SLES10SP4 YaST2 partitioner fails on creating new partitions on GPT enabled devices

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP4

Situation

A RAID device using a GPT partition table was about to run out of disk space and got extended. While trying to create a new partition on this device, YaST2 shows the error message:

System error code was: -1007

Checking /var/log/YaST2/y2log, the following error messages are found:

2012-04-23 13:55:56,328 INFO libstorage(6378) - SystemCmd.cc(addLine):625 Adding Line 1 "Warning: Not all of the space available to /dev/sdb appears to be used, you can fix the GPT to use all of the space (an extra 2339840000 blocks) or continue with the current setting? "
2012-04-23 13:55:56,329 INFO libstorage(6378) - SystemCmd.cc(addLine):625 Adding Line 2 "Error: Unable to satisfy all constraints on the partition."

Resolution

To fix the GPT partition table on the device /dev/sdb as indicated in the error message please do the following:

exit YaST2
open a root shell
to start parted in interactive mode please run: parted
select the device to use: select /dev/sdb
list the partition table by using: print
parted now displays the same message from the y2log:
Warning: Not all of the space available to /dev/sdb appears to be used, you can fix the GPT to use all of the space (an extra 2339840000 blocks) or continue with the current setting?
Fix/Ignore
Please type "Fix" and hit enter to adjust the GPT partition table.

Either continue to use parted to create the new required partitions or leave the program by using "quit" and start YaST2.

Cause

GPT partition tables use two headers, one at the beginning of the disk and a second one on the last few blocks. While extending the device, the second header was moved away from its position. To address this the program parted needs to be used on the command line.

Disclaimer

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