Considerations before you install

[shane]

Yet on the default installation partition setup, the swap partition is last. I was just wondering why that's the case?

I'm sure this is because the installer determines the simplest partitioning scheme necessary by some algorithm in the code. A knowledgeable human scheme wouldn't have just one root partition with everything on it either. So I think it just figures out the simplest way to just get things running.

[markfiend]

OK cool, thanks, that makes sense.

[kaixi]

@Fred and others: why do you recommend putting the swap partition on the top of the partition table and not the / partition?

[emorrp1]

1) Partitions closer to the outside of the hard drive disk, ie. at the top of your partition table and to the left in the Gparted graphic, are faster than partitions on the inside of the hard drive disk, or closer to the bottom of the partition table.

Since swap is kind of backup ram, you want it to be as fast as possible.

[Aging Technogeek]

Actually, if you have enough RAM available (say 2 Gb or more), you will seldom require swap during normal operation. In this case, swap can be installed anywhere.

If your system is short of Ram (less than 1 Gb) you will use swap on a regular basis. Then you would want it first on the disk for rapid access.

When I first installed Mint it was on an older unit with 512 Mb of RAM. I learned by doing that swap was fastest when it was first. Now all my systems have at least 2 Gb but I still install swap first from habit.

[markfiend]

I have 3G of RAM in this machine.

I think I'll leave the swap where it is on this install (at the end where the default installer put it).

I did split the original default "everything" partition into / and /home with gparted on the liveCD (see upthread) but it took ages I would have probably been better off wiping the hard drive and starting again, but hey.

[bru]

Hi Fred et al,
I've read almost all this thread, nonetheless I'm a beginner in linux world. I would like to install Linux Mint in my laptop, and I have some doubts about partitioning my HD.
I bought the laptop with Ubuntu already installed, and in order to install Mint I choose this Fred's suggestion as partition scheme:

swap ----Formatted as swap -----per above rules
/ ----------Formatted as ext3 ------10 – 12 Gig.

Data Partition1 ----Formatted as ext3 -----sized for data
Data Partition2 ----Formatted as ext3 -----sized for data
Data Partition3 ----Formatted as ext3 -----sized for data

So, I've tried by launch Mint form live CD (Felicia), run the Mintinstall and tried to prepare partitions with the "Manual" option (I followed the Official Guide for Main edition, version 1.2). But all the pre-existing partitions were locked (locker icon displayed, and no delete option available). If I keep these old partitions I have to abandon my new chosen partition scheme. So, the question is: how can I overcome this?
The laptop is a HP 550, 3gb RAM, 150gb HD, if is helpful to mention. I would appreciate some help.

[mnealtx]

I've read this thread umpteen times and I still can't figure out just how to do what I *think* I want, so I'm throwing myself upon the mercy of the masses.

Computer: Sony Vaio VGN-FZ140 laptop.
RAM: 2Gb
HD: 180Gb
Integrated webcam

Use: Web, movies, music, photos, some gaming (via wine). Separate data partition with the movies/music/photos accessible by all users and distros. I want to install Mint and MEPIS and try to tempt the g/f to give linux a try after seeing them on my laptop, since she HATES the vista that is on her laptop.

Here's what I *THINK* I need, but I'm unsure of exactly how to set up the data and make everything talk.
Swap: 2Gb
Mint: 10Gb ext3
Mint /home: size? necessary?
MEPIS: 10Gb ext3
MEPIS /home: size? necessary?
Data: most of the slack space after the above. what format??

Is there anything specific that needs to be done to make the data accessible to all users and distros? Should I set WINE to point to the data partition for game installs? Do I need the /home partitions if I'm putting my data and wine installs on a separate partition?

[mnealtx]

I've read this thread umpteen times and I still can't figure out just how to do what I *think* I want, so I'm throwing myself upon the mercy of the masses.

Computer: Sony Vaio VGN-FZ140 laptop.
RAM: 2Gb
HD: 180Gb
Integrated webcam

Use: Web, movies, music, photos, some gaming (via wine). Separate data partition with the movies/music/photos accessible by all users and distros. I want to install Mint and MEPIS and try to tempt the g/f to give linux a try after seeing them on my laptop, since she HATES the vista that is on her laptop.

Here's what I *THINK* I need, but I'm unsure of exactly how to set up the data and make everything talk.
Swap: 2Gb
Mint: 10Gb ext3
Mint /home: size? necessary?
MEPIS: 10Gb ext3
MEPIS /home: size? necessary?
Data: most of the slack space after the above. what format??

