on Wed, Apr 24, 2002, [EMAIL PROTECTED] ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: > Hi, > > I've got a couple of linux boxes. Some with the standard recommended > mount /usr /var /home, etc partitions. Some are with just one partion on > the entire hard-drive. I'm considering changing the partioning scheme on > one box to multiple partitons (i.e. one for var, usr, home, etc...) Some > have more than one hard-drive, one box doesn't. > > My question is, "Does it really make sense (i.e. is it worth the time > and maintenance effort) to make multiple partitions on a disk?" > > I'm taking into account the fact that disks are becoming bigger two-fold > every year.
My take is here:
http://kmself.home.netcom.com/Linux/FAQs/partition.html
There are several arguments for partitioning, most of which boil down
to:
- Different partitions serve different needs. Mount options
(read-only, executable, suid, etc.) can be set corresponding to
those needs.
- Drastic issues with disk-filling runaway processes are mitigated.
Do you have a dresser, or do you dump all your clothes on the floor
(or both ;-). There's a reason for containerization.
- Different partitions may be more or less susceptible to errors.
Again, containing issues helps with this.
- Backups can be made more convenient by containing "local" data --
/home, /usr/local, and bits of /root, /etc and /var.
- Creating at least two partitions of roughly equal size means that if
you need to do major surgery on the system, you've got two buckets
to stick things in. Depending on your fill ratio, this may mean you
can swap data between these partitions.
- A secondary bootable system can also be invaluable. This need not
be a mirror of your primary system, a recovery system on disk is
sufficient. Depending on your needs 10-40 MiB is likely more than
sufficient. Note that this is *not* a replacement for a recovery
disk or rescue disk (I prefer LNX-BBC or Tom's Root/Boot), but an
augmentation.
The argument that disks are getting bigger cuts both ways. On my
systems, "system" space -- partitions other than /home and data space
under /var (e.g.: databases, websites, etc) -- account for a maximum of
5 GiB. And that's for a rich session. On current single drives of 20 -
100+ GiB, that's somewhere between 25% and 5%, or less, of total
storage. Dividing up this space would seem to offer protections at a
low overall cost.
Peace.
--
Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?
Keep software free. Oppose the CBDTPA. Kill S.2048 dead.
http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html
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