Is there a way to add space to a partition?

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?

 

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?

 

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?

 

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