Is there a way to add space to a partition?

[noimad1]

Please forgive my ignorance in this question, i know already I probably am going to sound like a retard for asking it.

HOwever, is there a way to add space to an existing partition without losing all of the files?

For example, i ordered a server, and the datacenter only put a 6GB partiion on my /var/. Now, i have like 5gb worth of databases in /var/lib/mysql and the partition is full.

If not, what are my options here?

Could I move all of the databases to another location and create a sym-link for msyql directory to point there? Or is there a better option?

[vwiley1]

I moved mine to /home/mysql and have a symlink from /var/lib/mysql.

[noimad1]

I moved mine to /home/mysql and have a symlink from /var/lib/mysql.

I tried that, but then I had a problem with the mysql.sock file for some reason. I would create the file, then restart mysql and it would be gone, and mysql wouldn't start?

Did you have to do anything special for that?

[madaboutlinux]

Hi,

Specify the path to mysql.sock file in /etc/my.cnf file and restart mysql. Below is the entry for example:

socket = /var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock

This should fix the problem for you.

Thanks.

[TechBrein]

noimad1,

Remove the unwanted files, if any, from /var first. You may safely remove the mysql binary logs inside /var/lib/mysql. They usually consume very large space. Moving /var/lib/mysql to another location and creating a symlink to /var/lib/ should work. How did you move the mysql databases? Did you create a directory, say in /home, and then moved the dirs under /var/lib/mysql over there? If so, make sure that the directory that contains the mysql DBs has got the permission of 751 and the ownership of mysql:mysql.

[noimad1]

noimad1,

Remove the unwanted files, if any, from /var first. You may safely remove the mysql binary logs inside /var/lib/mysql. They usually consume very large space. Moving /var/lib/mysql to another location and creating a symlink to /var/lib/ should work. How did you move the mysql databases? Did you create a directory, say in /home, and then moved the dirs under /var/lib/mysql over there? If so, make sure that the directory that contains the mysql DBs has got the permission of 751 and the ownership of mysql:mysql.

Yes, I did create a folder under the home directory, set the permissions to 751 and the ownership to mysql:mysql. I then created the symlink, and the mysql.sock file just kept disapearing each time I would restart mysql.

Now here is the scary part. I move all of the files back (just using the mv command) and all uf a sudden my mysql folder went from 4.0GB to 1.2gb.....i don't know what is missing, and it makes me very nervous. I didn't delete anything, just 'mv' it. I haven't had any customer say their databases are gone or anything like that......

Anyone ever seen that happen?

[TechBrein]

Did you remove any files, mysql binary logs, in particular?

[noimad1]

Did you remove any files, mysql binary logs, in particular?

No, that's what has me kind of freaked out. I didn't remvoe anything, just used the "mv command"