Is there anything specific that needs to be done to make the data accessible to all users and distros? Should I set WINE to point to the data partition for game installs? Do I need the /home partitions if I'm putting my data and wine installs on a separate partition?

So, after more and more (and some more) reading here in the forums and on the wiki (how to partition), I think I'm looking at this:

Swap: 2Gb
Mint /: 15 Gb ext3
MEPIS /: 15 Gb ext3 (I think I'm going to leave these a bit larger than the 10-12Gb recommendation, due to having multiple users)
Data (mapped to /home): 100Gb ext3 with folders for photos, movies, WINE, etc
slack/unallocated: ~50Gb

How does this look?

[shane]

So, I've tried by launch Mint form live CD (Felicia), run the Mintinstall and tried to prepare partitions with the "Manual" option (I followed the Official Guide for Main edition, version 1.2). But all the pre-existing partitions were locked (locker icon displayed, and no delete option available). If I keep these old partitions I have to abandon my new chosen partition scheme. So, the question is: how can I overcome this?
The laptop is a HP 550, 3gb RAM, 150gb HD, if is helpful to mention. I would appreciate some help.

The Live CD installer and the mintInstall are two different things...

Anyway, most probably the problem you are facing is that your partitions have been mounted. You cannot edit mounted partitions. Boot into the Live CD and immediately start the Partition editor... and you should be able to partition as you wish.

[shane]

So, after more and more (and some more) reading here in the forums and on the wiki (how to partition), I think I'm looking at this:

Swap: 2Gb
Mint /: 15 Gb ext3
MEPIS /: 15 Gb ext3 (I think I'm going to leave these a bit larger than the 10-12Gb recommendation, due to having multiple users)
Data (mapped to /home): 100Gb ext3 with folders for photos, movies, WINE, etc
slack/unallocated: ~50Gb

How does this look?

That scheme looks fine. Note that if you reinstall either Mint or MEPIS, you will lose the /home folders since they are not on a separate partition. What this means is that you will lose the user specific settings and any files that will be in these folders.

About Wine. This creates a hidden folder in the user's home directory which basically represents a Windows C drive where necessary files for Wine are stored. When you install a game or something in Wine, this is where it will be installed unless you choose an alternate location.

[mnealtx]

That scheme looks fine. Note that if you reinstall either Mint or MEPIS, you will lose the /home folders since they are not on a separate partition. What this means is that you will lose the user specific settings and any files that will be in these folders.

About Wine. This creates a hidden folder in the user's home directory which basically represents a Windows C drive where necessary files for Wine are stored. When you install a game or something in Wine, this is where it will be installed unless you choose an alternate location.

Thanks for the post, Shane - I had a chance to play around with a MEPIS live CD - screen resolution wasn't picked up, sound wasn't working (even with the mod to the alsa-base file), so I think I'm just going to keep Mint and let the girlfriend try it out and see how she likes it.

I've set it up as:
swap - 2Gb
Mint / - 15Gb
Data - 100gb in an extended partition.

I decided not to make a separate /home partition after reading the post in the Wiki about partitioning and the possibility of bad config files and such - if I'm storing movies, music, and photos in the data partition, do I really need a separate /home partition?

I'm looking for the post about pointing folders in the data partition back to the /home folder. I plan to set Wine up to install programs into a folder in the data partition, as well. Once I have all the programs in place, I plan on backing up MInt to a USB backpack drive that I have.

Does anything in the above jump out to you as a "holy cow don't do that!!!" ?

[Fred]

mnealtx,

Many like to have a separate /home partition. I tend to think it unnecessary except under special circumstances, if you are using one or more data partitions. The only thing in your /home folder would be your personal config files. There just isn't enough there to warrant making another partition, in my opinion. These can easily be backed up to a folder on your Data partition and the ones you need, put back in your /home on a reinstall. Having said that, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a separate /home partition if it makes you feel better.

Look at the thread below for some background and instructions about how to mount your Data partition.

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=22093

I don't see any show stoppers in your plan. Set your partitions up with the partitioning tool called Gparted. It can be found in the live cd menu. When you get to the partitioning part of the install, choose the manual partitioning mode and assign your pre-made partitions to your mount points.

Fred

[bru]

So, I've tried by launch Mint form live CD (Felicia), run the Mintinstall and tried to prepare partitions with the "Manual" option (I followed the Official Guide for Main edition, version 1.2). But all the pre-existing partitions were locked (locker icon displayed, and no delete option available). If I keep these old partitions I have to abandon my new chosen partition scheme. So, the question is: how can I overcome this?
The laptop is a HP 550, 3gb RAM, 150gb HD, if is helpful to mention. I would appreciate some help.

