How to use the command `virsh pool-delete` (with examples)

The virsh pool-delete command is used to delete the underlying storage system of an inactive virtual machine storage pool. It allows you to remove the storage pool, freeing up resources and disk space. This command is particularly useful when you no longer need the storage pool or want to recreate it with different settings or configurations.

Use case 1: Delete the underlying storage system for a specific storage pool

Code:

virsh pool-delete --pool <name|uuid>

Motivation: Deleting an inactive storage pool can be necessary when you want to free up disk space or recreate the pool with different settings. By removing the storage system, you ensure that no resources are wasted on an inactive pool.

Explanation:

• --pool <name|uuid>: Specifies the name or UUID of the storage pool to delete. You can determine the name or UUID using the virsh pool-list command.

Example output:

Pool mypool deleted

In this example, the command virsh pool-delete --pool mypool is used to delete the storage system of the storage pool named “mypool”. After executing the command, the output confirms that the pool has been deleted successfully.

Use case 2: Delete the underlying storage system for multiple storage pools

Code:

virsh pool-delete --pool pool1 --pool pool2 --pool pool3

Motivation: In scenarios where you have multiple inactive storage pools that need to be deleted, you can use the virsh pool-delete command with multiple --pool arguments. This allows you to delete multiple storage systems in one go, saving time and effort.

Explanation:

• --pool <name|uuid>: Specifies the name or UUID of the storage pool to delete. You can specify multiple --pool arguments to delete multiple storage pools simultaneously.

Example output:

Pool pool1 deleted
Pool pool2 deleted
Pool pool3 deleted

In this example, the command virsh pool-delete --pool pool1 --pool pool2 --pool pool3 is used to delete the storage system of three storage pools: “pool1”, “pool2”, and “pool3”. After executing the command, the output confirms that all three pools have been deleted successfully.

Use case 3: Delete the underlying storage system for multiple storage pools using UUIDs

Code:

virsh pool-delete --pool uuid1 --pool uuid2 --pool uuid3

Motivation: When you have the UUIDs of the storage pools available, you can directly use them to delete the storage systems instead of specifying their names. This can be useful when you want to automate the deletion process or when you don’t have access to the pool names.

Explanation:

• --pool <name|uuid>: Specifies the name or UUID of the storage pool to delete. You can specify multiple --pool arguments to delete multiple storage pools simultaneously.

Example output:

Pool with UUID uuid1 deleted
Pool with UUID uuid2 deleted
Pool with UUID uuid3 deleted

In this example, the command virsh pool-delete --pool uuid1 --pool uuid2 --pool uuid3 is used to delete the storage system of three storage pools specified by their UUIDs: “uuid1”, “uuid2”, and “uuid3”. After executing the command, the output confirms that all three pools have been deleted successfully.

Conclusion:

The virsh pool-delete command is a versatile tool for deleting the underlying storage system of inactive virtual machine storage pools. By following the examples provided, you can easily delete individual storage pools, multiple pools, or pools specified by their UUIDs. This command helps you efficiently manage your storage resources and clean up any unused or unnecessary storage systems.