Adding virtual disk units to an IBM i logical partition that uses i virtual I/O resources

You dynamically can add virtual disk units to an IBM® i logical partition that uses i virtual I/O resources. This allows you to increase the storage capacity of the i logical partition that uses i virtual I/O resources when needed.

About this task

IBM i provides the ability to add virtual disks dynamically to another i logical partition. You can allocate disk space in the integrated file system and make it available to i without restarting the server or logical partition.

To add virtual disks dynamically to an IBM i logical partition that uses i virtual I/O resources, complete the following steps:

Procedure

  1. Create a network-server storage space using the interface of your choice.
    Interface Actions
    IBM Navigator for i
    1. Expand My Connections > your server > Network > Windows Administration.
    2. Right-click the Disk Drives and select New Disk.
    3. In the Disk drive name field, specify the name that you want to give to the network-server storage space.
    4. In the Description field, specify a meaningful description for the network-server storage space.
    5. In the Capacity field, specify the size of the new network-server storage space in megabytes. To help you determine the size you want to use, see Installing, upgrading, or deleting IBM i and related software.
    6. Click OK.
    IBM i character-based interface
    1. At an IBM i command line on the IBM i logical partition that provides virtual I/O resources, type the command CRTNWSSTG and press F4. The Create NWS Storage Space (CRTNWSSTG) display opens.
    2. In the Network-server storage space field, specify the name you want to give to the network-server storage space.
    3. In the Size field, specify the size in megabytes for the new network-server storage space.
    4. In the Text description field, specify a meaningful description for the network-server storage space.
    5. Press Enter.
  2. Add the new disk to the auxiliary storage pool (ASP) on the client IBM i logical partition.
    For instructions, see Adding disk units to an existing auxiliary storage pool (ASP).
  3. Link the network-server storage space using the interface of your choice.
    Interface Actions
    IBM Navigator for i
    1. Expand My Connections > your server > Network > Windows Administration.
    2. Click Disk Drives, right-click an available network-server storage space, and select Add Link.
    3. Select the server to which you want to link the network-server storage space.
    4. Select one of the available data access types.
    5. Click OK.
    IBM i character-based interface
    1. At an IBM i command line on the IBM i logical partition that provides virtual I/O resources, type the command ADDNWSSTGL and press F4. The Add Network-Server Storage Link (ADDNWSSTGL) display opens.
    2. In the Network server description field, specify the name of the network server description (NWSD).
    3. In the Dynamic storage link field, specify *YES to make the network-server storage space dynamically available to the logical partition (that is, available without restarting the IBM i logical partition).
    4. In the Drive sequence number field, specify the link sequence position you want to use.
    5. Press Enter.
  4. Activate the IBM i logical partition (if it is not already activated).