When I installed SuSE 11.2, my husband and I were setting up the partitions, I wanted about 30 Gig or so for the root system (I plan on installing a lot of games and artwork software) but 20 Gig was the max that it would allow. The rest was for my /home directory.
I wanted to know why is this? The root partition is already half full and I haven’t even finished with installing all the software I want besides all the necessary dependencies!)
What if I run out of room?! 
:’(
There isn’t such a maximum. The installation offers you a proposal that fits most people. But just must not accept it. The button “expert mode” (or how it is called) is there to let you do what you want during the install (even when it is 6 partitions of whatever size as long as it fits on the disk).
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It the first time I hear some like this, do you have more OS
installed? if so please post fdisk -l output
VampirD
Microsoft Windows is like air conditioning
Stops working when you open a window.
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gymnart wrote:
> When I installed SuSE 11.2, my husband and I were setting up the
> partitions, I wanted about 30 Gig or so for the root system (I plan on
> installing a lot of games and artwork software) but 20 Gig was the max
> that it would allow. The rest was for my /home directory.
> I wanted to know why is this? The root partition is already half full
> and I haven’t even finished with installing all the software I want
> besides all the necessary dependencies!)
> What if I run out of room?! :’(
is this a dual boot system? how much total space did you devote to the
other system and to openSUSE?
if it is a dual boot, did you defrag windows prior to installing openSUSE?
the install routine offers a suggested partitioning scheme, did you
accept that or did you click through to the partitioner so you could
set /root and /home exactly as you wished?
while booted to Linux as a regular user, open a terminal and issue
these commands, then copy paste the results back to here,
please…maybe someone can then help you:
fdisk -l
cat /etc/fstab
mount
after you have pasted the output in the forum edit window, highlight
all the output and click on the # button (will place the output inside
code tags, and make it easy to read)
–
DenverD (Linux Counter 282315)
CAVEAT: http://is.gd/bpoMD
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After thiinking over your scant information, I think it might be (do not blame me, I could be wrong) that you did not quite understand how a partitioning window works. If you want to have say partition sda3 (for /) bigger and partition sda4 (for /home) is after it, then there is of course no space there. You should then first remove sda4, then increase sda3 and then you can create a new sda4 using the rest of the disk.
Allways keep in mind during these changing that you are not doing anything on the disk at that moment in time, but that you are preparing a partition table somewhere in the partitioners memory. Only when you are satisfied with what you have and exit the partitioner, this new partition table is written over the old one and thuis made valid in one write to disk.
In the installation the writing of the partition table is not done directly after you finish the partition screen. The installer then returns to a preview of several paragraphs where you can change again and again. Only when you Continue there and after a warning that it wiill now happen, the partition table is written to the disk, the file systems are created and the software installation is started.
That fits multi-user servers. On a desktop it’s far more questionable, the extra flexibility of all space is is root (except boot) afforded is a boon as I try out new applications and install python or perl modules and other libraries, having ran out my single root partition on a Desktop before, most programs behaved a little oddly but nothing untoward happened and freeing up space returned operations to normal.
You certainly are able to set any size on the / partition that you want on a new install. The reason you are hitting a limit is because the rest of the space has already been “allocated” to /home. This is simple to remedy, simply “delete” /home from the proposal (it is just a proposal at that stage), make / as large as you want, and then put /home back. The installer GUI isn’t smart enough to know to shrink /home as you increase /. But everything is possible when you say to the installer, I want to tweak this proposal.
I see hcvv has already explained this. Consider this another way of looking at it.
Incidentally 20GB is quite generous. I have allocated 24GB, but only 9GB is used and I have a fairly full system.
Yes, I’m only using 5.7Gb of my / partition. On my older computer which only has 20Gb available in total, openSUSE only allocates 6Gb to /.
On Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:26:01 +0000, gymnart wrote for a reply:
> When I installed SuSE 11.2, my husband and I were setting up the
> partitions, I wanted about 30 Gig or so for the root system (I plan on
> installing a lot of games and artwork software) but 20 Gig was the max
> that it would allow. The rest was for my /home directory. I wanted to
> know why is this? The root partition is already half full and I haven’t
> even finished with installing all the software I want besides all the
> necessary dependencies!) What if I run out of room?! :’(
There’s lots of space available on you /home partition you could move
/usr/ or /var/ from the /(root) partition to /home/ partition.
/usr/ and /var/ are the usual suspects filling up the /(root) besides
/tmp/
Really?! That won’t mess up any paths that the apps need to work?
So, when my husband and I were setting this system up, we did go back and tried to make the /home partition smaller (by 10 GIG) and then go back to make the / partition larger by the same amount but that did not work, it still wouldn’t allow that. So, we went ahead with it as is.
btw, I intend to install lots of games. Those will take up a lot of room, I think.
