Comments on: The importance of Linux partitions http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html This is a Linux sys admin journal by Vivek about sys admin work, Linux tips & tricks, hacks, news and more. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:37:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pradeep Guravhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-178839 Pradeep Gurav Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:46:29 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-178839 Very good article.. I have question.. answer is already there in your blog but i just want to confirm.. Can we use options like 'defaults,nodev' ? some other blog i read about default options for ext3 are rw,suid,dev,exec,auto,nouser,async. if I give defaults[..dev..],nodev.. how it works.. whts final options ..dev..or..nodev What are the default options? Is it specific to OS or file system..? Very good article.. I have question.. answer is already there in your blog but i just want to confirm.. Can we use options like ‘defaults,nodev’ ?

some other blog i read about default options for ext3 are rw,suid,dev,exec,auto,nouser,async. if I give defaults[..dev..],nodev.. how it works.. whts final options ..dev..or..nodev

What are the default options? Is it specific to OS or file system..?

]]> By: priyanka singhhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-178489 priyanka singh Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:49:26 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-178489 thank you for wonderful information provided by you thank you for wonderful information provided by you

]]> By: Dean Voetshttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-175152 Dean Voets Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:48:26 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-175152 Thank you for the information. I've got some questions (and some answers for the previous questions :)): 1) What do you recommend for the /boot partition? 2) Is it possible to use two partitions for /tmp (one as tmpfs and one on the harddisk)? 3) You mention using for backuping up: which filesystems can be backed up like that? It would be intresting, but I always thought that was restricted to ext2. Some answers/ opinions about the questions asked earlier: I'm about to reinstall my linux (with 7 partitions) and just checked how much was used & checked the average file size: /boot: 37 megabytes with grub 2 booting windows 7 & xubuntu, average filesize +- 300kb. /usr: 4.3 gygabytes including most texwork packages (Latex), eclipse, all codecs, etc. Average size: 40kb /var: 340 megabytes, average size 60kb /opt & /srv are basically empty /tmp is mounted as tmpfs. /: 255mb, average file size about 10kb. I didn't look at /home and the swap. Now, I'm going for 100mb /boot, 8 gb /usr, 1 gb /var, 1 gb /, 8 gb swap (probably excessive) and I'm leaving the remaining part for home. /tmp will again be mounted as tmpfs and I'll link /opt to /usr/opt. Comments/tips are always appreciated :). Best filesystem to use: Ext4 is probably not a bad choice if you are unsure. When Ext3 was the new one, I also considered ext2 since that could be read in windows (not easily) but I don't think there is any windows support for current Linux filesystems. Ntfs works reasonably well in Linux but I would keep it out of the system partitions since it's rather slow. About installing on a primary or logical partition. The /boot partition should be on a primary partition, all others can/should be extended partitions. In case of a dual-boot with windows 7, you should first install windows which will create two primary partitions and then install linux. Make sure that you keep the bootable flag at the windows partition. You can also install windows 7, windows XP and linux by making the partitions upfront, choosing an extended partition for Windows 7 (it's bootpartition will be the first primary one), then installing windows XP at the second primary partition and finishing with Linux. Thank you for the information. I’ve got some questions (and some answers for the previous questions :)):

1) What do you recommend for the /boot partition?
2) Is it possible to use two partitions for /tmp (one as tmpfs and one on the harddisk)?
3) You mention using for backuping up: which filesystems can be backed up like that? It would be intresting, but I always thought that was restricted to ext2.

Some answers/ opinions about the questions asked earlier:
I’m about to reinstall my linux (with 7 partitions) and just checked how much was used & checked the average file size:

/boot: 37 megabytes with grub 2 booting windows 7 & xubuntu, average filesize +- 300kb.
/usr: 4.3 gygabytes including most texwork packages (Latex), eclipse, all codecs, etc. Average size: 40kb
/var: 340 megabytes, average size 60kb
/opt & /srv are basically empty
/tmp is mounted as tmpfs.
/: 255mb, average file size about 10kb.
I didn’t look at /home and the swap.
Now, I’m going for 100mb /boot, 8 gb /usr, 1 gb /var, 1 gb /, 8 gb swap (probably excessive) and I’m leaving the remaining part for home. /tmp will again be mounted as tmpfs and I’ll link /opt to /usr/opt. Comments/tips are always appreciated :).

