Partition/Drive Layout Question

[beelzebub]

Hi all,

I'm at a stage where I can start using Linux for all the tasks that I currently do on Windows and am keen to make a full switch to Linux. I have played with Linux a few times over the years, installing different distros etc, but I've never set up the hard drive partitions manually. I only want to make the switch once I have a good grasp of how to configure the hard drives as I have a lot of precious data.

A question I have is that normally I would set up a small partition for the OS, then have another large partition purely for data. What would be the best way to recreate this kind of set up with a Linux file system (i.e. keeping OS and user data separate)? Where would be the best place to store a mass of data that wouldn't necessarily be associated with one particular user? I've seen about having a separate partition for users home directories, but I don't really want the data associated with one user so it would seem more logical to store it somewhere more general.

Any comments or recommendations much appreciated.

[MikeTbob]

Hi beelzebub, Welcome to LinuxForums.
Normally what I do in a situation like this is create the OS partitions such as:
one root partition /
one boot partition /boot
one swap /swap
one home /home
and one place for my data, which I call, /data
You can name it anything you want, but this is just an idea.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

For my own use, I generally maintain a very simple partitioning scheme and create partitions similar to the following:

/ (10 to 12 GB, ext3)
swap (1 GB, swap)
/home (10 to 12 GB, ext3)

... then all the rest (or most) of the drive space usually goes for mass storage.

You can easily use the PartedMagic LiveCD to restructure your partitions any time that it's needed.

[_madman_]

For people in your situation I usually recommend just putting everything in one big partition. The whole "partitioning" idea is mainly for security purposes. A simple example would be quotas, which allow certain users to have certain amounts of data on certain partitions (ie. the home directories). Another advantage of splitting the filesystem over multiple partitions is that if one fills up (like the home directories), it usually won't bring down the entire system. However, dividing your harddrive actually increases the chance of this, unless of course, the mount points are actually separate physical drives.

Everyone's personal data should be stored in their home folder. Global programs (accessible by everybody) are usually stored in the /usr and /opt trees. Configuration files in /etc. And variable state data in /var. /var is actually the place where the "global data" directory should be stored. So /var , /home , and /usr (on desktops) seem to be the directories that experience the greatest changes in content size.

In closing, I suggest once again, use one big partition for the entire OS. Other partitions should only be used for separate OS's like your existing MS Windows. Multiple partitions are really unneeded for the average "newbie" GNU/Linux user, unless there is an issue getting the OS to boot otherwise.

Refer to the "Filesystem Hierarchy Standard" (aka: FHS) for further information about the file structure of Unix-like systems.

[thorkelljarl]

The reason for installing linux with more than 2 partitions (swap, linux) is that with for example 3 (swap , /, /home) any problems with the operating system requiring a reinstallation or repair, or an OS opdating as a new installation can leave all ones work and fun file content in home,undisturbed. In case of doubt /home can simply be copied before any change in the installation. But there are many roads to Rome.

[_madman_]

Sorry I got off on a rant above. You are exactly right. The best thing you could do for your situation is to put "/home" on its own partition. That would collectively place all data, from all users (except possibly root), onto a single partition. And you are also right about back-up purposes. The issue being that the "dot files" and directories (the hidden ones) are usually used for storing configuration data (like a personal "/etc" for each user), and may conflict with newer installations.

Besides, even if the whole system won't boot - throw in a Knoppix disc and reboot.