Updated Date: 07/07/2026
Resizing Disk Space on BIG-IQ Virtual Edition
BIG-IQ Virtual Edition (VE) uses Logical Volume Management (LVM) to allow you to use utilities to resize file systems. Additional disk space is useful when you need more storage on your BIG-IQ system for things such as logging or database files.
Here is an example of an initial installation of BIG-IQ 5.2 VE with a single installation slot created on volume HD1.1
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # tmsh show sys software
----------------------------------------------------
Sys::Software Status
Volume Product Version Build Active Status
----------------------------------------------------
HD1.1 BIG-IQ 5.2.0 0.0.5741 yes completeThe size of each file system is determined by a configuration file within the BIG-IQ installation image. (For details, refer to Default Filesystem Sizes on support.f5.com.)
You can use the command lvs to see the file structure on your BIG-IQ VE. The response shows all of the default logical volumes created, along with their size, in kilobytes.
Here is an example of an a typical BIG-IQ 5.2 VE file system.
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # lvs --unit=k
LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert
dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k
dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k
dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k
dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k
set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3321856.00k
set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k
set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10485760.00k
set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00kWhen you upgrade to version 5.3 or 5.4, BIG-IQ, one of the installation steps creates a new slot using the create-volume parameter. Another installation step reveals the resulting file structure.
Here is an example from a typical BIG-IQ 5.2 to 5.3 upgrade:
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # tmsh install sys software image BIG-IQ-5.3.0.0.0.1119.iso create-volume volume HD1.2
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # tmsh show sys software
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sys::Software Status
Volume Product Version Build Active Status
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HD1.1 BIG-IQ 5.2.0 0.0.5741 yes complete
HD1.2 BIG-IQ 5.3.0 0.0.1119 no installing 10.000 pctThe following example illustrates what the logical volumes look like after you install the new BIG-IQ software.
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # lvs --unit=k
LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert
dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k
dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k
dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k
dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k
set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3321856.00k
set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k
set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10485760.00k
set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00k
set.2._config vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3321856.00k
set.2._usr vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3452928.00k
set.2._var vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 10485760.00k
set.2.root vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 450560.00k
Each installation volume has their own root, /usr, /config, and /var filesystems. The filesystems are mounted on logical volumes named using the following naming convention: vg--db--sda-set.<installation slot>.<filesystem alias>.
This table illustrates the mapping structure.
| Installation Slot | Logical Volume | Mount Point | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared | dat.log.1 | /var/log | Shared across all installation slots |
| Shared | dat.share.1 | /shared | Shared across all installation slots |
| HD1.1 | set.1._config | /config | Slot 1 only |
| HD1.1 | set.1._usr | /usr | Slot 1 only |
| HD1.1 | set.1._var | /var | Slot 1 only |
| HD1.1 | set.1.root | / | Slot 1 only |
| HD1.2 | set.2._config | /config | Slot 2 only |
| HD1.2 | set.2._usr | /usr | Slot 2 only |
| HD1.2 | set.2._var | /var | Slot 2 only |
| HD1.2 | set.2.root | / | Slot 2 only |
The BIG-IQ installation image contains the information used to configure logical volumes with default sizes. These default sizes are referred to as plans. If you install a new BIG-IQ version and the existing logical volumes in the target installation slot are not at least as large as the default size, then the installation process deletes and recreates the entire slot with the default logical volume sizes spelled out in the plan for the installation image. If you want to see the sizes defined in the plan for your BIG-IQ system, you can use a script named imageplan.
