How to Upgrade VPS RAM, SSD Disk or IP and Extend the Partition (Linux and Windows)

This guide explains how to upgrade the RAM, SSD disk or IP addresses of a JUSTG VPS, what is different for dedicated servers, and what you need to do inside the operating system afterwards. A larger virtual disk does not automatically enlarge your partition, so the guide also shows how to extend the partition and filesystem on Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux) with growpart, resize2fs and xfs_growfs, and on Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 with Extend Volume.

What can be upgraded

Step 1: Back up your data

Resizing partitions is normally safe, but a mistake in the partition number can make data inaccessible. Take a backup of important files and databases first, for example to another server:

tar czf /root/backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz /etc /var/www
rsync -avz /root/backup-*.tar.gz [email protected]:/backups/

Step 2: Order the upgrade in the client area

Log in to the client area → My Products & Services → select your VPS → open the upgrade / configurable options. Choose the extra RAM, SSD size or additional IPv4 address and pay the invoice. If you cannot find the upgrade option, submit a ticket. Depending on the change, the VPS may need a reboot before the new resources are visible.

Step 3: Check the new RAM and disk size

free -h
lsblk
df -hT /

free -h shows the memory. In the lsblk output the disk (for example vda) should show the new size while the partition (for example vda1) still has the old size. df -hT / also tells you the filesystem type: ext4 or xfs.

Step 4: Extend the partition and filesystem on Linux

Install growpart:

# Debian / Ubuntu
apt install -y cloud-guest-utils
# CentOS / Rocky / AlmaLinux
dnf install -y cloud-utils-growpart

Grow partition 1 of disk /dev/vda (note the space between disk and partition number), then grow the filesystem:

growpart /dev/vda 1
# ext4 (common on Debian / Ubuntu)
resize2fs /dev/vda1
# xfs (default on CentOS / Rocky / AlmaLinux)
xfs_growfs /
df -h /

If your root filesystem is on LVM (for example /dev/mapper/rl-root), grow the partition first, then the physical volume and the logical volume:

growpart /dev/vda 2
pvresize /dev/vda2
lvextend -r -l +100%FREE /dev/mapper/rl-root

Step 5: Extend the volume on Windows Server

Open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc). Right-click the C: volume, choose Extend Volume and accept the maximum size in the wizard. Or use PowerShell as Administrator:

Update-HostStorageCache
$max = (Get-PartitionSupportedSize -DriveLetter C).SizeMax
Resize-Partition -DriveLetter C -Size $max

If Extend Volume is greyed out, a recovery partition probably sits between C: and the unallocated space. In that case submit a ticket and we will advise you.

Step 6: Configure an additional IP address

After an extra IPv4 has been added, it appears on the service page in the client area. The operating system does not use it until you bind it to the network interface. Follow our help center guide on binding an additional IP address on Linux or Windows, then verify it: (Linux Add Additional IP Address: Bind Extra IPv4 on Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS and Rocky Linux · Add an Additional IPv4 Address and Configure IPv6 on Windows Server)

ip addr show
ping -c 4 -I 203.0.113.51 198.51.100.1

FAQ

Can I add more disk or IPs to a dedicated server without changing plans?

No. Dedicated servers are offered in fixed configurations. To get more disk space or IP addresses, move to a higher plan by contacting the Billing/Sales department.

The disk is bigger but df still shows the old size. Why?

The partition and filesystem have not been extended yet. Follow Step 4 for Linux or Step 5 for Windows.

Will upgrading delete my data?

No. Adding RAM, SSD space or an IP keeps your data. Extending the partition is also non-destructive, but a backup is always recommended.

If you still have problems after following this guide, submit a ticket and the JUSTG technical support team will help you.