Problems using 256GB SD Card [disk space is not being fully used]

[tigers1995]

I purchased 2 new Sandisk Ultra 256GB sd cards and I installed the IIAB image using the Raspberry Pi Imager. For some reason 1 only has 15 GB of available storage and the other has 60 GB of storage available before I installed any content. Does anyone know why that might be happening? Thanks in advance.

[holta]

@tigers1995 thanks for writing and apologies for the hassle!

Do you have command-line access on Linux? With an attached screen/keyboard or via SSH ?

If so, the short-term fix is to run:

1. sudo iiab-expand-rootfs
2. Wait patiently (for about 3 minutes) until the disk expands to the full capacity of the microSD card.
   (You can monitor this progress using the df -h command.)

Does that work for you?

Just FYI, here is some ongoing work to fix this properly:

• rootfs can fail to fully expand: race condition betw iiab-expand-rootfs & systemd-fsck ? (journalctl confusingly/regularly portrays 2 simultaneous boots due to lack of RTC?) #3325
• PR Straw Man 1-prep/templates/iiab-expand-rootfs.service based on 2020's PR #2522 + /usr/sbin/iiab-expand-rootfs "bash -xe" exit-on-error (to defer deleting /.expand-rootfs) #3337

[tigers1995]

I do not have linux. I used a PC to install the IIAB zip file. The SD card is installed in a Raspberry Pi 400 with keyboard and I have an ethernet connection.

[holta]

Jeremy and Jacqueline,

Do you have a screen attached to your Raspberry Pi 400?

If so you have access to Linux, so you can run the aforementioned command: sudo iiab-expand-rootfs

Let me know! (Or we can do a quick video call if nec...)

Adam
holt@unleashkids.org

[holta]

Do you have a screen attached to your Raspberry Pi 400?

If so you have access to Linux, so you can run the aforementioned command: sudo iiab-expand-rootfs

Any progress Jeremy & Jacqueline?

Let us know! Or if a quick call's nec 😄

Adam
holt@unleashkids.org

[tigers1995]

I tried the command line you mentioned and then I was asked for additional parameters I believe and I was not sure what to pick. Thank you so much for your quick replies

[tigers1995]

I am not sure how to modify the command. I am new to the pi and I appreciate your help. I tried google but non of the stuff I found seemed to fit what I need with iiab

[jvonau]

@holta Should you do a sudo touch /.expand-rootfs before calling that routine? Otherwise there is an exit without that file present, see full rountine

[holta]

@tigers1995 how long did the command take to run approximately?

Did you then run df -h to see if it (hopefully!?) worked to expand your "disk" space up to 200+ GB ?

[tigers1995]

fraction of a second to run and came back with the 2 lines with the plus signs. Dev/root on this SD card is still 61 GB

[holta]

Ok! Any chance you can call to help make this more efficient?

Adam
holt@unleashkids.org

[tigers1995]

@jvonau , that did the trick. I ran sudo touch /.expand-rootfs and then I ran sudo iiab-expand-rootfs. Now the space available is 222 GB. Thanks all.