Here is an example of the plans defined for a BIG-IQ 5.1 installation:
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # imageplan /shared/images/BIG-IQ-5.1.0.0.0.631.iso
product BIG-IQ version 5.1.0 build 0.0.631 (BIGIQ510) selected
Standard plan
Mount point: /, Size: 300000k
Mount point: /usr, Size: 2350000k
Mount point: /config, Size: 1048576k
Mount point: /var, Size: 10485760k
Tiny plan
Mount point: /, Size: 300000k
Mount point: /usr, Size: 2350000k
Mount point: /config, Size: 1048576k
Mount point: /var, Size: 10485760kHere is an example of the plans defined for a BIG-IQ 5.2 installation:
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # imageplan /shared/images/BIG-IQ-5.2.0.0.0.5741.iso
product BIG-IQ version 5.2.0 build 0.0.5741 (BIGIQ520) selected
Standard plan
Mount point: /, Size: 450000k
Mount point: /usr, Size: 3450000k
Mount point: /config, Size: 3320000k
Mount point: /var, Size: 10485760k
Tiny plan
Mount point: /, Size: 450000k
Mount point: /usr, Size: 3450000k
Mount point: /config, Size: 500000k
Mount point: /var, Size: 10485760kAs illustrated in these examples, for BIG-IQ version 5.1 and 5.2, the Standard and Tiny plans use the same sizes for the/, /usr, and /var mount points. The size for the/config mount point often changes for each plan.
When you install BIG-IQ software, the installation process reads the plan for the version you are installing and then uses either the Standard or the Tiny plan depending upon the total disk size available in the target installation slot.
This table describes the contents of a folder structure on a typical BIG-IQ VE.
|
File System |
Contains |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
/shared |
Shared across all installation volumes:- ucs backups
|
Consider resizing this disk if there are many UCS backups (for example, if you have lots of BIG-IP devices to manage) or software installation images, or if the size of the BIG-IQ UCS file itself, which contains data from |
|
/var/log |
Processes logging data shared across all installation volumes:- restjavad logs
|
Consider resizing this disk if the default log rotation policies do not handle actual logging volume. |
|
/ (root) |
Linux operating system components and configuration | |
|
/usr |
BIG-IQ installation binary and configuration components | |
|
/var |
BIG-IQ data:- restjavad configuration data
|
Consider resizing this disk if the database or index growth will exceed current disk capacity. |
The commands for extending the file system on your BIG-IQ VE are very straightforward, but there are a things you should consider before proceeding.
- Do you have enough disk space on the BIG-IQ VE to install the BIG-IQ software?
- How big are the volumes needed by the software you want to install?
- How big are the volumes on your current BIG-IQ installation?
- Do you have an open slot to install the software on?
Before you create new slots and size them appropriately, you need to check that there is sufficient physical disk space on the VE. You can use the pvs command to check. For example:
[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # `pvs`
PV VG Fmt Attr PSize PFree
/dev/sda3 vg-db-sda lvm2 a-- 498.50g 446.82g
This device has 446 Gigs of free disk space. That would be more than sufficient for a standard 5.4 install (30G +5G + 5G + 10G = 50G)
Once you know how much room you need and if there is room on the VE you are installing on, you can start extending the disk. Remember that the volume sizes on the target slot must be at least as big as the volumes on your current slot. So if you have extended the volume sizes on your current installation, you will need larger volumes than the minimum sizes specified in the image plan for the software image you are installing. You need to use the larger of the two values from the checks you just completed. For example, if the imageplan script shows a/var size of 10G is needed for the software you want to install, but the show sys software check shows a /var size of 30G for the version you currently have installed, then you need the /var volume to be sized at 30G, not 10G.
F5 has created a script that reads the size requirements from the software image you plan to install and then creates them for you on a new installation slot. To use this script:
-
Copy the software image to the /shared/images folder on the BIG-IQ system you plan to upgrade:
[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # `cp <big-iq-software-image>.iso /shared/images/<big-iq-software-image>.iso` -
Run the
imageplanscript on the software image to determine the filesystem sizes required:[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # `./imageplan /shared/images/<big-iq-software-image>.iso` product BIG-IQ version 5.3.0 build 0.0.1119 (BIGIQ530) selected Standard plan Mount point: /, Size: 450000k Mount point: /usr, Size: 3450000k Mount point: /config, Size: 3320000k Mount point: /var, Size: 10485760k Tiny plan Mount point: /, Size: 450000k Mount point: /usr, Size: 3450000k Mount point: /config, Size: 500000k Mount point: /var, Size: 10485760k
Now you know the size requirements for the image you plan to install.
