[NTLUG:Discuss] Partition Size

[David Stanaway]

Use LVM2 and dynamically re sizable filesystems (xfs, I think ext3, ...) 
and make them all small to start with.

With LVM it is easy to allocate more space to a logical volume, and with 
for instance xfs, just   xfs_growfs /mount/point and you have the space. 
Very fast.

Chris Cox wrote:
> Dennis Rice wrote:
> .....
>>  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.
> 
> That's amazing!  I mean most FULL distros are 4GB in size or less.
> 
>> 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.
> 
> /root ideally needs to be part of /.  Unless /root is NOT root's
> home dir.  Root's home dir needs to be present.  I suppose you could
> have a workable root with necessary things and mount over the top
> of it... just don't depend on anything being there since in a recovery
> situation, /root (the separate partition) will not be mounted (you'll
> have just your mini /root that is part of /).
> 
>> 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.
> 
> Actually, it can go even smaller... even 40M, or even less.  All
> depends on how many kernels you like to have around.
> 
>> 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?
> 
> Well.. you can partition things to whatever level you like.  So
> /usr/share, much like my suggestion of /usr/lib, could be
> an interesting one as a separate partition.  Just remember that
> partitions cost some disk space efficiency.  Get too wild and
> it might make a difference that is noticeable.
> 
> Of course, if you're using LVM... things are a bit nicer and
> easier to rearrange if you mess up or change your mind.
> 
> 
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