help me with partitioning please....

[slimbim]

I am at the step 6. Set up partitions.

It says use the fdisk, so I typed fdisk at #, and then I'm lost.
I have a 30G harddrive, and there was a windows xp on it before, so I need to delete everything and then install gentoo.

I will be using all 30G, and want to set up the partition so that if a newer version of gentoo comes out that I can upgrade without deleting all my files and such.....

I'm a newb, so please tell me what to do??? I have 256 MB RAM, Celeron 566 overclocked to 850, and 30G harddrive.

Thanks!!!

[Regor]

There are nearly as many partitioning theories as there are Linux/Unix users so I'll touch on a couple popular ones:

One big partition:
Put everything in one place and don't worry about partitions.
You'll still need a swap partition.
A variation on this is to make a small (10-12 MB) partition
for /boot and put everything else on one big partition.

Partitions for everything:
Make separate filesystems (and partitions) for all kinds of things.
Popular ones include /usr /var /home /usr/local and /boot.

Each approach has it's merits, for a newbie on a single-user box, I recommend simplicity. I'd create 3 partitions if I was you. (/, /boot, and swap).

Run fdisk and the first thing you'll want to do is "p" to show your current
situation. Since you want to start fresh "d"elete any existing partitions first
and then add "n"ew ones. Start with /boot, make it maybe 12MB, then do
swap and make it somewhere between 512-800 MB probably. Then make the rest of the disk one big partition. Use "t" to change the partition type of your second partition to type 82 (linux swap). "w"rite the changes when you're happy and then "q"uit. Refer to "m" the help, as needed.

Hope that helps.

While we're on the subject, why doesn't gentoo's install media include "cfdisk"? I think it's friendlier and more obvious and just as capable.

[slimbim]

Thank you.

when i do 'n' it asks for extended or primary partition (1-2).
which one do i use??

and how do I create /boot, /swap, and / and set the sizes and stuff?

sorry....i don't know anything!

[weirdo]

You should also make a /home partition. All your personal files would be saved if you had to format your root (/) partiton. For a 30 gig Hard drive this would be my choice (this is what i would do but your need are certainly not the same as mine.)

/boot=20 megs
/ =3 gigs
/usr =10 gigs
/swap = double of your ram size
/home = the rest (I like having a big /home. I put all my data in there.)

You should read some doc on fdisk if you don't know how it works. Search on google.

[weirdo]

I am not sure of that but i think you should make your /boot primary.


I would also prefer having cfdisk instead of fdisk. Maybe the developers willhear my prayers .

[Regor]

[weirdo]

Sorry i would prefer having fdisk and cfdisk.

(i don't wan't to make enemy here )

[Regor]

[Lowspirit]

I got stuck on the fdisk part also, it's the one thing in the otherwise super nice Gentoo Install Instructions that are lacking, I had the nice people at #gentoo to help me luckily.

It assumes alittle too much that the user know exactly how to use fdisk, something worth thinking about for 1.4 install instructions.

[masseya]

The fdisk vs. cfdisk debate has been ranging a long time. If you want to see one of the oldest threads on the forums try out fdisk screenshots necessary. You can also find a multitude of others by searching for "fdisk and cfdisk." Just some information before you get too OT and a mod closes it.

If anyone still cares I think the best partioning scheme is
/ - one third of HD space (unless your HD is rediculously big.)
swap - double ram size (delta407 has said that this may be overkill when you have a huge amount of ram, like 512 MB)
/boot - 100 MB (who can't spare that much to make sure you never run out of room for kernels?)
/home - rest of drive. (it's a nice place to put things you want to back up if you have to reformat/reinstall/switch distros to gentoo..)
_________________
if i never try anything, i never learn anything..
if i never take a risk, i stay where i am..

[rac]

As many have previously noted, there are many opinions on partitioning, and there is no single right answer. You will discover rules of thumb that work for you, and that's good. In that spirit, here's one that works for me:

[tschortsch]

why do you make a /boot partition?

we don't have the 1024 cylinder problem anymore and i wouldn't consider my kernel important enough for a extra partition. if u loose the kernel-image u can just boot from the install cd, changeroot and compile an new one.

[rac]