26 12:17:46 +0100
LV Status              available
# open                 1
LV Size                896.41 GiB
Current LE             229481
Segments               1
Allocation             inherit
Read ahead sectors     auto
- currently set to     256
Block device           253:0

---Logicalvolume---
LVPath/dev/rl/swap
LVNameswap
VGNamerl
LVUUIDItRBdl-lcWU-SGQ1-sgBm-aOsH-dfVL-1Lud3B
LVWriteAccessread/write
LVCreationhost,timerocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com,2023-03-2612:17:46+0100
LVStatusavailable
# open                 2
LVSize2.00GiB
CurrentLE512
Segments1
Allocationinherit
Readaheadsectorsauto
-currentlysetto256
Blockdevice253:1

---Logicalvolume---
LVPath/dev/rl/root
LVNameroot
VGNamerl
LVUUIDkGDYqY-Pwvw-8dR0-JIna-BZNC-eSNh-euFOPk
LVWriteAccessread/write
LVCreationhost,timerocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com,2023-03-2612:17:46+0100
LVStatusavailable
# open                 1
LVSize896.41GiB
CurrentLE229481
Segments1
Allocationinherit
Readaheadsectorsauto
-currentlysetto256
Blockdevice253:0

Bash

Command Line: Run the Disk Free command with some additional parameters.

df --print-type --total --human-readable

df--print-type--total--human-readable

Bash

Result: The Disk Free command reports the current state of the filesystem.

Filesystem          Type      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
devtmpfs            devtmpfs  4.0M     0  4.0M   0% /dev
tmpfs               tmpfs     1.8G     0  1.8G   0% /dev/shm
tmpfs               tmpfs     731M  8.8M  723M   2% /run
efivarfs            efivarfs  256K   43K  209K  17% /sys/firmware/efi/efivars
/dev/mapper/rl-root xfs       897G  606G  291G  68% /
/dev/sda2           xfs      1014M  423M  592M  42% /boot
/dev/sda1           vfat      599M  7.1M  592M   2% /boot/efi
tmpfs               tmpfs     366M     0  366M   0% /run/user/0
total               -         900G  609G  593G  51% -

FilesystemTypeSizeUsedAvailUse%Mountedon
devtmpfsdevtmpfs4.0M04.0M0%/dev
tmpfstmpfs1.8G01.8G0%/dev/shm
tmpfstmpfs731M8.8M723M2%/run
efivarfsefivarfs256K43K209K17%/sys/firmware/efi/efivars
/dev/mapper/rl-rootxfs897G606G291G68%/
/dev/sda2xfs1014M423M592M42%/boot
/dev/sda1vfat599M7.1M592M2%/boot/efi
tmpfstmpfs366M0366M0%/run/user/0
total-900G609G593G51%-

Bash

Command Line: Run the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) logical volume extend command.

lvextend --resizefs --extents +100%FREE /dev/rl/root

lvextend--resizefs--extents+100%FREE/dev/rl/root

Bash

Result: The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) logical volume extend command completes the partition extension and also resizes the filesystem.

  File system xfs found on rl/root mounted at /.
Size of logical volume rl/root changed from 896.41 GiB (229481 extents) to <1.17 TiB (306281 extents).
Extending file system xfs to <1.17 TiB (1284635623424 bytes) on rl/root...
xfs_growfs /dev/rl/root
meta-data=/dev/mapper/rl-root    isize=512    agcount=219, agsize=1075456 blks
=                       sectsz=512   attr=2, projid32bit=1
=                       crc=1        finobt=1, sparse=1, rmapbt=0
=                       reflink=1    bigtime=1 inobtcount=1 nrext64=0
data     =                       bsize=4096   blocks=234988544, imaxpct=25
=                       sunit=0      swidth=0 blks
naming   =version 2              bsize=4096   ascii-ci=0, ftype=1
log      =internal log           bsize=4096   blocks=2560, version=2
=                       sectsz=512   sunit=0 blks, lazy-count=1
realtime =none                   extsz=4096   blocks=0, rtextents=0
data blocks changed from 234988544 to 313631744
xfs_growfs done
Extended file system xfs on rl/root.
Logical volume rl/root successfully resized.

