How do I resize a Linux filesystem data .bin file?

I have a 2 MB file: root.bin, that is a Linux rev 1.0 ext2 filesystem, and I would like to expand it so that I can put more files in it, but it does not just resize like I thought it would. How do I resize it, preferably keeping the files on it, to a specific size?

1 Answer
1

We will try to make your two MB root.bin file to a 12 MB to demonstrate the steps.

root.bin

Create a copy of your file (just in case for backup purpose):

cp root.bin 12mb.bin


Run this command to add 10M to the file size:

dd if=/dev/zero of=12mb.bin bs=1MiB count=10 conv=notrunc oflag=append


Now 12mb.bin is not 2M any more, actually its size is 12M.

Run:

e2fsck -f 12mb.bin


to check the filesystem on the file, then run:

resize2fs 12mb.bin


Done. mount it somewhere:

sudo mount 12mb.bin /mnt


check the size:

df -h --output=size /mnt/
Size
12M


And the existence of files:

ls /mnt


We can also use losetup to act with the file like a block device:

losetup

sudo losetup -f 12mb.bin


then:

sudo losetup -l | grep -i "12mb.bin" | awk 'print $1'
/dev/loop0


and we can resize /dev/loop0.

/dev/loop0

dd

notrunc

append

dd

truncate

dd

Thanks for contributing an answer to Ask Ubuntu!

But avoid …

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.

Please pay close attention to the following guidance:

But avoid …

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

Required, but never shown

Required, but never shown

By clicking "Post Your Answer", you acknowledge that you have read our updated terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy, and that your continued use of the website is subject to these policies.