You need to know the volume sizes for your current installation, because if any of the volumes have been extended, you must likewise extend the volumes on the installation slot before you upgrade. Otherwise, the install process can result in loss of data. To check the volume sizes of the existing installation, you can use the tmsh command show sys software . For example:
[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] config # `tmsh show sys software`
----------------------------------------------------
Sys::Software Status
Volume Product Version Build Active Status
----------------------------------------------------
HD1.1 BIG-IQ 5.2.0 0.0.5567 yes complete
[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] config # lvs --unit=k
LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert
dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k
dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k
dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k
dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k
set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 503808.00k
set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k
set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 31457280.00k
set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00k
The system response shows you the volume sizes of your current installation. The key volumes with their sizes are listed below:
- /config (.5G)
- /usr (3.5G)
- /var (30G)
- /root (.5G)
The slot you upgrade to must have volumes that are at least as big as those on the slot your software is currently installed on. This is especially significant if you decided to extend one of the volumes on your current installation. So if your /var is extended to 30G, you must have at least that much space on the new slot before you install software.
Before you can install new software, you need an open slot. You can use the lvs command to determine how many slots there are on your BIG-IQ VE. For example:
[root@bigiq-console01:Active:Standalone] config # `lvs --unit=k`
LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert
dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 8388608.00k
dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k
dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 33554432.00k
dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k
set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 503808.00k
set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3452928.00k
set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 10485760.00k
set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 450560.00k
set.2._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3481600.00k
set.2._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3584000.00k
set.2._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 16003072.00k
set.2.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 512000.00k
set.3._config vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3321856.00k
set.3._usr vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3452928.00k
set.3._var vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 10485760.00k
set.3.root vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 450560.00k
Each instance of set.n represents a slot on the VE. So in this example the VE has 3 installation slots (set.1, set.2, and set.3).
The work flow for extending your disk volumes so that you can successfully upgrade to a new version of BIG-IQ and preserve your current data is listed below:
- If you need more physical disk space, attend to that first.
- If you have the disk space and an open slot, then F5 has a script that you can use to create the new volumes required for the image you plan to install.
addvolreads the image plan for the software you plan to install and creates the volumes required. - If you have extended the disk space on your current installation, F5 has a script that increases volume size as needed.
resizevolsets the volume size to the value you specify. - If you need an extra slot, you can add it as part of the installation command. The create_volume parameter adds a new slot to your VE and (if you’ve set up the volume sizes correctly using
addvolandresizevol) when the software upgrades, all of your data fits without any disk resizing. Resizing disks in the middle of an upgrade can cause you to lose data.
The following example tasks step you through the work flow for extending your disk size as part of an upgrade. In this scenario, you check the disk space first, then you create the volumes for the software you plan to install, then you extend a volume to account for an extension you performed on your current installation, and finally, you install the software, adding a new installation slot as part of the process.
F5 has created several scripts that are useful if you need to resize your disk volumes as part of the upgrade process. To use these scripts, you must first download them.
-
Log in to
downloads.f5.com. -
Navigate to BIG-IQ Centralized Management, v7.1.0, and click I Accept to accept the EULA.
-
Click F5_Networks_Disk_Size_Tools.zip.
After a brief pause, the Download Locations screen opens.
-
Click a download location to start the download.
-
When the download completes, unzip the file.
Three files will extract to the folder you designate:
- addvol
- imageplan
- resizevol
Before you can run these scripts, you need to copy them to the device you are resizing.
