[GTALUG] New Desktop PC -- debian Linux - Proposed 2 TB HDD Partitioning;

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Wed, Apr 11, 2018 at 09:58:05AM -0400, Steve Petrie, P.Eng. via talk wrote:
> Warm Greetings To GTALUG Members,
> 
> This coming weekend (Friday 13 April 2018) I will be building my new desktop PC with the help of my friend who has built quite a few PCs for his employer.
> 
> The new PC will be running debian Linux and will soon take over duties from an ancient Dell desktop PC running Windows XP (acquired new in March 2005)..
> 
> I will post the final hardware configuration on PCPartPicker once the new PC is operational.
> 
> * * *
> * * *
> 
> Meanwhile, I would like to ask GTALUG members please to itake a look at the partitioning configuraiton I am proposing for the 2 TB Western Digital HDD (best to stretch your email client window to defeat word wrap):
>   ==> *** STANDARD LINUX ***
> 
>      /device     partition
> 
>   ==> linux normal boot #1: (current active version of linux os, will be recycled for next version)
>      /dev/sda1   gpt001      ext2    ???    /boot
>      /dev/sda2   gpt002      ext3     50    / (root), /bin, /dev, /etc, /initrd, /lib, sbin
> 
>   ==> linux normal boot #2: (next version of linux os, will become current version)
>      /dev/sda1   gpt003      ext2    ???    /boot
>      /dev/sda2   gpt004      ext3     50    / (root), /bin, /dev, /etc, /initrd, /lib, sbin
> 
>   ==> linux rescue boot:
>      /dev/sda1   gpt005      ext2    ???    /boot 
>      /dev/sda2   gpt006      ext3     50    / (root), /bin, /dev, /etc, /initrd, /lib, sbin
>   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>   150 GB + 3X boot
> 
>   ==> linux temporary:
>      /dev/sda3   gpt103      ext4     64    (swap1)
>      /dev/sda4   gpt104      ext4     64    (swap2)
>      /dev/sda5   gpt105      ext4     64    (swap3)
>      /dev/sda6   gpt106      ext4    200    /tmp
>   -------------------------------------------------
>   392 GB
> 
>   ==> linux permanent:
>      /dev/sda7   gpt207      ext4    100    /var
>      /dev/sda8   gpt208      ext4    100    /usr
> 
>   ==> linux user permanent:
>      /dev/sda9   gpt309      ext4    100    /usr/local
>      /dev/sda10  gpt310      ext4    100    /home
>   ----------------------------------------------------
>   400 GB
> 
> 
>   ==> *** USER-DEFINED ***
> 
>      /dev/sda51  gpt551..557 ext4     75X7  /!_d ... /!_j (current, clone winxp partition structure, allow for growth)
>      /dev/sda52  gpt599      ext4     70    /!~dell (WinXP archive C..J: ../winxp_c .. ../winxp_j (WinXP archive C..J))
>   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>   595 GB
> 
>   ==> other operating systems:
>      /dev/sda61  gpt661      ext4    ???    /._win7   virtualized windows 7
>      /dev/sda62  gpt662      ext4    ???    /._win7_1
>      /dev/sda63  gpt663      ext4    ???    /._dfly   virtualized dragonflybsd
>      /dev/sda64  gpt664      ext4    ???    /._dfly_1
>   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>   ??? GB
> 
>   ==> ssd partitions:
>      /dev/sda71  gpt771      ext4     --    /.~ssd01   (ssd partition) | total ssd
>      /dev/sda72  gpt772      ext4     --    /.~ssd02   (ssd partition) | capacity
>      /dev/sda73  gpt773      ext4     --    /.~ssd03   (ssd partition) |  256 GB
>      ---------   ---------   ----   -----   -----------------------------------------------
>   N/A GB
> 
>   ==> allocated:                    1537 GB (+ 3x boot)
>   ==> unallocated:                 + 463 GB (- 3x boot)
>      ---------   ---------   ----   -----   -----------------------------------------------
>   ==> Total HDD Capacity:           2000 GB
> Note 1: Please be aware that I am a complete Linux newbie but with a software engineering background.
> 
> Note 2: Hoping to be able to swap back and forth between an "active" version of Linux and the "next" version of Linux, by switching the roles of partitions   (gpt001, gpt002) <==> (gpt003,gpt004) .
> 
> Note 3: Please be aware that I intend to maintain most of my user-related content in the seven (7) partitions gpt551..gpt557
> 
> * * *
> * * *
> 
> Comments, criticisms, questions welcome.

Do you actually work on your computer or do you spend all day shuffling
bits of old OSs around?

Where is the UEFI boot partition?

I would never waste time or space on a rescue boot.  I have USB keys
for that.

I keep one OS linux installed and maintained.  I have never had a problem
upgrading that needed a reinstall.  My Debian 2.0 install lasted until
486 support was dropped from Debian.  I forget what version that
eventually was.  I keep one windows install.  I can't imagine a benefit
of doing anything more complex and can think of a ton of reasons not to
have more.

As for virtualized, disk images are simpler and lets you thrown them
all one one partition.  Sure raw partitions can have slight performance
benefits, but are a lot less flexible.  If you want the performance and
flexibility, use LVM not partitions.

Why is there any ext3 involved?  I can understand ext2 for a small boot
partition, but can't think of any good reason to use ext3 for anything
these days.  ext4 is just better now.

-- 
Len Sorensen