Method and apparatus for supporting resizing of file system partitions

An apparatus for supporting the resizing of file system partitions, comprising:

• a storage system that is divided into a plurality of partitions, each partition including a different file system;
• an allocation mechanism that receives a request to allocate storage within a partition from the plurality of partitions;
• a comparison mechanism that is configured to add a request size for the request to a current partition size to produce a predicted size for the partition, and to compare the predicted size for the partition with a size limit for the partition;
• wherein if the predicted size does not exceed the size limit, the allocation mechanism is configured to, allocate the requested storage for the partition, and to make the current partition size equal to the predicted partition size;
• and
• an error signaling mechanism that signals an error condition if the predicted size exceeds the size limit.

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for supporting resizing of file system partitions within a storage system, the storage system being divided into a plurality of partitions, each partition including a different file system, the method comprising:

• receiving a request to allocate storage within a partition from the plurality of partitions;
• adding a request size for the request to a current partition size to produce a predicted size for the partition;
• comparing the predicted size for the partition with a size limit for the partition;
• if the predicted size exceeds the size limit, signaling an error condition;
• and
• if the predicted size does not exceed the size limit, allocating the requested storage for the partition in the storage system, and making the current partition size equal to the predicted partition size.