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To create a new LVM volume group (VG), initialize a verified, unused disk partition as a physical volume (PV), then create the group:
sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb1
sudo vgcreate data-vg /dev/sdb1
sudo vgs
/dev/sdb1 and data-vg are examples, not values to copy blindly. Identify the target device first: selecting a disk or partition that holds needed data can make that data inaccessible.
What a volume group does—and what it does not
LVM organizes storage in layers:
disk or partition → physical volume (PV) → volume group (VG)
→ logical volume (LV) → filesystem → mount point- A physical volume is a block device initialized for LVM, such as a partition or dedicated disk.
- A volume group pools one or more PVs so that space can be allocated to logical volumes.
- A logical volume is a virtual block device created from space in a VG.
A VG is not a filesystem or a directory you can mount. After making the VG, create an LV, put a filesystem on that LV, and mount it to use the space as a directory. Ubuntu documents this PV-to-VG-to-LV workflow and the resulting device paths at Manage logical volumes.
Check the Ubuntu release before changing storage
Ubuntu 16.04 standard security maintenance ended in April 2021, and Ubuntu 18.04 standard security maintenance ended in May 2023. Canonical lists extended security maintenance coverage through May 2026 for 16.04 and May 2028 for 18.04 under applicable Ubuntu Pro coverage; eligibility and coverage depend on the release, architecture, subscription, and support stream. See Canonical’s release cycle and ESM information. These LVM commands remain relevant for administering existing systems on those releases, but a new installation should normally use a currently supported Ubuntu release.
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Before you run LVM commands
Install the LVM utilities if needed
Most Ubuntu Server installations provide LVM tools when needed. On a minimal system where the commands are missing, install the lvm2 package:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lvm2You also need root or sudo access, a backup of any data that matters, and a target disk or partition you have confirmed is unused. Do not initialize a mounted filesystem, an operating-system device, active swap, a RAID member, or a PV already in use. If the target is part of an existing storage stack or contains data to preserve, stop and plan a migration instead.
Identify the device instead of guessing its name
Inspect block devices and their filesystems and mount points:
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sudo blkidFor example:
NAME SIZE TYPE FSTYPE MOUNTPOINTS
sda 80G disk
├─sda1 79G part ext4 /
└─sda2 1G part swap [SWAP]
sdb 200G diskHere, /dev/sdb might be the intended empty disk, but the listing alone does not prove that it is safe to use. Verify the size, mount point, filesystem, and the physical or virtual disk inventory. Device names can vary between machines and may change with hardware or virtual-machine configuration.
Stop if the device identity or contents are uncertain. A mistaken partitioning or pvcreate operation can destroy access to data. For an extra read-only signature check, use sudo wipefs -n /dev/sdb1; the -n option lists signatures without erasing them.
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Choose a partition or a whole disk
For most administrators, a partition such as /dev/sdb1 is the clearest choice. It lets you reserve part of the disk or keep a recognizable partition layout. Create a GPT partition table if appropriate, make a partition covering the intended space, mark it as Linux LVM, and then initialize that partition. Ubuntu’s LVM documentation describes creating a partition and marking it for LVM before running pvcreate; the exact partitioning steps depend on the tool and partition-table format.
A dedicated, confirmed-empty disk can also be used directly as a PV, for example sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb. Treat this as a deliberate choice, not a shortcut: preparing a whole disk may require removing partition-table information and destroy data on it. The Ubuntu 18.04 pvcreate manual documents this risk.
Create a new VG from one partition
Once the partition is created and verified as the intended unused device, initialize it as a PV and create a new VG. Replace both example values with your chosen device and group name.
- Initialize the partition:
sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb1 - Create the new group:
sudo vgcreate data-vg /dev/sdb1 - Verify the PV and VG:
sudo pvs sudo vgs sudo vgdisplay data-vg
pvs should show the partition and the VG that owns it. vgs should show the group’s PV count and free space. vgdisplay shows more detail. Ubuntu’s storage guide uses the same explicit pvcreate then vgcreate sequence and recommends these inspection commands.
