This guide explains how to prepare a new, unpartitioned disk on Linux (example: /dev/sdb) and either:

1. Create a standard XFS partition, or
2. Use the disk with LVM (Physical Volume → Volume Group → Logical Volume).

Both workflows include instructions for persistent mounting.

1. Identify the New Disk

lsblk

Verify it has no partitions:

sudo fdisk -l /dev/sdb

2. Option A — Create a Standard Partition (Non-LVM)

2.1 Create a partition

sudo fdisk /dev/sdb

Commands to enter:

n    # new partition
p    # primary
1    # partition number
<enter>  # default start
<enter>  # default end (use whole disk)
w    # write changes

Partition created: /dev/sdb1

2.2 Format the partition with XFS

Install tools if needed:

sudo apt install xfsprogs    # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo yum install xfsprogs    # RHEL/CentOS

Format:

sudo mkfs.xfs /dev/sdb1

2.3 Create a mount point

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/data

2.4 Mount the partition

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/data

2.5 Add to /etc/fstab for persistence

Find UUID:

sudo blkid /dev/sdb1

Edit /etc/fstab:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add:

UUID=<your-uuid-here>   /mnt/data   xfs   defaults   0 0

Test:

sudo mount -a

3. Option B — Use the Disk with LVM (PV → VG → LV → XFS)

This option is used when you want flexibility to expand storage later.

3.1 Create an LVM Partition

Use fdisk:

sudo fdisk /dev/sdb

Inside fdisk:

n       # new partition
p       # primary
1       # partition number
<enter> # default start
<enter> # default end
t       # change type
8e      # Linux LVM
w       # write

Partition created: /dev/sdb1 (type LVM)

3.2 Create a Physical Volume (PV)

sudo pvcreate /dev/sdb1

Verify:

sudo pvs

3.3 Create a Volume Group (VG)

Example VG name: vg_data

sudo vgcreate vg_data /dev/sdb1

Verify:

sudo vgs

3.4 Create a Logical Volume (LV)

Example LV name: lv_data
Use 100% of VG:

sudo lvcreate -l 100%FREE -n lv_data vg_data

Logical volume path becomes:

/dev/vg_data/lv_data

3.5 Format LV with XFS

sudo mkfs.xfs /dev/vg_data/lv_data

3.6 Create a mount point

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/data

3.7 Mount the logical volume

sudo mount /dev/vg_data/lv_data /mnt/data

3.8 Add LV to /etc/fstab (persistent mount)

Get UUID:

sudo blkid /dev/vg_data/lv_data

Edit fstab:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add:

UUID=<your-uuid>   /mnt/data   xfs   defaults   0 0

Test for errors:

sudo mount -a

4. Verification After Reboot

sudo reboot

After the system starts:

df -h | grep data

You should see the mounted filesystem.

Summary Table