Ubuntu server: disk partitioning without reinstalling the OS

Question

I currently have an Ubuntu server installed, where I host some files. Is it possible to create a new partition on my disk and move the data there, without resintalling the OS?

here is my setup from df-T

root@kitsch:~# df -T
Filesystem    Type   1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/mapper/kitsch-root
              ext4   237251272  69025564 156174048  31% /
none      devtmpfs      492320       212    492108   1% /dev
none         tmpfs      496904         0    496904   0% /dev/shm
none         tmpfs      496904       324    496580   1% /var/run
none         tmpfs      496904         0    496904   0% /var/lock
none         tmpfs      496904         0    496904   0% /lib/init/rw
/dev/sda1     ext2      233191     33669    187081  16% /boot

If so, how?

Answer 1

Depends on the FS. Ext3/4 doesn't support online resize, and Ubuntu doesn't create a dynamic partition by default. So you are borked with this one.

You can resize by using a liveCD from USB pendrive or using the CD. If its a server, backup and reimage.

Next time try using a normal FS (which is mature, made by experts not by hobby coders) like XFS. Also, you should create a dynamic partition at install. (Other FS are .. JFS for example. Btrfs is still experimental. Ext3/4 is so buggy I'm surprised people use it. (not flame but honestly, I never would advise the usage of it). Reiserfs 3 is outdate , 4 will never be done. So wait btrfs and keep using good FS until then.)

XFS online resize
XFS Features/wiki entry

However, if you use XFS, you have to create it and use specific mount options. If you don't know how, comment, ask and I'll help you.

When you create it:
mkfs.xfs -l size=64m
And this is what you should write into /etc/fstab instead of the "defaults":
logbufs=8,noatime

JFS wiki