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====== Resize_&_Create_Partitions_in_Debian ======

===== Resize a Current Partition =====
  * A boot disk or Live CD, or Rescue System is required to run the commands below

I needed to shrink a 135gb ext3 partition to 35gb, leaving space for another partition.

 parted  <nowiki>//</nowiki>the debian program

The process:
 parted /dev/sda
 
 p <nowiki>//</nowiki>print partitions
 
 resize #   <nowiki>//</nowiki> where # is current partition number to be resized, e.g. "2" where partition is /dev/sda2
 Start? [[blah]]  <nowiki>//</nowiki>should be ok by defauly
 End? [[Type|in New End of Partition]]

That should do it.

===== Create a Partition =====
Once the above resizing is done, and there unallocated space on the disks, type - cfdisk /dev/sda to see partitions. A new partition can be CREATED from the now available free space.

Choose the TYPE of the Partition required - ext3 or RAID etc.

In order to format the new partition created using cfdisk (above):
 mke2fs -j /dev/sda3

That should do it. cfdisk will show the format and partitions for you to check. 
 mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/newfolder <nowiki>//</nowiki>will mount it.

===== Problems, Pitfalls, and Solutions =====
1. The space you shrink to - make sure to allow PLENTY of room for the filesystem!!!! 35gb turned out to leave 32gb!!

2. Now - if parted gives the following error:
 No Implementation: This ext2 filesystem has a rather strange layout!  Parted can't resize this (yet).

You need to get the latest "testing" version of parted - v. 1.7 Debian sarge using 1.6. You will need to change /etc/apt/sources.list to move to testing (on rescue system) and upgrade. The new version of parted should work fine.


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Sources:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=360042

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/debian-linux-help/49045-how-format-hard-disk.html