Storage Commands Cheat Sheet¶
Introduction¶
Storage work needs caution because a wrong device name can destroy data. This guide uses a verify-first workflow for storage commands cheat sheet on RHEL-style systems.
Before You Start¶
Identify the device, filesystem, mount point, and whether the data is backed up. Never format, repair, or resize a device until you know exactly what it contains.
lsblk -f
df -hT
Important Safety Notes¶
- Confirm the target with more than one command before destructive operations.
- Back up data before filesystem repair, LVM reduction, or partition changes.
- Test fstab changes before rebooting.
Step-by-Step Configuration¶
Use read-only discovery first, then apply the storage change. For persistent mounts, update fstab with UUIDs where possible.
lsblk -f
findmnt --verify
sudo mount -a
Verification¶
df -hT
sudo journalctl -xb --no-pager
Expected evidence:
Filesystem Type Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/mapper/rhel-root xfs 50G 44G 6G 89% /
Troubleshooting¶
If mounting or resizing fails, check filesystem type, device path, fstab syntax, kernel logs, and whether the filesystem is already mounted. For NFS or CIFS, also check network and credentials.
Common Mistakes¶
- Making several changes at once, which hides the real cause.
- Skipping logs or verification commands after a change.
- Assuming the problem is fixed because one command returned successfully.
Quick Checklist¶
- Identify the disk or logical volume.
- Confirm filesystem type and mount point.
- Back up important data.
- Apply the change on the correct target.
- Verify with lsblk, df, findmnt, or filesystem-specific tools.
Related Guides¶
Summary¶
Safe storage administration is deliberate. Identify the target, protect data, make the smallest required change, and verify the result before rebooting.