Filesystemxfsfoundonrl/rootmountedat/.
Sizeoflogicalvolumerl/rootchangedfrom896.41GiB (229481extents) to<1.17 TiB(306281extents).
Extendingfilesystemxfsto<1.17TiB (1284635623424bytes) on rl/root...
xfs_growfs/dev/rl/root
meta-data=/dev/mapper/rl-rootisize=512agcount=219,agsize=1075456blks
         =sectsz=512attr=2,projid32bit=1
         =crc=1finobt=1,sparse=1,rmapbt=0
         =reflink=1bigtime=1inobtcount=1nrext64=0
data=bsize=4096blocks=234988544,imaxpct=25
         =sunit=0swidth=0blks
naming=version2bsize=4096ascii-ci=0,ftype=1
log=internallogbsize=4096blocks=2560,version=2
         =sectsz=512sunit=0blks,lazy-count=1
realtime=noneextsz=4096blocks=0,rtextents=0
datablockschangedfrom234988544to313631744
xfs_growfsdone
Extendedfilesystemxfsonrl/root.
Logicalvolumerl/rootsuccessfullyresized.

Bash

Command Line: Run the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) logical volume display command.

lvdisplay

lvdisplay

Bash

Result: The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) displays the logical volumes.

  --- Logical volume ---
LV Path                /dev/rl/swap
LV Name                swap
VG Name                rl
LV UUID                ItRBdl-lcWU-SGQ1-sgBm-aOsH-dfVL-1Lud3B
LV Write Access        read/write
LV Creation host, time rocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com, 2023-03-26 12:17:46 +0100
LV Status              available
# open                 2
LV Size                2.00 GiB
Current LE             512
Segments               1
Allocation             inherit
Read ahead sectors     auto
- currently set to     256
Block device           253:1
--- Logical volume ---
LV Path                /dev/rl/root
LV Name                root
VG Name                rl
LV UUID                kGDYqY-Pwvw-8dR0-JIna-BZNC-eSNh-euFOPk
LV Write Access        read/write
LV Creation host, time rocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com, 2023-03-26 12:17:46 +0100
LV Status              available
# open                 1
LV Size                <1.17 TiB
Current LE             306281
Segments               1
Allocation             inherit
Read ahead sectors     auto
- currently set to     256
Block device           253:0

---Logicalvolume---
LVPath/dev/rl/swap
LVNameswap
VGNamerl
LVUUIDItRBdl-lcWU-SGQ1-sgBm-aOsH-dfVL-1Lud3B
LVWriteAccessread/write
LVCreationhost,timerocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com,2023-03-2612:17:46+0100
LVStatusavailable
# open                 2
LVSize2.00GiB
CurrentLE512
Segments1
Allocationinherit
Readaheadsectorsauto
-currentlysetto256
Blockdevice253:1

---Logicalvolume---
LVPath/dev/rl/root
LVNameroot
VGNamerl
LVUUIDkGDYqY-Pwvw-8dR0-JIna-BZNC-eSNh-euFOPk
LVWriteAccessread/write
LVCreationhost,timerocky-9.cloudbuildtools.com,2023-03-2612:17:46+0100
LVStatusavailable
# open                 1
LVSize<1.17TiB
CurrentLE306281
Segments1
Allocationinherit
Readaheadsectorsauto
-currentlysetto256
Blockdevice253:0

Bash

Command Line: Run the Disk Free command with some additional parameters.

df --print-type --total --human-readable

df--print-type--total--human-readable

Bash

Result: The Disk Free command reports the current state of the filesystem.

Filesystem          Type      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
devtmpfs            devtmpfs  4.0M     0  4.0M   0% /dev
tmpfs               tmpfs     1.8G     0  1.8G   0% /dev/shm
tmpfs               tmpfs     731M  8.8M  723M   2% /run
efivarfs            efivarfs  256K   43K  209K  17% /sys/firmware/efi/efivars
/dev/mapper/rl-root xfs       1.2T  608G  589G  51% /
/dev/sda2           xfs      1014M  423M  592M  42% /boot
/dev/sda1           vfat      599M  7.1M  592M   2% /boot/efi
tmpfs               tmpfs     366M     0  366M   0% /run/user/0
total               -         1.2T  609G  593G  51% -

FilesystemTypeSizeUsedAvailUse%Mountedon
devtmpfsdevtmpfs4.0M04.0M0%/dev
tmpfstmpfs1.8G01.8G0%/dev/shm
tmpfstmpfs731M8.8M723M2%/run
efivarfsefivarfs256K43K209K17%/sys/firmware/efi/efivars
/dev/mapper/rl-rootxfs1.2T608G589G51%/
/dev/sda2xfs1014M423M592M42%/boot
/dev/sda1vfat599M7.1M592M2%/boot/efi
tmpfstmpfs366M0366M0%/run/user/0
total-1.2T609G593G51%-

Bash

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