Using multiple devices within a logical storage pool

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 Service Pack 2 (SLES 12 SP2)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 Service Pack 1 (SLES 12 SP1)
Virtual Machine Manager

Situation

Creating a logical storage pool in the Virtual Machine Manager only allows for one physical device in the LVM volume group.

kvm_host:~ # virsh pool-define-as eng logical - - '/dev/sda6;/dev/sda7' vg /dev/vg
Pool eng defined

kvm_host:~ # virsh pool-build eng
error: Failed to build pool eng
error: cannot open device '/dev/sda6;/dev/sda7': No such file or directory

Multiple devices have been specified with the following delimiters resulting in the same error: No such file or directory.

'/dev/sda6;/dev/sda7'
'/dev/sda[6-7]'
'/dev/sda6 /dev/sda7'
'/dev/sda6:/dev/sda7'

When attempting to create a logical volume with more than one device, similar error dialogs are observed:

From virt-manager, selct Edit > Connection Details > Storage > "+"
Name: lvm-pool, Type: logical: LVM Volume Group > Forward
Target Path: /dev/vg00, Source Path: /dev/sda5,/dev/sda6, Build Pool: Checked

The following error is observed:

"Error creating pool: Could not build storage pool: cannot open device '/dev/sda5,/dev/sda6': No such file or directory"

Resolution

Use a pre-existing volume group with multiple devices. An example of all the steps required to create an LVM volume group with multiple devices and adding it as a storage object follow.


kvm_host:~ # pvcreate /dev/sda[5-7]
  Physical volume "/dev/sda5" successfully created
  Physical volume "/dev/sda6" successfully created
  Physical volume "/dev/sda7" successfully created

kvm_host:~ # vgcreate vg00 /dev/sda[5-7]
  Volume group "vg00" successfully created

kvm_host:~ # pvs
  PV         VG   Fmt  Attr PSize   PFree  
  /dev/sda5  vg00 lvm2 a--  100.00g 100.00g
  /dev/sda6  vg00 lvm2 a--  100.00g 100.00g
  /dev/sda7  vg00 lvm2 a--  100.00g 100.00g

kvm_host:~ # vgs
  VG   #PV #LV #SN Attr   VSize   VFree  
  vg00   3   0   0 wz--n- 299.99g 299.99g

From virt-manager, selct Edit > Connection Details > Storage > "+"
Name: lvm-pool, Type: logical: LVM Volume Group > Forward
Target Path: /dev/vg00, Source Path: <null>, Build Pool: Not Checked

Add New Volumes to the Storage Pool for virtual machine use.
Volumes "+", Name: vol1, Capacity: 20G > Finish

Notice vol1 appears in the list of volumes. If you run the lvs command on the server, you will also notice that a new logical volume named vol1 has been created.


kvm_host:~ # lvs
  LV   VG   Attr       LSize  Pool Origin Data%  Meta%  Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert
  vol1 vg00 -wi-a----- 20.00g

Cause

Virtual Machine Manager only supports defining and building a logical pool storage with a single device.

Disclaimer

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