LinuxQuestions.org
Download your favorite Linux distribution at LQ ISO.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 03-08-2002, 09:14 PM   #1
coolguy18087
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 30

Rep: Reputation: 15
Linux FileStructure


Okay may be this is a stupid question --- I opted for automatic partition during my mandrake installation and that created three partitions '/' '/usr' and a swap. Now most of the things I install are by default installed in /usr partition and my / (root) partition is still at large.

But isn't /usr part of the / (root) directory or does it just have a link to the /usr directory from within the / (root)? In either case, I dont understand why mandrake chose to allocate more space for the / (root) when practically almost all the major applications that I am using are installed in the /usr/bin ?

Thanks for your attention!
 
Old 03-08-2002, 11:25 PM   #2
ryandelany
Member
 
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Orange County, CA
Distribution: RedHat 7.2, 7.3, 8.0
Posts: 66

Rep: Reputation: 15
/ is always the top level of the directory structure. All other partitions and directories are below /. In your case / is one partition and /usr is another partition that is accessible from /.

I don't have an answer for you about the auto partitioning though. If you choose to reinstall, the only partitions you actually need are / and swap. Anything not created as a partition will just be created as a directory under /.

Hope this helps a little.

Ryan
 
Old 03-09-2002, 03:13 AM   #3
coolguy18087
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 30

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Thanks Ryan,

But, if all the partitions can be created as directory within the / (root) partition, then why bother creating seperate partions? Is there some kind of speed issue here?
 
Old 03-09-2002, 07:17 AM   #4
ryandelany
Member
 
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Orange County, CA
Distribution: RedHat 7.2, 7.3, 8.0
Posts: 66

Rep: Reputation: 15
I am not sure of all the reasons why, and there are probably various reasons.

One reason I have been told is that it helps minimize potential data loss. Sometimes an individual partition can become damaged. If everything is broken up into lots of partitions, you won't lose that much.

Another reason is if you use disk quotas. Since quotas are implemented against partitions, you can become much more granular the more partitions you have.

It's too early in the morning for me to remember any other *good* reasons, but if I run across more I will let you know.

Ryan
 
Old 03-09-2002, 08:28 AM   #5
TacKat
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2002
Distribution: LFS
Posts: 90

Rep: Reputation: 15
Also, if you have /var on a seperate partition and a log file gets flooded it won't fill up your entire harddrive.
 
Old 03-09-2002, 01:25 PM   #6
coolguy18087
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 30

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
Hi guys,

Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate it
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
link dies intermittently-seemingly at random- between win<->linux not linux<->linux?? takahaya Linux - Networking 10 03-09-2007 10:37 PM
Ordering linux filestructure for multiple distros notmatt Linux - General 1 07-28-2005 07:30 AM
Severe filestructure corruption! Please help! sausagejohnson Linux - General 21 08-06-2004 01:06 AM
Command to display whole filestructure hierarchy f/ command line? mjewell Linux - Newbie 10 01-19-2004 10:48 AM
how to cp filestructure for specific file pattern mizuki Linux - Newbie 5 05-24-2003 02:58 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:25 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration