EX200 Configure local storage Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are required steps when migrating a logical volume from one physical volume to another in the same volume group?
⚠ Common exam trap
Red Hat often tests the misconception that you must extend the logical volume (Option E) or delete/recreate it (Option A) to move data between PVs, when in fact pvmove handles the migration transparently without LV modification.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove the source physical volume from the volume group with vgreduce after migration
After using pvmove to relocate all physical extents from the source physical volume to the target, you must remove the source PV from the volume group using vgreduce to clean up the volume group metadata and free the device for other use. This step ensures the volume group no longer references the now-empty source PV.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Delete and recreate the logical volume on the new physical volume
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the logical volume and recreating it on the new physical volume is a destructive operation that discards all data on the LV. LVM migration is intended to relocate existing data non-disruptively; pvmove accomplishes this by copying extents while the LV remains online and accessible. Recreating an LV would require a full backup and restore, defeating the purpose of an in-place migration and risking data loss.
- ✗
Add the new physical volume to the volume group with vgextend if not already present
Why it's wrong here
If the new physical volume is already a member of the same volume group, vgextend is unnecessary and would actually fail because the PV is already present. The premise of the question explicitly states that the target PV is in the same VG, so no vgextend step is required. Even if the PV were new to the VG, vgextend only adds capacity; it does not migrate any existing extents from the source PV.
- ✓
Remove the source physical volume from the volume group with vgreduce after migration
Why this is correct
After pvmove has successfully relocated all allocated physical extents off the source PV, that PV becomes empty and can be removed from the volume group with vgreduce. This step is essential to shrink the VG's member list and to permanently detach the old physical volume without affecting logical volumes that now reside elsewhere. Without vgreduce, the empty PV would remain part of the VG, preventing its physical removal from the system.
- ✓
Use pvmove to relocate the physical extents from the source to the target PV
Why this is correct
pvmove is the central command for LVM migration: it relocates allocated physical extents from one physical volume to another within the same volume group, all while the logical volumes remain online and mounted. The command copies data from the source PV to free extents on the destination PV and then updates the LV mapping to reference the new extents. This is the required non-destructive step that actually transfers the data; the other listed operations either add capacity or clean up afterward.
- ✗
Extend the logical volume to include the new physical volume
Why it's wrong here
Extending a logical volume with lvextend increases its size by allocating additional free extents from the volume group; it does not relocate existing data from one physical volume to another. For migration, you need to move the data blocks themselves from the source PV, not simply grow the LV. Extending could be a separate action if more space is desired, but it is not a required step for migrating data off a specific PV.
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