Linux Partition Process

Introduction

Partitioning is an essential step in setting up a Linux system. It involves dividing a storage device into separate sections, each of which can be managed independently. This guide explains the standard Linux partition process with detailed steps and examples.

Partition types

• MBR
• GPT

Partitioning Tools

• fdisk - A command-line utility for managing disk partitions.
• parted - A more advanced command-line tool that supports both MBR and GPT partition tables.
• gparted - A graphical partition editor for Linux.

Common Filesystems

• ext4 - The most commonly used filesystem in Linux.
• xfs - A high-performance filesystem suitable for large files.
• btrfs - A modern filesystem with advanced features like snapshots and RAID support.
• swap - A special partition used for virtual memory.

Partitioning Schemes

• Standard Partitioning - Divides the disk into primary and extended partitions.
• LVM (Logical Volume Management) - Allows for flexible disk management, enabling resizing and creating snapshots.

Partitioning Guidelines

• Root Partition (/) - Contains the operating system and should be at least 20GB.
• Home Partition (/home) - Stores user data; size depends on user needs.
• Swap Partition - Typically equal to the size of RAM, but can vary based on system usage.
• Boot Partition (/boot) - Optional, but useful for systems with complex boot configurations.
• EFI System Partition (ESP) - Required for UEFI systems, typically around 200-500MB.

Partitioning Best Practices

• Backup Data - Always back up important data before partitioning.
• Use GPT for Large Disks - For disks larger than 2TB, use GPT to avoid MBR limitations.
• Plan Partition Sizes - Estimate the size of each partition based on usage patterns.
• Keep a Separate /home Partition - This allows for easier upgrades and system reinstalls without losing user data.
• Consider LVM - If you need flexibility in resizing partitions, consider using LVM.

Common Partitioning Commands

• fdisk - Used for creating and managing partitions on MBR disks.
• parted - Used for creating and managing partitions on both MBR and GPT disks.
• mkfs - Used to format a partition with a specific filesystem (e.g., mkfs.ext4).
• mount - Used to mount a partition to a directory.
• umount - Used to unmount a partition.
• lsblk - Lists all block devices and their partitions.
• blkid - Displays information about block devices, including UUIDs and filesystems.
• df - Displays disk space usage for mounted filesystems.
• partprobe - Informs the OS of partition table changes without rebooting.

Steps for Partitioning in Linux

1. Identify the Disk: Use the lsblk or fdisk -l command to list available disks.
2. Create a New Partition: Use a partitioning tool like fdisk or parted to create a new partition.
3. Format the Partition: Format the partition with a filesystem such as ext4 using the mkfs command.
4. Mount the Partition: Mount the partition to a directory using the mount command.
5. Update fstab: Add an entry to the /etc/fstab file to ensure the partition is mounted automatically on boot.

Example: Partitioning a Disk

Step 1: Identify the Disk

sudo lsblk

This command lists all available disks and partitions. Identify the target disk (e.g., /dev/sdb).

Step 2: Create a New Partition

sudo fdisk /dev/sdb

Follow the interactive prompts to create a new partition.

For example, type n to create a new partition, then specify the partition type (primary or extended), partition number, and size.

Here’s a quick guide on the fdisk commands:

• n - Create a new partition.
• p - Print the partition table.
• d - Delete a partition.
• t - Change the partition type.
• w - Write changes and exit.
• q - Quit without saving changes.

After creating the partition, type w to write the changes and exit.

After partition create run lsblk this will show us new partition, If lsblk will not showing any new disk partition so run this command:

sudo partprobe

This command informs the OS of partition table changes without rebooting.

Step 3: Format the Partition

sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1

This formats the partition /dev/sdb1 with the ext4 filesystem.

Step 4: Mount the Partition

sudo mkdir /mnt/new_partition
sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/new_partition

The partition is now mounted to /mnt/new_partition.

Step 5: Update fstab

echo '/dev/sdb1 /mnt/new_partition ext4 defaults 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

This ensures the partition is mounted automatically on boot.

Example: Creating a Partition with fdisk

To create a new partition using fdisk, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal and run sudo fdisk /dev/sdX, replacing sdX with your target disk (e.g., sda).
2. Type n to create a new partition.
3. Select the partition type (primary or extended).
4. Specify the partition number and size.
5. Type w to write the changes and exit.

After creating the partition, format it with a filesystem using mkfs and mount it as described in the previous section.

Example: Creating a Partition with parted

To create a new partition using parted, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal and run sudo parted /dev/sdX, replacing sdX with your target disk (e.g., sda).
2. Type mklabel gpt to create a new GPT partition table.
3. Type mkpart primary ext4 1MiB 20GiB to create a primary partition from 1MiB to 20GiB.
4. Type quit to exit parted.
5. Format the new partition with sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1, replacing sdX1 with the new partition name.
6. Mount the partition with sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/new_partition.

After creating the partition, you can add it to /etc/fstab for automatic mounting on boot.