Convert MBR Partition into GPT in CentOS/RHEL 7

Master Boot Record (MBR) partitioned disks are replaced with newer GUID Partition Table (GPT) standard but MBR is still used widely as a default format. GPT layout for the partition tables has a lot of benefits comparing with MBR one. Along with supporting significantly larger size of disks, it introduces faster and more stable booting. GPT requests to support Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) boot.

1. Switch to root user.

   $ sudo su -
   

2. Run GPT partition tool. Assuming that sda disk is bootable and will be converted into GPT.

   $ gdisk /dev/sda
   
   GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.10
   
   Partition table scan:
     MBR: MBR only
     BSD: not present
     APM: not present
     GPT: not present
   
   ***************************************************************
   Found invalid GPT and valid MBR; converting MBR to GPT format
   in memory. THIS OPERATION IS POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE! Exit by
   typing 'q' if you don't want to convert your MBR partitions
   to GPT format!
   ***************************************************************
   

3. Make sure that there is enough space before the first partition to support a boot partition. 2048 value for the first sector confirms that GPT can be applied to MBR.

   Command (? for help): p
   
   Disk /dev/sda: 52428800 sectors, 25.0 GiB
   Logical sector size: 512 bytes
   Disk identifier (GUID): 71DD2E79-BD1C-4713-9880-22664C87E57B
   Partition table holds up to 128 entries
   First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 52428766
   Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
   Total free space is 20973501 sectors (10.0 GiB)
   
   Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name
      1            2048         2099199   1024.0 MiB  8300  Linux filesystem
      2         2099200        16777215   7.0 GiB     8E00  Linux LVM
      3        16777216        20971519   2.0 GiB     8E00  Linux LVM
      4        20971520        31457279   5.0 GiB     8E00  Linux LVM
   

4. Create a new bootable partition. As the first sector, enter 34 and the last sector is 2047. Partition code is ef02.

   Command (? for help): n
   
   Partition number (5-128, default 5): 
   First sector (34-52428766, default = 31457280) or {+-}size{KMGTP}: 34
   Last sector (34-2047, default = 2047) or {+-}size{KMGTP}: 
   Current type is 'Linux filesystem'
   Hex code or GUID (L to show codes, Enter = 8300): ef02
   Changed type of partition to 'BIOS boot partition'
   

5. Save changes.

   Command (? for help): w
   
   Final checks complete. About to write GPT data. THIS WILL OVERWRITE EXISTING
   PARTITIONS!!
   
   Do you want to proceed? (Y/N): Y
   OK; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to /dev/sda.
   Warning: The kernel is still using the old partition table.
   The new table will be used at the next reboot.
   The operation has completed successfully.
   

6. Notify the operation system about changes. It eliminates rebooting of the system.

   $ partprobe
   

7. Install GRUB on the new bootable partition.

   $ grub2-install /dev/sda
   
   Installing for i386-pc platform.
   Installation finished. No error reported.
   

8. Validate the conversion.

   $ gdisk /dev/sda
   
   GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.10
   
   Partition table scan:
     MBR: protective
     BSD: not present
     APM: not present
     GPT: present
   
   Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.