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Error "resize2fs: New size too large to be expressed in 32 bits" while trying to resize ext3 filesystem

This document (000021015) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 

Situation

While attempting to extend an existing logical volume to a size greater than 16 TiB and resize the ext3 filesystem on top of it, you may encounter the following error message: - 
# resize2fs /dev/testvg/testlv
resize2fs 1.43.8 (1-Jan-2018)
resize2fs: New size too large to be expressed in 32 bits

lvdisplay shows logical volume size as 17TB. 
# lvdisplay -m /dev/testvg/testlv
  --- Logical volume ---
  LV Path                /dev/testvg/testlv
          LV Name                testlv
          VG Name                testvg
          LV UUID                qzUm4T-hZLy-TMF1-YkgN-YMPs-puB7-YcrboX
          LV Write Access        read/write
          LV Creation host, time ip-172-31-27-171, 2023-02-03 07:12:55 +0000
          LV Status              available
          # open                 1
          LV Size                17.00 TiB
          Current LE             4456448
          Segments               1
          Allocation             inherit
          Read ahead sectors     auto
          - currently set to     1024
          Block device           254:0

          --- Segments ---
          Logical extents 0 to 4456447:
            Type                striped
            Stripes             2
            Stripe size         64.00 KiB
            Stripe 0:
              Physical volume   /dev/nvme3n1
              Physical extents  0 to 2228223
            Stripe 1:
              Physical volume   /dev/nvme4n1
              Physical extents  0 to 2228223

Resolution

Resize the filesystem to exactly 16 TiB (16777216 MB) which is the maximum size supported for the ext3 filesystem. 
# resize2fs /dev/testvg/testlv 16777216M
resize2fs 1.43.8 (1-Jan-2018)
Filesystem at /dev/mapper/testvg-testlv is mounted on /mnt; online resizing required
old_desc_blocks = 896, new_desc_blocks = 1024
The filesystem on /dev/mapper/testvg-testlv is now 4294967295 (4k) blocks long.

ip-172-31-27-171:~ # df -h /mnt
Filesystem                 Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/mapper/testvg-testlv   16T  1.1M   16T   1% /mnt

Else reduce the logical volume to exactly 16TB and resize the filesystem. 

Cause

The root cause of this issue is that the actual logical volume size is slightly higher than the maximum size supported for ext3 file systems in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
 

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

  • Document ID:000021015
  • Creation Date: 29-Mar-2023
  • Modified Date:29-Mar-2023
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications

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