So, here’s the result of the tests:
fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x683bf820
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 128 1028128+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 * 129 9729 77120032+ 83 Linux
Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00014e3d
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 60800 488375968+ 83 Linux
Disk /dev/sdc: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000e105a
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 2611 20972826 83 Linux
/dev/sdc2 2612 60801 467411175 83 Linux
-------
cat /etc/fstab
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD800JB-00CRA1_WD-WMA8E3520925-part1 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3500418AS_9VMDSCCQ-part1 / ext4 acl,user_xattr 1 1
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3500418AS_9VMDSCCQ-part2 /home ext4 acl,user_xattr 1 2
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs noauto 0 0
usbfs /proc/bus/usb usbfs noauto 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5 0 0
-------
mount
/dev/sdc1 on / type ext4 (rw,acl,user_xattr)
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
debugfs on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,mode=0620,gid=5)
/dev/sdc2 on /home type ext4 (rw,acl,user_xattr)
fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type fusectl (rw)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/<username>/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=####)
(I took out my username)
That is allready explained earlier in this thread. When you make* /home* smaller that space is at the end of* /home*. You can then not increase / because it is still bordered by the lower border of /home. In a primitive picture:
|---Swap---|---------/----------|---------/home-----------|
|---Swap---|---------/----------|---------/home-----| |
I hope you see that the free space in the second line cannot be added to /
You have to delete /home, increase* / and create a new /home*.
|---Swap---|---------/----------|---------/home-----------|
|---Swap---|---------/----------| |
|---Swap---|---------/----------------| |
|---Swap---|---------/----------------|------/home--------|
Good to know for a future installation exercise.
Thank you! I will try to remember that. 
So, how about moving /usr/ or /var/ from the /(root) partition to /home/ partition? Could I do that within Dolphin or Konquerer? Does doing that ruin any paths that the apps need to work?
You have to keep the path the same, but you can move the contents and replace the old directory with a symlink to the new location. It must be done while booted up with a CD or other drive though, not on a live system. I suggest you don’t attempt such gymnastics until you need to and you have the knowledge to carry it through.
As I’ve said before 20GB is quite generous, perhaps you don’t realise how large that is for software. Don’t go “fixing” problems before they actually arise. If needed, some large directories can be easily relocated, like MySQL data, or VirtualBox images, if they grow too large.
So, how about moving /usr/ or /var/ from the /(root) partition to /home/ partition? Could I do that within Dolphin or Konquerer? Does doing that ruin any paths that the apps need to work?[/QUOTE]
BTW, I forgot if it is allready somewhere in this thread, but are you aware of SDB:Basics of partitions, filesystems, mount points - openSUSE?
You may need it (and the links it points to) to understand the following.
You can not move* /var* from the root partition to the home partition. As the home partition starts on* /home*, everything inside there is a subdirectory of /home (lke /home/piet/music/tsompetsompe.mp3).* /var/spool/* can thus not be inside /home. (I jump over solutions with symbolic links here, because IMHO they make a bad show of the system where you somewhere, somehow do get problems).
You can however shrink* /home* and create a new partition after it, which you can mount on* /var* (of course after moving everything inside* /var *to the new partition first.
In any case, I personaly would not go for this solution because when you are going to copy partition contents, and changing the partition lay-out, why not simply remedy to what you wanted to do during install? Copy everything from your* /home* (which isn’t to much if I understood you correct). Remove that partition. Increase the size of the root partition and it’s file system. Create a new partition for /home and copy that backup back. This scenario is as difficult/easy as the other one and has as advantage that you will not be faced with a future “full* /var*” or “full /usr”, which is allways a problem with many partitions where every partition must have it’s own max size instead of sharing the reserve space with others.
Do not start any of the above scenarios without a proper plan with the sequence of movements. I am willing to help here, but I warn you that I am using oldfashioned (but save) CLI commands. I have no doubt that it can be done with tools like Gparted, but personaly I like to know what I am doing on a low level with these things.
I agree to this. As said I a willing to help, but it is not an obvious thing to do for a newbee. And your / partition is not “allready” but “only” half full.
Thanks guys!
I’ll leave things as is. But when I have to upgrade, I’ll try to remember your instructions.
That is fine. But when you hesitate after the remembering, feel free to come back here on a new thread.
On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:56:03 +0000, hcvv wrote for a reply:
> gymnart;2183478 Wrote:
>>
>> So, when my husband and I were setting this system up, we did go back
>> and tried to make the /home partition smaller (by 10 GIG) and then go
>> back to make the / partition larger by the same amount but that did not
>> work, it still wouldn’t allow that. So, we went ahead with it as is.