- Before you can use this work flow to check the amount of free disk space on your BIG-IQ VE, you must download the
imageplanscript fromF5.downloads.com. For details on downloading this script, refer to Downloading disk size tools onsupport.f5.com.
Before you create new slots and size them appropriately, you need to check that there is sufficient physical disk space on the BIG-IQ VE.
-
Use SSH to log in to your DCD as root.
-
Use the
pvscommand to check how much disk space is available for new slots and volumes.[root@bigiq-console-test-large:Active:Standalone] ~ # `pvs` PV VG Fmt Attr PSize PFree /dev/sda3 vg-db-sda lvm2 a-- 498.50g 446.82gThe command response tells you how much free disk space is available.
This device has 446 Gigs of free disk space. That would be more than sufficient for a standard 5.4 install (30G +5G + 5G + 10G = 50G)
If the amount of disk space available is less than the amount you need before you can install your software, you must increase the free space before you can proceed. Refer to the hypervisor vendor documentation for the work flow to increase the amount of available disk space on your VE.
- Before you can use this work flow to size the volumes on an installation slot, you must download the
addvolscript fromF5.downloads.com. For details on downloading this script, refer to Downloading disk size tools onsupport.f5.com.
If you are planning to upgrade a BIG-IQ VE, you can use the following steps to create new volumes on the installation slot. The new volumes will be sized correctly for the version you plan to install.
-
Down load the image file that you plan to install from downloads.f5.com.
-
Use SSH to log in to your DCD as root and copy the image file to the /shared/images folder.
-
Use the
addvolscript to create the filesystems defined in the image plan for the software you plan to install.The script creates the correctly sized volume, but does not install any software. In this example, the image file for BIG-IQ version 5.3.0 is used.
[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # `./addvol HD1.2 /shared/images/BIG-IQ-5.3.0.0.0.1119.iso` create volume HD1.2 for image /shared/images/BIG-IQ-5.3.0.0.0.1119.iso product BIG-IQ version 5.3.0 build 0.0.1119 (BIGIQ530) selected Creating new location sda, 2... info: zero sblock for member device; /dev/vg-db-sda/set.2.root info: zero sblock for member device; /dev/vg-db-sda/set.2._usr info: zero sblock for member device; /dev/vg-db-sda/set.2._config info: zero sblock for member device; /dev/vg-db-sda/set.2._var [root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # lvs --unit=k LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 503808.00k set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 30003200.00k set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00k set.2._config vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3321856.00k set.2._usr vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3452928.00k set.2._var vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 10485760.00k set.2.root vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 450560.00kThe script reads the image plan and creates new volumes for /config, /usr, /var, and /root based on the requirements defined in the plan.
When you upgrade a BIG-IQ VE, you need to know the volume sizes for your current installation, because if any of the volumes have been extended, you must extend the volumes on the installation slot before you upgrade. Otherwise, the install process can result in loss of data. To check the volume sizes of the existing installation, you can use the tmsh command show sys software.
Use the following steps to determine the size of the volumes used by your current BIG-IQ installation.
-
Use SSH to log in to your DCD as root.
-
Use the tmsh command
show sys softwareto check the volume sizes of the existing installation.[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] config # `tmsh show sys software` ---------------------------------------------------- Sys::Software Status Volume Product Version Build Active Status ---------------------------------------------------- HD1.1 BIG-IQ 5.2.0 0.0.5567 yes complete [root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] config # lvs --unit=k LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 503808.00k set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 31457280.00k set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00kThe system response shows you the volume sizes of your current installation. The key volumes with their sizes are listed below:
- /config (.5G)
- /usr (3.5G)
- /var (30G)
- /root (.5G)
The slot you upgrade to must have volumes that are at least as big as those on the slot your software is currently installed on. This is especially significant if you decided to extend one of the volumes on your current installation. So if your /var volume is extended to 30G, you must have at least that much space on the new slot before you install software.
