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diff --git a/chapter02/creatingpartition.xml b/chapter02/creatingpartition.xml index 9127e5e3f..07f61df6e 100644 --- a/chapter02/creatingpartition.xml +++ b/chapter02/creatingpartition.xml @@ -62,4 +62,89 @@ class="filesystem">swap</systemitem> partition. These names will be needed later for the <filename>/etc/fstab</filename> file.</para> + <sect2> + <title>Other Partition Issues</title> + + <para>Requests for advice on system partitioning are often posted on the LFS mailing + lists. This is a highly subjective topic. The default size for most distributions + is to use the entire drive with the exception of one small swap partition. This + is not optimal for LFS for several reasons. It reduces flexibility, makes + sharing of data across multiple distributions or LFS builds more difficult, makes + backups more time consuming, and can waste disk space through inefficient + allocation of file system structures.</para> + + <sect3> + <title>The Root Partition</title> + + <para>A root LFS partition (not to be confused with the /root directory) of + ten gigabytes is a good compromise for most systems. It provides enough + space to build LFS and most of BLFS, but is small enough so that multiple + partitions can be easily created for experimentation.</para> </sect3> + + <sect3> + <title>The Swap Partition</title> + + <para>Most distributions automatically create a swap partition. Generally + the recommneded size of the swap partition is about twice the amount of + physical RAM, however this is rarely needed. If disk space is limited, + hold the swap partition to two gigabytes and monitor the amount of disk + swapping.</para> + + <para>Swapping is never good. Generally you can tell if a system is + swapping by just listening to disk activity and observing how the system + reacts to commands. The first reaction to swapping shouuld be to check for + an unresonable command such as trying to edit a five gigabyte file. If + swapping becomes a normal occurance, the best solution is to purchase more + RAM for your system.</para> </sect3> + + <sect3> + <title>Convenience Partitions</title> + + <para>There are several other partitions that are not required, but should + be considered when designing a disk layout, The following list + is not comprehensive, but is meant as a guide.</para> + + <itemizedlist> + + <listitem><para>/boot – Highly recommended. Use this partition to + store kernels and other booting information. To minimize potential boot + problems with larger disks, make this the first physical partition on + your first disk drive. A partition size of 100 megabytes is quite + adequate.</para></listitem> + + <listitem><para>/home – Highly recommended. Share your home + directory and user customization across multiple distributions or LFS + builds. The size is generally fairly large and depends on available disk + space.</para></listitem> + + <listitem><para>/usr – A separate /usr partition is generally used + if providing a server for a thin client or diskless workstation. It is + normally not needed for LFS. A size of five gigabytes will handle most + installations.</para></listitem> + + <listitem><para>/opt – This directory is most useful for + BLFS where multiple installations of large packages like Gnome or KDE can + be installed without embedding the files in the /usr hierarchy. If + used, five to ten gigabytes is generally adequate.</para> + </listitem> + + <listitem><para>/tmp – A separate /tmp directory is rare, but + useful if coufiguring a thin client. This partition, if used, will + usually not need to exceed a couple of gigabytes.</para></listitem> + + <listitem><para>/usr/src – This partition is very + useful for providing a location to store BLFS source files and + share them across LFS builds. It can also be used as a location + for building BLFS packages. A reasonably large partition of 30-50 + gigabytes allows plenty of room.</para></listitem> + + </itemizedlist> + + <para>Any separate partition that you want automatically mounted upon boot + needs to be specified in the <filename>/etc/fstab</filename>. Details + about how to specify partitions will be discussed in <xref + linkend="ch-bootable-fstab"/>. </para> + + </sect3> + </sect2> </sect1> |