[NTLUG:Discuss] Partition Size

[Dennis Rice]

Robert Citek wrote:
...
 >What's the context?  That is, how will the machine be used?
 >
 >For example, at ByteWorks[1], we refurbish machines for home use. 
 >For that audience we create one large partition.  Even swap is a 
 >swapfile and not a swap partition.  This greatly simplifies cloning 
 >the drive, shrinking/expanding the filesystem, and using the drive.
....

I apologize for not being more specific.  I typically use Fedora, so 
that is my reference by distro, but it should not be too critical of 
an issue, other than where data is stored - which will vary the 
partition size.  This discussion does not focus on security setup, 
that is another very in-depth discussion.

Minimum
Minimum installation for a server for highest security.

Medium
Probably a workstation application where the user wants most user 
features but does not want to provide server functions.  Security 
needs to be applied, but not all applications are installed, hence one 
does not worry about all of the issues.

Full
Everything is installed.  Whether it is used or not is subject to 
requirements.  For myself, I recommend a full installation only to 
those who are just learning, minimizing roadblocks for being able to 
perform various functions in the learning process.

 From Chris' comment regarding /var being huge, when yum does an 
update, the process is temporarily stored in /var, and the very first 
update for a full install requires about 4 GB.  This is known from 
experience.  If a smaller partition is desired, then one must perform 
a first-time partial yum update.

I interpret from Chris' suggestions:

  Partition	Minimum		Medium		Full
  /		750M		.		.
  /boot		60M		.		100M
  /root		.		.		.
  /home		.		.		.
  /var		750M		.		5G
  /var/lib	750M		.		.
  /usr		2G		.		.
  /usr/local	750M		.		.
  /tmp		750M		.		.
  /opt		2G		.		.
  /srv (web)	.		.		.
  "swap"		1G (?)		.		4G (2G RAM)

For RH/Fedora, I assume that /srv would be the same as /var/www, and 
one might desire a separate partition for that one function (excellent 
idea).

I was not aware that /root could be a separate partition, I have 
always been under the impression that it had to be part of the root 
(/) file system.

My setting up /boot to be 100M for size was based on a simple round 
number for a full install.  Chris' number of 60M would be a minimum.

I have added several additional partitiion from the initial 
discussion, including the root (/), /opt, /srv (/var/www), and "swap". 
  Should one also have a separate partition for /usr/share?

Dennis