Best filesystem to use:
Ext4 is probably not a bad choice if you are unsure. When Ext3 was the new one, I also considered ext2 since that could be read in windows (not easily) but I don’t think there is any windows support for current Linux filesystems. Ntfs works reasonably well in Linux but I would keep it out of the system partitions since it’s rather slow.

About installing on a primary or logical partition. The /boot partition should be on a primary partition, all others can/should be extended partitions.
In case of a dual-boot with windows 7, you should first install windows which will create two primary partitions and then install linux. Make sure that you keep the bootable flag at the windows partition.
You can also install windows 7, windows XP and linux by making the partitions upfront, choosing an extended partition for Windows 7 (it’s bootpartition will be the first primary one), then installing windows XP at the second primary partition and finishing with Linux.

]]> By: Samhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-174711 Sam Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:42:14 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-174711 hi, Linux is a complicated but powerful bitch - made worse by 'tutors' who never seem to use diagrams to explain what the hack is going on. you just go from one complexity to the next. if i ever [ unlikely! ] get good at Linux, i'll write a book full of diagrams and pictures as well as properly headed/tabbed text to make sure normal people can really understand Linux. please rewrite this using diagrams & explaining: 1] what exactly is a partition - types, quantity 2] how a hard disk is organised 3] what is the difference between windows and linux as far as hard drive concerned 4] what's the best HD config for a webserver [ that's what most people do ] 5] what file sytems to use best & why 6] how to back up ecah partition 7] how to restore each partition 8] how to recover/rebuild from a crash you have to know the whole thing - you well know bits of knowledge don't get you very far and can easily land you in deep trouble. cheers. hi,

Linux is a complicated but powerful bitch – made worse by ‘tutors’ who never seem to use diagrams to explain what the hack is going on. you just go from one complexity to the next. if i ever [ unlikely! ] get good at Linux, i’ll write a book full of diagrams and pictures as well as properly headed/tabbed text to make sure normal people can really understand Linux.

please rewrite this using diagrams & explaining:

1] what exactly is a partition – types, quantity
2] how a hard disk is organised
3] what is the difference between windows and linux as far as hard drive concerned
4] what’s the best HD config for a webserver [ that's what most people do ]
5] what file sytems to use best & why
6] how to back up ecah partition
7] how to restore each partition
8] how to recover/rebuild from a crash

you have to know the whole thing – you well know bits of knowledge don’t get you very far and can easily land you in deep trouble.

cheers.

]]> By: balwinder kaurhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-172324 balwinder kaur Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00:12 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-172324 good site for linux good site for linux

]]> By: Rakibhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-170894 Rakib Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:48:05 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-170894 Excellent!! Thanks, I was also a stupit who did only 2 partitions. But From now on I will do multiple partitions. But can any one tell what should be the percentage of all those partition depending on the total amount of hard disk?? Excellent!! Thanks, I was also a stupit who did only 2 partitions. But From now on I will do multiple partitions. But can any one tell what should be the percentage of all those partition depending on the total amount of hard disk??

]]> By: Stevehttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-168802 Steve Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:46:07 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-168802 I'm also interested in suggested partition sizes. I'm currently building an Arch Linux system and have decided to start with LVM on LUKS for logical partitioning/resizing of a dm-crypt'ed filesystem. Since my goal is a secure system I want to divide my partitions up sensibly and was hoping to find some general starting points. I can always resize later with LVM if I need more or less space. Thanks for a great article! When I worked in web hosting we used to set up and mount our server partitions like this and it probably mitigated a lot of attacks. We used to have to root out perl hacks running in /tmp all the time before we started employing these techniques. I’m also interested in suggested partition sizes. I’m currently building an Arch Linux system and have decided to start with LVM on LUKS for logical partitioning/resizing of a dm-crypt’ed filesystem. Since my goal is a secure system I want to divide my partitions up sensibly and was hoping to find some general starting points. I can always resize later with LVM if I need more or less space.

Thanks for a great article! When I worked in web hosting we used to set up and mount our server partitions like this and it probably mitigated a lot of attacks. We used to have to root out perl hacks running in /tmp all the time before we started employing these techniques.

