vgremove

Remove a volume group

TLDR

Remove a volume group with confirmation

$ vgremove [volume_group]

Forcefully remove a volume group without confirmation

$ vgremove --force [volume_group]

Set the debug level for detailed logging to level 2, (repeat --debug up to 6 times to increase the level)

$ vgremove --debug --debug [volume_group]

Use a specific config setting to override defaults

$ vgremove --config '[global/locking_type=1]' [volume_group]

Display help text for usage information

$ vgremove --help

SYNOPSIS

vgremove [options] VolumeGroupName

VolumeGroupName
    The name of the Volume Group to be removed.

-f, --force
    Force the removal of the Volume Group even if there are errors.

-y, --yes
    Answer yes to all prompts.

-q, --quiet
    Suppress output messages.

-v, --verbose
    Provide verbose output, showing detailed information about the removal process.

--config configuration_file
    Specify an alternate configuration file.

--driverloaded 1|0
    Indicate whether the device-mapper driver is loaded.

-h, --help
    Display help text and exit.

-V, --version
    Display version information and exit.

DESCRIPTION

The vgremove command is used in Linux to delete existing Volume Groups (VGs).
It's a crucial part of the Logical Volume Manager (LVM) system. Before a VG can be removed, all Logical Volumes (LVs) within it must be deactivated and either removed or moved to a different VG.
Removing a VG effectively destroys the logical structure defined by LVM, making the underlying physical volumes (PVs) available for other uses.
vgremove modifies the LVM metadata stored on the PVs that make up the VG. Caution should be exercised when using this command, as incorrect usage can lead to data loss.

CAVEATS

Before using vgremove, ensure all Logical Volumes within the target Volume Group are deactivated using lvchange -an and either removed using lvremove or moved to another VG using vgmove . Removing a VG without removing/moving LVs may lead to data loss. Double-check the volume group name before executing to avoid accidental deletion.

ERROR HANDLING

If the Volume Group contains active Logical Volumes, vgremove will refuse to proceed unless the -f option is used. It's highly recommended to deactivate and remove the LVs first to avoid data corruption.

HISTORY

vgremove is a standard command within the LVM2 suite of tools. Its development is tied directly to the evolution of LVM itself, designed to provide flexible and dynamic storage management on Linux systems. It has been a core utility since the widespread adoption of LVM2. It's usage ensures clean removal of unneeded logical volumes, freeing up disk space.