which partition-logic should i use - which size and so on!?

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#1

hello dear opensuse- experts

i cannot wait to get the new version opensuse 13.2 in to my hands.

i want to install it on my notebook - see here the overview - which partition table should i use?
love to hear from you

greetings

martin@linux-70ce:~> df -aTh
Dateisystem    Typ             Größe Benutzt Verf. Verw% Eingehängt auf
rootfs         rootfs            20G    8,1G   11G   44% /
devtmpfs       devtmpfs         1,5G     16K  1,5G    1% /dev
tmpfs          tmpfs            1,5G    1,2M  1,5G    1% /dev/shm
tmpfs          tmpfs            1,5G    4,6M  1,5G    1% /run
devpts         devpts              0       0     0     - /dev/pts
/dev/sda6      ext4              20G    8,1G   11G   44% /
proc           proc                0       0     0     - /proc
sysfs          sysfs               0       0     0     - /sys
securityfs     securityfs          0       0     0     - /sys/kernel/security
tmpfs          tmpfs            1,5G       0  1,5G    0% /sys/fs/cgroup
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/systemd
pstore         pstore              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/pstore
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/cpuset
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/cpu,cpuacct
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/memory
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/devices
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/freezer
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/net_cls
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/blkio
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/perf_event
cgroup         cgroup              0       0     0     - /sys/fs/cgroup/hugetlb
systemd-1      autofs              0       0     0     - /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc
hugetlbfs      hugetlbfs           0       0     0     - /dev/hugepages
mqueue         mqueue              0       0     0     - /dev/mqueue
debugfs        debugfs             0       0     0     - /sys/kernel/debug
tmpfs          tmpfs            1,5G    4,6M  1,5G    1% /var/run
tmpfs          tmpfs            1,5G    4,6M  1,5G    1% /var/lock
/dev/sda7      ext4             250G     84G  166G   34% /home
gvfsd-fuse     fuse.gvfsd-fuse     0       0     0     - /run/user/1000/gvfs
gvfsd-fuse     fuse.gvfsd-fuse     0       0     0     - /var/run/user/1000/gvfs
fusectl        fusectl             0       0     0     - /sys/fs/fuse/connections
martin@linux-70ce:~> ^C
martin@linux-70ce:~>

note - i have two notebooks - the one that belongs to the above mentioned data is the samsung -

Samsunng q 210, 12,1" OpenSuse 13.1: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Proz. P8400 2,26 GHz 1066 MHz FSB 3 MB

#2

Very interesting but does not tell us that much about the full partition tables on that system only mounted ones. fdisk -l would show all but if a GPT formatted drive gdisk may give more complete information.

As a general rule use the partitions that you used before.

I do it different keep 2 partitions for root (/) one for current version one for next. then rotate them. I keep the same swap and home. This way I can test the new version and if there are any problems can drop back to the previous version.

#3

some more results

lsblk
 

martin@linux-70ce:~> lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda      8:0    0 298,1G  0 disk 
├─sda1   8:1    0     1K  0 part 
├─sda2   8:2    0    20G  0 part 
├─sda4   8:4    0   1,9G  0 part 
├─sda5   8:5    0     2G  0 part [SWAP]
├─sda6   8:6    0    20G  0 part /
└─sda7   8:7    0 254,1G  0 part /home
sr0     11:0    1  1024M  0 rom  
martin@linux-70ce:~>
#4

even more…

linux-70ce:/home/martin # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes, 625142448 sectors
Units = Sektoren of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes                                                                                                                               
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes                                                                                                                                   
Disk label type: dos                                                                                                                                                                
Disk identifier: 0xdf16504f                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                    
   Gerät  boot.     Anfang        Ende     Blöcke   Id  System                                                                                                                      
/dev/sda1   *    46153728   625141759   289494016    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)                                                                                                             
/dev/sda2         4208640    46153727    20972544   8e  Linux LVM                                                                                                                   
/dev/sda4          321536     4208639     1943552   8e  Linux LVM                                                                                                                   
/dev/sda5        46155776    50364415     2104320   82  Linux swap / Solaris                                                                                                        
/dev/sda6        50366464    92309503    20971520   83  Linux
/dev/sda7        92311552   625121279   266404864   83  Linux

Partitionstabelleneinträge sind nicht in Platten-Reihenfolge
#5

??