Create a VG from multiple PVs
To pool multiple verified partitions into one new VG, initialize them and name them together when creating the group:
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sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1
sudo vgcreate data-vg /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1
sudo pvs
sudo vgsThe vgcreate command accepts a VG name followed by one or more PV paths; see the Ubuntu vgcreate manual. Pooling capacity is not the same as redundancy. A VG does not automatically mirror data or protect against a disk failure. If an LV has extents on a failed PV, that LV may become unavailable or corrupted. Use an appropriate RAID or mirroring design, replication, and backups when fault tolerance is required.
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If the group already exists, do not use vgcreate again. Inspect the current layout, initialize the new partition, then add it with vgextend:
sudo vgs
sudo pvs
sudo pvcreate /dev/sdd1
sudo vgextend data-vg /dev/sdd1
sudo pvs
sudo vgs
sudo vgdisplay data-vgHere, data-vg must be the existing group name. The Ubuntu 18.04 pvcreate manual distinguishes creating a new group with vgcreate from adding a PV to an existing one with vgextend.
Create a logical volume and filesystem if you need mounted storage
Creating a VG leaves its space in the pool; it does not allocate it to an LV. To make a 100 GB LV in data-vg, run:
sudo lvcreate --name data-lv --size 100G data-vg
sudo lvs
lsblkThe new block device is available as /dev/data-vg/data-lv (also represented under /dev/mapper/). Ubuntu’s LVM guide documents the same lvcreate syntax and device-path conventions.
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If the LV is new and contains no data to preserve, create a filesystem on the LV—not on the VG or PV:
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/data-vg/data-lvThis formats the LV. Do not run it on a device containing needed data. After formatting, create a mount point and mount the LV there; mounting and persistent /etc/fstab configuration are separate steps.
Verify the final storage layout
Use these commands to check each layer:
sudo pvs
sudo vgs
sudo lvs
lsblk -f
sudo vgdisplay data-vgpvsidentifies PV devices and their owning VGs.vgsreports VG capacity, PV and LV counts, and unallocated free space.lvslists logical volumes and their sizes.lsblk -fshows the device hierarchy, filesystem types, and mount points.vgdisplayprovides detailed information about the named group.
A VG can have free space while lvs lists no logical volumes; that means storage has been pooled but not yet allocated to an LV.
Troubleshoot common errors safely
The volume group name already exists
Check sudo vgs and sudo vgdisplay. If the existing group is the one you intend to use, add the PV with vgextend. Otherwise, choose a different name. Do not remove the existing group as a routine fix: removing a VG can destroy its logical volumes and data.
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Inspect before changing anything:
sudo wipefs -n /dev/sdb1
sudo blkid /dev/sdb1
findmnt /dev/sdb1A reported filesystem, RAID signature, or LVM membership is a reason to stop and determine what owns the device. Do not use erase commands, pvremove, or repeated force options as generic fixes. The Ubuntu 18.04 pvcreate manual explains that force options override safety checks, including checks against reusing a PV already assigned to a VG.
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The target is mounted or in use
Use findmnt and the system’s storage inventory to establish what is using it. Only unmount a filesystem after confirming that it is safe to do so; for a verified standalone mount, the command is sudo umount /dev/sdb1. If the device belongs to the operating system, swap, RAID, or an active LVM stack, do not proceed with this new-PV workflow.
A virtual disk or partition was enlarged
Expanding an existing PV is different from adding a new PV. After enlarging the underlying partition or disk and confirming the PV device reflects the new capacity, the relevant operation may be:
sudo pvresize /dev/sdb1
sudo vgsDo not run pvcreate and vgextend for this case: those commands prepare and add a separate PV, rather than grow an existing one.
A command reports that a PV is already assigned to another group
Inspect with sudo pvs and sudo vgs to find its current owner. Do not force initialization or remove the PV label until you have confirmed that no logical volume or data depends on it.
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