7.1. When to assign a segment manager

Assigning a segment manager to a disk allows the disk to be subdivided into smaller storage objects called disk segments. The assign command causes a segment manager to create appropriate metadata and expose freespace that the segment manager finds on the disk. You need to assign segment managers when you have a new disk or when you are switching from one partitioning scheme to another.

EVMS displays disk segments as the following types:

• Data: a set of contiguous sectors that has been allocated from a disk and can be used to construct a volume or object.

• Freespace: a set of contiguous sectors that are unallocated or not in use. Freespace can be used to create a segment.

• Metadata: a set of contiguous sectors that contain information needed by the segment manager.