You have a DOS/MBR partitioned disk.

Why only one Primary(Extended) partition covering the whole drive, and the rest Logical partitions?

You can have 4 Primaries: It makes more sense to have 3 Primary partitions and make the 4th an Extended for additional partitions, all of those (in the 4th Extended) as Logical partitions.

#6

hello der Fraser Bell

many many thanks

try to erase this - how

a. with gparted or with
b. the dvd that contains version 13.2

Love to hear from you

btw - how to size the partitons -
note: i do not need to run a second operation system
i only want to have opensuse 13.2

so i can use the whole space for opensuse 13.2

how to proceed?

#7

As you probably already know, this has hundreds of different options.

So, first:

What do you have in the different partitions? Do you have data there that you wish to keep? If so, is it backed up (and how is it backed up)?

Are you looking to do a full fresh install, as if it is a new system on a new blank HD, and install all your applications and gizmos fresh, performing your configurations as you go?

Personally, the latter is what I plan to do when I get around to 13.2.

Going on that basis, here is what I plan to do, you can alter it to suit your own purposes:

Use GParted or a similar partitioning program to delete all partitions on the disk.

Now, I plan to continue using ext4 filesystem at first, instead of the new default btrfs filesystem. That is a personal decision.

I will, sometime in the future, start trying out the btrfs system, but for now I am sticking to what is working for me.

With that in mind, during install, when I get to the choices for filesystems, I will be choosing to use DOS MBR layout with ext4 partitions.

Therefore, I will use custom partitioning, I will Create New Partition Table, I will choose MSDOS instead of GPT for the type of partition table.

I plan to create a 20-G root (/) partition (Primary), a Swap partition twice the size of my installed RAM (Primary, again), and an 80-G /home partition (Primary, again).

For me, the 80-G /home partition is huge, far more than I really need, since I keep all my DATA in other partitions. Mostly all that is in the /home partition is configuration files. But, extra space will not hurt and covers most future options.

I then will create an Extended Partition (the 4th Primary partition, a special primary) with all the remaining disk space.

In there, I will create Logical Partitions to hold all my DATA. You can create as many as you wish in that Extended partition. I will have two, one will be an NTFS partition for all the data I share between all the machines and OSes, including Windows. The other Logical partition will be ext4 for data that will be accessed by Linux and Linux only.

You can create all these partitions with GParted ahead of time, then just make sure the installer is pointed correctly to the proper partitions, or you can wait and use the partitioner in the install program to create them.

Most of the time, I personally prefer to create the partitions before launching the install program, adding any labels and doing any other tweaking I plan to do at that time.

Then, on install, I will just doublecheck that I am using the correct partition types and that all is pointed to the correct places.

===

But, as you know, there are all types of choices here. There is the choice to use GPT or not, there is the choice for LVM or not, there is the choice to go with the new default BTRFS file system or not. Basically, though, my sizing of the partitions would remain about the same, except for BTRFS, where I would create a minimum 40-G root.

Lots of luck, keep us posted, looking forward to your reports back.:slight_smile:

#8

hello dear Gogalthorp and Fraer_Bell (Gerry Makaro)

now back again. - i an planning to move from OpenSuse version 13.1 to 13.2 in the next days:

note: i am planning to do so for two notebooks:

for this note book- that is mentioend above:
Samsung q 210, 12,1" OpenSuse 13.1: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Proz. P8400 2,26 GHz 1066 MHz FSB 3 MB with a 250 GB - HDD

i ve got another notebook that needs to get upgrade too: this one: Akoya P 6512 15" OpenSuse 13.1: AMD Athlon X2 P320, 2,10 GHz, 4 GB with a 320 GB hdd-drive

@ Gerry Makaro (fraser_bell) mentioned regarding the Samsung q 210

You have a DOS/MBR partitioned disk.
Why only one Primary(Extended) partition covering the whole drive, and the rest Logical partitions?
You can have 4 Primaries: It makes more sense to have 3 Primary partitions and make the 4th an Extended
for additional partitions, all of those (in the 4th Extended) as Logical partitions.

you pointed out a very important thing: i want to get rid of the DOS/MBR partitioned disk. Therefore i want to use GParted (see also below)
Fraser_Bell: your ideas about the partioning are convincing: i like the idea of layouting with GParted

and i like the idea of using ext4 partitions.