- You need to download the
resizevolscript from F5.downloads.com. For details on downloading this script, refer to Downloading disk size tools on support.f5.com. - You need to know the volume names that you want to extend and the size that you want to extend them to.
If you need to increase the volume size of a disk volume on your installation slot so that you can install without losing any data, you can use the resizevolscript.
-
Use SSH to log in to your DCD as root.
-
Use the
resizevolscript to increase size of the volume on the new installation slot to the required size.The volume sizes required depend on the sizes your current installation uses. See Check the volume sizes on your current BIG-IQ installation on support.f5.com.
[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # `./resizevol /var 30000000` Requested size 30000000k is less than current size 30003200.00k on /dev/vg-db-sda/set.1._var, skipping Resizing logical volumes. OK (y/n)? y Requested size 30000000k is less than current size 30003200.00k, skipping e2fsck 1.41.12 (17-May-2010) Pass 1: Checking inodes, blocks, and sizes Pass 2: Checking directory structure Pass 3: Checking directory connectivity Pass 4: Checking reference counts Pass 5: Checking group summary information set.2./var: 11/655360 files (0.0% non-contiguous), 79696/2621440 blocks Rounding size to boundary between physical extents: 28.61 GiB Extending logical volume set.2._var to 28.61 GiB Logical volume set.2._var successfully resized resize2fs 1.41.12 (17-May-2010) Resizing the filesystem on /dev/vg-db-sda/set.2._var to 7500800 (4k) blocks. The filesystem on /dev/vg-db-sda/set.2._var is now 7500800 blocks long. [root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # lvs --unit=k LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 503808.00k set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 30003200.00k set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00k set.2._config vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3321856.00k set.2._usr vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3452928.00k set.2._var vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 30003200.00k set.2.root vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 450560.00kThe script extends the size of the volume you enter (/var in this example) to the size you enter (30GB in this example).
Now that the volumes are correctly sized, you can proceed with the installation.
- You need to download the software image from
F5.downloads.com. - You need to have correctly sized the volumes on the slot you plan to install the new version on.
You can upgrade BIG-IQ using a tmsh command. The process performs the following steps:
- Creates a UCS backup from the current system and saves it in the
/sharedfolder. - Installs a new BIG-IQ image on a new slot.
- When the new image is installed on the new slot, it copies that data was saved in
/sharedinto the new database running on the new slot.
-
Use SSH to log in to your BIG-IQ as root.
-
Use the
tmsh installcommand to upgrade your software.Note: The following example uses the create-volume parameter so the process creates a new slot and then begins installing the software on it.
[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # tmsh install sys software image BIG-IQ-5.3.0.0.0.1119.iso create-volume volume HD1.2The process upgrades your BIG-IQ and restores the data from the current version.
-
Once the install is complete, you can use the
tmsh show sys software commandto check to see that the upgrade was successful and that the /var filesystem is the correct size (30M).[root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # tmsh show sys software ---------------------------------------------------- Sys::Software Status Volume Product Version Build Active Status ---------------------------------------------------- HD1.1 BIG-IQ 5.2.0 0.0.5567 yes complete HD1.2 BIG-IQ 5.3.0 0.0.1119 no complete [root@bigiq-test:Active:Standalone] ~ # lvs --unit=k LV VG Attr LSize Pool Origin Data% Move Log Cpy%Sync Convert dat.log.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 7168000.00k dat.maint.1 vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 307200.00k dat.share.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 10240000.00k dat.swapvol.1 vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 1048576.00k set.1._config vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 503808.00k set.1._usr vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 3452928.00k set.1._var vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 30003200.00k set.1.root vg-db-sda -wi-ao--- 450560.00k set.2._config vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3321856.00k set.2._usr vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 3452928.00k set.2._var vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 30003200.00k set.2.root vg-db-sda -wi-a---- 450560.00k
Now that the volumes are correctly sized, you can proceed with the installation.