# Creating a container

This chapter discusses when and how to create a container.

## When to create a container

Segments and disks can be combined to form a container. Containers allow you to combine storage objects and then subdivide those combined storage objects into new storage objects. You can combine storage objects to implement the volume group concept as found in the AIX and Linux logical volume managers.

Containers are the beginning of more flexible volume management. You might want to create a container in order to account for flexibility in your future storage needs. For example, you might need to add additional disks when your applications or users need more storage.

## Example: create a container

This section provides a detailed explanation of how to create a container with EVMS by providing instructions to help you complete the following task.

> ### Create "Sample Container"

> Given a system with three available disk drives (`sdc`, `sdd`, `hdc`), use the EVMS LVM Region Manager to combine these disk drives into a container called "Sample Container" with a PE size of 16 MB.

### Using the EVMS GUI

To create a container using the EVMS GUI, follow these steps:

1. Select Actions Create Container to see a list plug-ins that support container creation.

2. Select the LVM Region Manager. Click Next.

   The next dialog window contains a list of storage objects that the LVM Region Manager can use to create a container.

3. Select sdc, sdd, and hdc from the list. Click Next.

4. Enter the name `Sample Container` for the container and `16MB` in the PE size field.

5. Click Create. A window opens to display the outcome.

### Using Ncurses

To create a container using the Ncurses interface, follow these steps:

1. Select Actions CreateContainer to see a list of plug-ins that support container creation.

2. Select the LVM Region Manager. Activate Next.

   The next dialog window contains a list of storage objects that the LVM Region Manager can use to create the container.

3. Select sdc, sdd, and hdc from the list. Activate Next.

4. Press spacebar to select the field for the container name.

5. Type `Sample Container` at the "::" prompt. Press Enter.

6. Scroll down until PE Size is highlighted. Press spacebar.

7. Scroll down until 16MB is highlighted. Press spacebar.

8. Activate OK.

9. Activate Create.

### Using the CLI

The `Create` command creates containers. The first argument in the `Create` command is the type of object to produce, in this case a container. The `Create` command then accepts the following arguments: the region manager to use along with any parameters it might need, and the segments or disks to create the container from. The command to complete the previous example is:

    Create:Container,LvmRegMgr={name="Sample Container",pe_size=16MB},sdc,sdd,hdc

The previous example accepts the default values for all options you don't specify. To see the options for this command type:

    query:plugins,plugin=LvmRegMgr,list options