Of course i will use custom partitioning, I will Create New Partition Table, I will choose MSDOS instead of GPT for the type of partition table.

The situation with the **Samsung 210 notebook ** at the moment:

linux-70ce:/home # fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes, 625142448 sectors
Units = Sektoren of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk label type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xdf16504f

Gerät boot. Anfang Ende Blöcke Id System
/dev/sda1 * 46153728 625141759 289494016 f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sda2 4208640 46153727 20972544 8e Linux LVM
/dev/sda4 321536 4208639 1943552 8e Linux LVM
/dev/sda5 46155776 50364415 2104320 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 50366464 92309503 20971520 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 92311552 625121279 266404864 83 Linux

Partitionstabelleneinträge sind nicht in Platten-Reihenfolge
linux-70ce:/home #

i am a big fan of GParted - and for sure i want to use it:

Gerry: you write:

I plan to create a 20-G root (/) partition (Primary),
a Swap partition twice the size of my installed RAM (Primary, again),and
an 80-G /home partition (Primary, again).

Well; the idea of creating the partions with Gparted.

Which are the appropiatd values of partioning for this note book:
Samsunng q 210, 12,1" OpenSuse 13.1: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Proz. P8400 2,26 GHz 1066 MHz FSB 3 MB

note: i ve got another notebook that needs to get upgrade too:

this one: Akoya P 6512 15" OpenSuse 13.1: AMD Athlon X2 P320, 2,10 GHz, 4 GB 320 GB hdd-drive

what would you suggest for the Akoya-Notebook: which values for the partition?

look forward to hear from you
many greetings
dilbertone

#9

hello - as noted above - the second notebook i want to upgrade is the following: see

this one: Akoya P 6512 15" OpenSuse 13.1: AMD Athlon X2 P320, 2,10 GHz, 4 GB 320 GB hdd-drive

what is wanted: i want to have not tooo much partitions!
i only want to run opensuse 13.2
i want to have some kind of native linux partitions - such as ext 4 - #

what do you suggest - should go with the new default BTRFS file system?!?

well to begin with the beginning: i applied the following commands

lsblk

fdisk -l

see ;

linux-c5sz:/home/martin # lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 465,8G 0 disk
├─sda1 8:1 0 4G 0 part [SWAP]
├─sda2 8:2 0 102M 0 part
├─sda4 8:4 0 1K 0 part
├─sda5 8:5 0 2G 0 part
├─sda6 8:6 0 4G 0 part
├─sda7 8:7 0 10G 0 part
├─sda8 8:8 0 20G 0 part /
└─sda9 8:9 0 389,6G 0 part /home
sr0 11:0 1 1024M 0 rom

and the following fdisk -l

linux-c5sz:/home/martin # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes, 976773168 sectors
Units = Sektoren of 1 * 512 = 512 byte
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk label type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xb8fa3ecd

Gerät boot. Anfang Ende Blöcke Id System
/dev/sda1 63 8385929 4192933+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 8385930 8594774 104422+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 * 8803620 976768064 483982222+ 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 8803683 12996584 2096451 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 12996648 21382514 4192933+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 21382578 42347339 10482381 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 117821440 159766527 20972544 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 159768576 976766975 408499200 83 Linux
linux-c5sz:/home/martin #

subsequently the questions; which partition logic should i choose.

what is wanted: i want to have not tooo much partitions!
i only want to run opensuse 13.2

note: i want to erase all the existing partition logic /(that is currently existing)
i do this with Gparted.

which partitions should i take?
which file system ?

