how to add a new disk in linux

When you add a new physical disk to a Linux system, you need to format, partition, and mount it before use. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

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✅ Summary of Commands

Task	Command
Check available disks	lsblk or fdisk -l
Open fdisk	sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
Create partition	n → p → w in fdisk
Format partition	sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1
Create mount point	sudo mkdir /mnt/newdisk
Mount disk	sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/newdisk
Auto-mount (permanent)	Add entry in /etc/fstab

Step 1: Identify the New Disk

After attaching a new disk, check if the system recognizes it:

or

🔹 Look for a device like /dev/sdb (assuming it’s the new disk).

If the disk is not detected, refresh the disk list:

or

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Step 2: Create a New Partition

Use fdisk to create a partition:

Inside fdisk:

1. Press n → Create a new partition.
2. Press p → Select Primary partition.
3. Choose the partition number (default: 1).
4. Specify the size (e.g., +20G for 20GB).
5. Press w → Save changes.

Verify the partition:

Now, you should see /dev/sdb1.

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Step 3: Format the New Partition

Format the partition with a filesystem (e.g., ext4):

For XFS:

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Step 4: Create a Mount Point

Choose a directory where you want to mount the disk:

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Step 5: Mount the New Disk

Manually mount the partition:

Verify:

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Step 6: Auto-Mount on Reboot (Persistent Mount)

To make the mount permanent, add an entry in /etc/fstab:

🔹 Note the UUID, then edit /etc/fstab:

Add this line at the end:

Save and exit. Apply changes:

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Step 7: Set Permissions (Optional)

If needed, change ownership:

or set permissions:

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