Shrink the disk on a virtual server with systemrescuecd utility and dd command

Modified on Thu, 08 Dec 2022 at 02:43 PM

DON'T perform this unless absolutely necessary!
AND
Make sure you have a system BACKUP!

1. Add new disk of the desired (target) size to the vm

2. Shutdown and boot into systemrescuecd

3. New device should be listed, let's check that:

lsblk

4. Start by > shrinking the partition(s) of disk(s) you would like to downsize

5. Create a clone of the larger disk into smaller disk that was just added:

Depending on the size of your data, this may take some time

dd if=/dev/sdX of=/dev/sdY bs=$block-size status=progress

Be VERY careful here, IF is a SOURCE, OF is a DESTINATION, BS is a BLOCK SIZE (query this of your VM provider), STATUS is PROGRESS (to monitor the progress)

6. Once complete, verify the partitions on a new drive:

gdisk -l /dev/sdY

If you encounter Warning! Disk size is smaller than the main header indicates!

To fix it:

gdisk /dev/sdY

> x (experts mode)

> e (to relocate backup partition table to the end of the disk)

> w (to write changes)

> confirm

7. > Extend the partition on a new disk if possible

8. Shutdown the vm

9. Swap the disks (to boot of the smaller clone)

10. Boot

11. Delete old (larger) disk