FreeBSD Gnome GParted

slackwarenewbee · 02-14-2017, 01:09 AM

When I googled partitioning someone said

they preferred using GParted by itself to partition.

Will FreeBSD install and let me partition after install later

from within it?

Goal is to lower frustration level.

cynwulf · 02-14-2017, 02:36 AM

gparted isn't very useful for FreeBSD. You will have to learn to use the tools provided by the OS - if you want Linux then just install and use Linux.

https://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.IS...sdinstall.html
https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/disks.html

hitest · 02-14-2017, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cynwulf

You will have to learn to use the tools provided by the OS - if you want Linux then just install and use Linux.

Agreed. The FreeBSD partitioning tool that ships with the installation media isn't a shiny point and click utility, but, it gets the job done. As cynwulf suggested it is important to read the FreeBSD handbook prior to installation.

jggimi · 02-14-2017, 01:54 PM

slackwarenewbee, I would like to add a clarifying point. The BSD family of operating systems have their own partitioning schema, using a technology called a disklabel. This is separate and distinct from the Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) found on your x86-based workstation.

So on systems that use MBR/GPT, we typically assign a single MBR/GPT partition to the OS -- for boot blocks and so that another OS doesn't overwrite that area of disk -- and then we use disklabel partitions assigned from within that MBR/GPT partition.

Q: Why two different types of partitions on the same system?

A: The BSDs run on architectures which do not use MBR or GPT partitioning. On those architectures, the disklabel partition is the only mechanism available. So when you are a BSD system admin, you administrate your systems the same way, regardless of the specific hardware architectures you've deployed.

Q: OK. Why doesn't GParted include BSD disklabels, then?

A: No one has added the functionality. Remember, GParted was designed for use on GNU/Linux, which uses MBR/GPT partitioning. You're using one of the BSDs, which doesn't (except as needed for boot or as a safety placeholder).

Q: What can I do to get disklabel functionality added to GParted? I like that tool and would prefer to use it.

A: Develop the functionality, and submit it for consideration. See http://gparted.org/development.php

Q: I can't. I'm not a developer.

A: That's not a question. But you can become one. Anyone can, if they are willing to teach themselves programming, or take a programming class.