]]> By: GrahamCBhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-161618 GrahamCB Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:16:21 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-161618 Really informative material. I am a linux newbie and am getting ready to switch from the default distro load on a single partition to a proper partition arrangement. I thought a hard dive could have only 4 primary partitions so duhh some of the suggested partitions must be logical drives within an extended partition? If yes, will this be easy to do and what should be on it? Thanks in advance guys. Really informative material. I am a linux newbie and am getting ready to switch from the default distro load on a single partition to a proper partition arrangement. I thought a hard dive could have only 4 primary partitions so duhh some of the suggested partitions must be logical drives within an extended partition? If yes, will this be easy to do and what should be on it? Thanks in advance guys.

]]> By: crookhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-160909 crook Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:48:45 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-160909 can anyone please tell what are the advantages of having an entry for non critical file systems in /etc/fstab can anyone please tell what are the advantages of having an entry for non critical file systems in /etc/fstab

]]> By: Rickhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-155413 Rick Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:02:33 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-155413 Great article, thanks for posting it & comments by readers, very helpful! Great article, thanks for posting it & comments by readers, very helpful!

]]> By: faberhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154728 faber Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:03:11 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154728 Should we consider logical volumes like centos (and I suppose redhat) does? Should we consider logical volumes like centos (and I suppose redhat) does?

]]> By: faberhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154727 faber Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:56:39 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154727 I know that talking about absolute space (give X GB to /usr, Y GB to /home) could have no sense at all since we could have different hard disk size. Maybe we should talk in percentages... I don't know :) I know that talking about absolute space (give X GB to /usr, Y GB to /home) could have no sense at all since we could have different hard disk size.

Maybe we should talk in percentages… I don’t know :)

]]> By: faberhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154726 faber Fri, 02 Apr 2010 23:54:51 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154726 I've found your blog on google for my last 4-5 questions about linux ... LOL I definetly add your blog to my feed reader. Btw I have a question. How much space should I give to each partition? I used to have /, swap and /home partition and it was quite easy to split an hdd. With 7 partition (and a few knowledge) it's not ! :P Thank you! I’ve found your blog on google for my last 4-5 questions about linux … LOL I definetly add your blog to my feed reader.

Btw I have a question.
How much space should I give to each partition? I used to have /, swap and /home partition and it was quite easy to split an hdd.
With 7 partition (and a few knowledge) it’s not ! :P

Thank you!

]]> By: Philippehttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154315 Philippe Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:06:34 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-154315 Useful and thorough article, thanks Vivek. Useful and thorough article, thanks Vivek.

]]> By: punktyrashttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-152229 punktyras Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:26:58 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-152229 For example entry in /etc/fstabe for /home should read as follows: /etc/fstabe -> /etc/fstab For example entry in /etc/fstabe for /home should read as follows:
/etc/fstabe -> /etc/fstab

]]> By: Hosting Reviewshttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146588 Hosting Reviews Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:55:39 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146588 It's amazing how many people don't realize that your system can be quite vulnerable if you don't have a partition schema, Great Post! It’s amazing how many people don’t realize that your system can be quite vulnerable if you don’t have a partition schema, Great Post!

]]> By: Mikael Ståldalhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146047 Mikael Ståldal Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:57:43 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146047 Consider mounting /tmp as tmpfs. Consider mounting /tmp as tmpfs.

]]> By: Vivek Gitehttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146046 Vivek Gite Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:56:53 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146046 @Bartek, To resize partition use * SystemRescueCd * BootitNG * GParted Make sure you got back of all data before trying out resizing operation. @Bartek,

To resize partition use
* SystemRescueCd
* BootitNG
* GParted

Make sure you got back of all data before trying out resizing operation.

]]> By: Bartekhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146044 Bartek Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:32:01 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-146044 Good article. If I have an existing Ubuntu installation, what would you recommend for resizing the partitions? Right now I only have / and /home so it's not horrible a there is some separation, but you made a valid point on separating /var and the others. Good article. If I have an existing Ubuntu installation, what would you recommend for resizing the partitions?

Right now I only have / and /home so it’s not horrible a there is some separation, but you made a valid point on separating /var and the others.

]]> By: Nabin Limbuhttp://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-141876 Nabin Limbu Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:52:28 +0000 http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/the-importance-of-linux-partitions.html#comment-141876 If noexec is enabled in /var, then it can create problem to cgi-bin scripts which are normally stored in /var/www/cgi-bin If noexec is enabled in /var, then it can create problem to cgi-bin scripts which are normally stored in /var/www/cgi-bin

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