>>
> That is allready explained earlier in this thread. When you make- /home-
> smaller that space is at the end of- /home-. You can then not increase
> / because it is still bordered by the lower border of /home. In a
> primitive picture:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> |—Swap—|---------/----------|---------/home-----------|
> |—Swap—|---------/----------|---------/home-----| |
>
> --------------------
>
> I hope you see that the free space in the second line cannot be added to
> /
>
> You have to delete -/home-, increase- / -and create a new- /home-.
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> |—Swap—|---------/----------|---------/home-----------|
> |—Swap—|---------/----------| |
> |—Swap—|---------/----------------| |
> |—Swap—|---------/----------------|------/home--------|
>
> --------------------
>
> Good to know for a future installation exercise.
I don’t think that’s correct. She would need to grab the area
encompassing /home then drag it before /home or adjust the after to 0.
Code:
|—Swap—|=======/=======| |-------/home-------|
|—Swap—|=======/===========|-------/home-------|
On Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:56:03 +0000, gymnart wrote for a reply:
> Chill Out;2181551 Wrote:
>> On Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:26:01 +0000, gymnart wrote for a reply:
>>
>> you could move
>> /usr/ or /var/ from the /(root) partition to /home/ partition.
>>
>> /usr/ and /var/ are the usual suspects filling up the /(root) besides
>> /tmp/
>>
>>
> Really?! That won’t mess up any paths that the apps need to work?
>
> So, when my husband and I were setting this system up, we did go back
> and tried to make the /home partition smaller (by 10 GIG) and then go
> back to make the / partition larger by the same amount but that did not
> work, it still wouldn’t allow that. So, we went ahead with it as is.
>
> btw, I intend to install lots of games. Those will take up a lot of
> room, I think.
>
> So, here’s the result of the tests:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> fdisk -l
> Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track,
> 9729 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk
> identifier: 0x683bf820
>
> Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sda1
> 1 128 1028128+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
> /dev/sda2 * 129 9729 77120032+ 83 Linux
>
> Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes 255 heads, 63
> sectors/track, 60801 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 =
> 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00014e3d
>
> Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1
> * 1 60800 488375968+ 83 Linux
>
> Disk /dev/sdc: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes 255 heads, 63
> sectors/track, 60801 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 =
> 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x000e105a
>
> Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdc1
> 1 2611 20972826 83 Linux /dev/sdc2
> 2612 60801 467411175 83 Linux
>
> -------
> cat /etc/fstab
> /dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD800JB-00CRA1_WD-WMA8E3520925-part1 swap
> swap defaults 0 0
> /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3500418AS_9VMDSCCQ-part1 /
> ext4 acl,user_xattr 1 1
> /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3500418AS_9VMDSCCQ-part2 /home
> ext4 acl,user_xattr 1 2 proc /proc
> proc defaults 0 0 sysfs /sys
> sysfs noauto 0 0 debugfs
> /sys/kernel/debug debugfs noauto 0 0 usbfs
> /proc/bus/usb usbfs noauto 0 0
> devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5
> 0 0
>
> -------
> mount
> /dev/sdc1 on / type ext4 (rw,acl,user_xattr) proc on /proc type proc
> (rw)
> sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
> debugfs on /sys/kernel/debug type debugfs (rw) udev on /dev type tmpfs
> (rw)
> devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,mode=0620,gid=5) /dev/sdc2 on /home
> type ext4 (rw,acl,user_xattr) fusectl on /sys/fs/fuse/connections type
> fusectl (rw) securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
> gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/<username>/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon
> (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=####)
> --------------------
>
>
> (I took out my username)
Looks like you have lots of space on /dev/sda2 about 73G if I read the
fdisk -l correctly. You could mount that as /var, I don’t see the /dev/
sda2 mounted in /etc/fstab, just the /dev/sda1 as a swap partition.
Code:
unmounted format of /dev/sda2 to ext4
sudo mke2fs -t ext4 /dev/sda2
Code:
add to /etc/fstab
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD800JB-00CRA1_WD-WMA8E3520925-part2 /var2 ext4
acl,user_xattr 1 2
Code:
mount as /var2 and copy old /var to /var2
sudo mount /dev/sda2/ /var2
sudo cp -p /var /var2/
Code:
chg /etc/fstab to mount /var2 as /var
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD800JB-00CRA1_WD-WMA8E3520925-part2 /var ext4
acl,user_xattr 1 2
Delete the old /var on / when you’re comfortable the /var on /dev/sda2 is
working.
It may be bcause the lay-out is broken because you are apparently using an interface to the forums that spoiles the lay-out, but I do not understand anything of this.
I admit that my schema is not exactly as the OP’s because Swap is on a different disk alltogether. But according to the info in post #10, they have / on sdc1 (disk addresses 1-2611) and /home on sdc2 (2612-60801 wich is the end of the disk). I do not know ewere you find that hole between / and /home in your first line. I also do not understand what you mean by “to grab the area encompassing /home then drag it before /home or adjust the after to 0”. Sorry, we seem to use different words for the same thing or whatever?