#10

Unless you have special needs you want 3 partitions swap/root/home. How you get those and the size is up to you. If you go for the BTRFS files system (default root FS in 13.2) you will want to allocate 2X space then if ext4 or turn snapshots off. New default for home is xfs. I have little experience with that FS. Not knowing the details of what you have on those partitions you show I can not comment on what to use out of that inventory of partitions. It is up to you how you chop up the drive into partitions.

#11

good day dear googleathorp

many many thanks - i will go with three partitions

root / swap / home

i have two notebooks - just see above.

one with 250 gb
one with 320 gb.

well i can choose the partitions accordingly.: that means i can divide the partitons in three parts!? - Yes.

hmm - as for the file-system. Stick with the old ones seems to make sense… or what…!?

#12

Personally I plan to stay with ext4 for a while I don’t have any need for the bells and whistles of BTRFS. I don’t have enough knowledge of XFS to make an informed choice. need to read up on it I guess.

If you plan on preparing the disk with gpartted or other before you install just wipe it all and create the 3 partitions. swap should be a bit bigger then memory I’d go 2X unless you have more then 4 gig then memory size + some to allow for hibernation. if ext4 root 20-30 gig if btrfs 40-60 rest to home

You may consider other partitions if you do heavy database work or use a SSD.

#13

hello again - what if i want to do the whole setup of the new hdd with LUKS - the security-system.

can i do this with

a. gparted or
b. the installation-DVD of the new opensuse linux version 13.2

#14

You need to use LVM container for all the partitions except you will need a separate boot partition. Assuming you want all encrypted. If you just want home just mark it to be encrypted. If you don’t put it in a container then each partition will need an entry of the passwords. A real pain. LOL

#15

hello dear googleathorp

many thanks for the quick answer:

well - with that that is with the inclusion of the LUKE-process i still can stick with

a. the gparted-step as a preliminary step.
b. an easy and straight forward process of installation of version 13.2 - that means i would love to keep it simple and would include as much as i can into the encryption - i e. all
c. a simple usage of all the system - after it is beeen created!?

by the way: one last question: doing the LUKE after the installation of the new system, is this just possible or not!?

#16

Look you are making simple things complicated. If you have separate partitions and want to encrypt then each partition must be encrypted with it’s own password which you will have to enter each time you start. 3 partitions means 3 passwords. .

The solution is to put the 3 partitions into a container in this case the best is a LVM partition which is a container that can hold partitions. But if you encrypt it you can not boot it so you must breakout the /boot directory to it’s own partition so the boot can start up then ask for the password to the one LVM container. So you want a small (500meg) partition with ext4 file system mounted as /boot You want then the rest of the drive set as an LVM container with /swap/root/home in it.

Note that if the machine has an EFI BIOS then you should have an additional small FAT formatted partition to mount as /boot/efi If the machines are older and don’t have a EFI BIOS then you use MBR booting placing grub2 in the MBR.

#17

I agree with this.

I would probably go for GPT partition table.

I would create ext4 partitions for now, 3 of them.

root (/) would be 20-40 Gig, (probably will only need less than 20, but with disk space not at a premium, I would go for a bit larger in case I decide to install a lot of large apps or programs in the future.)

I would make Swap double the size of RAM, which should nicely cover hibernation, if you decide to hibernate once or twice.

I would make the rest /home.

If you decide later you want more partitions for some special purpose, you can easily reduce the size of /home and add another partition.

When running GParted to create the partitions, make certain your partitions, including the first, start at a physical sector boundary. That would be at a point on the HD that is divisible by 1024, but if you look around in GParted, I do believe it has a checkmark for using physical boundaries.

The reason for that is disks will drop sometimes great amounts in performance if partitions are not aligned.

If you are using GPT partition table, you do not need to worry about whether partitions should be “Primary” or “Extended”.

If you stick to ext4, for now, you know that your system is going to be relatively stable as it has been in the past.

I would save the use of BTRFS until after you have created a testing system and played with BTRFS for awhile to understand its advantages and drawbacks.

No, go forth and install.:wink:

#18

In your situation, I do not see that encryption would be much of a benefit to you compared to the hassle.

#19

hello dear fraser_bell

many many thanks for the hints.

many thanks