The Live CD installer and the mintInstall are two different things...

Anyway, most probably the problem you are facing is that your partitions have been mounted. You cannot edit mounted partitions. Boot into the Live CD and immediately start the Partition editor... and you should be able to partition as you wish.

Thanks shane! sorry for the confusion about mintInstall and CD installer, and maybe something else... I'm a newbie hopeless case
Actually, before you wrote, I figured out that I'd to start the partition editor and create a new table of partitions. So, I was posting an answer to my own question when I found yours. Even so, thank you again, I really appreciate that people take time to help others. So, now I'm writing from my new mint installation!
bye

[mnealtx]

mnealtx,

Many like to have a separate /home partition. I tend to think it unnecessary except under special circumstances, if you are using one or more data partitions. The only thing in your /home folder would be your personal config files. There just isn't enough there to warrant making another partition, in my opinion. These can easily be backed up to a folder on your Data partition and the ones you need, put back in your /home on a reinstall. Having said that, there is certainly nothing wrong with having a separate /home partition if it makes you feel better.

Look at the thread below for some background and instructions about how to mount your Data partition.

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=22093

I don't see any show stoppers in your plan. Set your partitions up with the partitioning tool called Gparted. It can be found in the live cd menu. When you get to the partitioning part of the install, choose the manual partitioning mode and assign your pre-made partitions to your mount points.

Fred

Thanks, Fred - I've got Mint installed and the Data partition auto-mounted into /home.... but it's not letting me make folders... time for more reading!

Edit to add - found it... had to chown the mount point for the data partition

[dlkreations]

Thanks, Fred - I've got Mint installed and the Data partition auto-mounted into /home.... but it's not letting me make folders... time for more reading!

That should be easily fixed. If you run one of the following two options, you should be able to get write permissions.

1. From terminal, type: gksudo nautilus
-or-
2. Right click your folder and open as root.

Then just right click and go to properties, choose Permissions and give yourself permissions to access that folder. Then at the bottom, apply the settings and you should be able to write to the folder/create folders, etc.

At least that's how I do it. If someone else has a better option, then by all means correct me.

[mnealtx]

Thanks, Fred - I've got Mint installed and the Data partition auto-mounted into /home.... but it's not letting me make folders... time for more reading!

That should be easily fixed. If you run one of the following two options, you should be able to get write permissions.

1. From terminal, type: gksudo nautilus
-or-
2. Right click your folder and open as root.

Then just right click and go to properties, choose Permissions and give yourself permissions to access that folder. Then at the bottom, apply the settings and you should be able to write to the folder/create folders, etc.

At least that's how I do it. If someone else has a better option, then by all means correct me.

I tried opening it as root, but the changes wouldn't "stick"...so I did a chown on the mount point... we'll see if it holds!

[Fred]

mnealtx,

Doing it from the CLI should make it hold. Change the user name, of course.

sudo chown -R fred:fred /home/fred/Data

sudo chmod -R 0755 /home/fred/Data

The above gives permissions to everybody. If you want only the owner to have read/write permissions substitute 0600 for 0755 above.

Fred

[mnealtx]

mnealtx,

Doing it from the CLI should make it hold. Change the user name, of course.

sudo chown -R fred:fred /home/fred/Data

sudo chmod -R 0755 /home/fred/Data

The above gives permissions to everybody. If you want only the owner to have read/write permissions substitute 0600 for 0755 above.

Fred

Fred,
First, let me thank you and everyone else that replied for all your help - it's greatly appreciated.

That's basically what I ended up having to do - sudo chown -R mnealtx:users and sudo -R a+rwx on the mount point.

I set up a test account and a second user can create files/folders in the various sub-folders of the data partition, but can't create files/folders in the root of the data partition - is this normal?

Also, second user cannot enable enhanced screen effects (compiz) - again, is this normal?

[Fred]

mnealtx,

When you have more than one user, you need to mount your data partition in both of the user's homes. With the 0755 permissions any user can read and write in that folder tree, but the visiting user can't start a new folder tree through your mount point.

Put a new mount point for your Data partition in the new user's home and the companion mounting line in fstab. Reboot and set the ownership and permissions through the new mount point to the new user. That should enable each user to create folder trees in the Data partition through their own mount points in their /home directories and also be able to read and write to the other users folder trees.

Fred