o lvm.conf file that contains the same settings that would be assumed if it

wasn't there.  A good starting point for tweaking.

doc/example.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+# This is an example configuration file for the LVM2 system.  It
+# contains the default settings that would be used if there was no
+# /etc/lvm.conf file.
+
+
+# This section allows the user to configure which block devices should
+# be used by the LVM system.
+
+devices {
+    # where do you want your volume groups to appear ?
+    dir = "/dev"
+
+    # An array of directories that contain the device nodes you wish
+    # to use with LVM2.
+    scan = "/dev"
+
+    # A very important option, that allows you to tune the LVM2 system
+    # to just look at a restricted set of devices that you're
+    # interested in.
+
+    # The filter consists of an array of regular expressions.  These
+    # expressions can be delimited by a character of your choice, and
+    # prefixed with either an 'a' (for accept) or 'r' (for reject).
+    # ATM you cannot use anchors (^ or $) in your regular expression.
+
+    # By default we accept every block device:
+    filter = "a/.*/"
+
+    # When testing I like to work with just loopback devices:
+    # filter = ["a/loop/", "r/.*/"]
+
+    # Or maybe all loops and ide drives except hdc:
+    # filter =["a|loop|", "r|/dev/hdc|", "a|/dev/ide|", "r|.*|"]
+
+    # The results of all the filtering are cached on disk to avoid
+    # rescanning dud devices (which can take a very long time).  By
+    # default this cache file is hidden in the /etc/lvm directory, it
+    # is human readable to aid filter debugging.
+    cache = "/etc/lvm/.cache"
+
+    # You may not want to write the cache file... not sure why not
+    # though.
+    write_cache_state = 1
+}
+
+# A section that allows the user to configure the nature of the
+# information that LVM2 reports.
+log {
+
+    # Where should the log of error and debug messages go ?  By
+    # default there is no log.
+    #file = "/var/log/lvm2.log"
+
+    # Should we overwrite the last log.  By default we append.
+    overwrite = 0
+
+    # There are 9 log levels, with 9 being the most verbose.
+    level = 3
+    
+    # Controls the messages sent to stdout or stderr while running 
+    # LVM2.  There are three levels of verbosity, 3 being the most 
+    # verbose.
+    verbose = 0
+}
+
+# Configuration of metadata backups and archiving.  In LVM2 when we
+# talk about a 'backup' we mean making a copy of the metadata for the
+# *current* system.  The 'archive' contains old metadata configurations.
+# Backups are stored in a human readeable text format.
+backup {
+
+    # Should we maintain a backup of the current metadata configuration ?
+    backup = 1
+
+    # Where shall we keep it ?
+    backup_dir = "/etc/lvm/backup"
+
+
+    # Should we maintain an archive of old metadata configurations.
+    # On by default.
+    archive = 1
+
+    # Where should archived files go ?
+    archive_dir = "/etc/lvm/archive"
+    
+    # What is the minimum number of archive files you wish to keep ?
+    retain_min = 10
+
+    # What is the minimum time you wish to keep an archive file for ?
+    retain_days = 30
+}
+
+# Settings for the running LVM2 in shell mode.
+shell {
+
+    # Number of lines of history to store in ~/.lvm_history
+    history_size = 100
+}
+
+# Miscellaneous global settings
+global {
+    
+    # The file creation mask for any files and directories created.
+    # Interpreted as octal if the first digit is zero.
+    umask = 077
+
+    # Allow other users to read the files
+    #umask = 022
+
+    # Enabling test mode means that no changes to the on disk metadata
+    # will ever be made.  Equivalent to having the -t option on every
+    # command.  Defaults to off.
+    test = 0
+}