Updated: 30 September 2026 · Applies to: util-linux fdisk and GNU parted on AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux 9 and 10, RHEL 9 and 10, Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04, Debian 13
Before you can store data on a new disk, you create one or more partitions on it, put a file system on each partition, and mount it. This guide uses parted, which handles large disks and GPT partition tables well. Partitioning changes the disk layout: double-check the device name, because choosing the wrong disk destroys its data.
1. Find the new disk
lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,MOUNTPOINTS,MODEL
A new, empty disk has no partitions and no mount point, for example sdb or vdb. The examples use /dev/sdb.
2. Create a partition table and a partition
parted /dev/sdb --script mklabel gpt parted /dev/sdb --script mkpart data xfs 0% 100% parted /dev/sdb --script print
mklabel gpt creates a GPT partition table, which supports disks larger than 2 TB and many partitions. 0% 100% lets parted align the partition correctly and use the whole disk. For several partitions, give sizes instead, for example mkpart data xfs 0% 50% and mkpart backup ext4 50% 100%.
3. Create a file system
mkfs.xfs /dev/sdb1 # XFS, the default on AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and RHEL mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1 # or ext4, the default on Ubuntu and Debian
4. Mount it permanently
mkdir -p /data blkid /dev/sdb1
Add a line to /etc/fstab with the UUID from blkid:
UUID=0b3f5c2e-... /data xfs defaults,nofail 0 0
systemctl daemon-reload mount -a df -h /data
nofail lets the server boot even if this disk is missing. mount -a reports mistakes in /etc/fstab now instead of at the next boot.
Using fdisk instead
fdisk /dev/sdb works interactively: press g for a new GPT table, n for a new partition (accept the defaults to use the whole disk), p to check, and w to write. Nothing is changed until you press w.
For more on parted, including resizing, see 8 Linux parted commands to create, resize and rescue disk partitions and how to partition and mount a new disk with parted.
Official documentation: GNU parted manual and fdisk manual.
