Install UBUNTU 12.04 LTS On an existing LVM Partition

This Small How-to explains how to install Ubuntu on an existing LVM (Logical Volume Management)

partition. The typically way of setting up LVM on Ubuntu is to use the alternative installation CD to

wipe your whole hard drive and setup LVM. Instead of starting from scratch with a clean system, we're

going to install Ubuntu to an already existing LVM partition. I have tested this on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

(Hardy Heron), but should work fine on previous or future releases.

5/2/2012

Installation

1. Backup your important data.

2. Get a LIVE CD. In my case it's Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.

3. Boot from the Live CD.

4. Install the LVM package.

a. sudo apt-get install lvm2

5. Just to make sure, Whether your hard disk has been recognized or not; run.

a. sudo fdisk -l

6. Run pvscan to scan all your physical volumes.

a. sudo pvscan

7. Now run vgscan to scan your volume group(s).

a. sudo vgscan

8. Now run lvscan to scan your logical volumes. It should display some lines with INACTIVE.

a. sudo lvscan

9. Now Make the logical volumes available by activating them as follows

a. sudo vgchange -a y

10. Again, run lvscan to check whether LVs are activated or not. Now It should display some lines

with ACTIVE.

You can now continue with your Ubuntu installation as usual and in partition scheme

choose something else and all the logical volumes shall be available in your partition manager.

Enjoy ;)