Hi there,

This is the first time i'm visiting a linux forum. kinda lost.. haha. Anyway, i have got some question to ask you experienced linux users out there. Thanks in advance!!

Here my question:

Suggest a partitioning scheme for a stand-alone unix/linux server
with two 40GB discs supporting 100 users. This server will also provide services like web and email on top of the basic services. Need to include the following too,

1. The partition name (either a mount point or swap).
2. The partition size.
3. The partition location (disk and order on disk).


I have read some articles online but it just serve to make me more confused since i have only very limited hand-on and exposure to Linux. This is actually an report i need to write. I have no idea what is the principles when it come to partitioning of the HD on Linux. I hope to gather a clearer picture here, probably more on the server management and disk partition aspect. How you guys actully determine how much space to allocate to specific usage? Thanks alot!!


Regards,
cephas
digit_7@hotmail.com

two discs?? you could do this:

disc 1 = one linux partition...

disc 2 = one swap partition and one linux partition...

the size of the swap partition should be about 2 or 3 times the amount of ram you have, but your requirements will vary depending on what kinda stuff the box will be doing...

also, for the linux partitions i recommend the reiser filesystem...

here's what the partition names would look like for primary master (/dev/hda) and slave (/dev/hdb) ide discs:

/dev/hda1 = /

/dev/hdb1 = swap

/dev/hdb2 = /whatever


you could put the swap partition in disc 1 instead (or on both), it's all up to you really...

also, i'm sure you'll get or have gotten lots of suggestions about how you need to make partitions for certain directories (such as /home, /var, /boot, etc...)... remember that is totally optional...

a really simple partition setup can be much more flexible a lot of the time...

the only partition you "need" is the one for "/" (the root directory)...

=)

Hi win32sux,

Thanks for the advice and you are very correct about those suggestion of having specific directories/partition for different usage. Thats where i got lost, what would be a sensible allocation for those stuff.

Btw, what is the usual normal for disk space for the root directory, "/"? I'm actually thinking of having swap partition for both disc, 1GB. Primary will probably focus on core applications while the slave will be a backup, do i need another root for the backup too? Is is advisable to have /var (news, mail, website or /home (user diectory) directories togather will be core applications?, i'm thinking it might take up too much resources and thus slowing everything down. And they also tends to be variable.

/dev/hda1 = /
/dev/hda2 = /usr (watever applications)
/dev/hda3 = swap

/dev/hdb1 = /backup (mind if i ask, what is the correct syntax for backup of hda?)
/dev/hdb2 = /watever other stuff
/dev/hdb3 = swap

Million thanks
cephas

there's no "normal", it depends on what you have... a full slackware install will need at least 2.5gb of space, for example...

well, you can do that, but keep in mind that ONE swap partition will be more than enough...

the backup doesn't need any root directory, it can have whatever directory or directories you want...

even though those directories will be in your root directory (on disc 1), you don't need to make special partitions for them, they are already separate...

hey,

thanks alot!! i'm done with my report and hopefully it will goes well...

You're the MAN!!


cheers
cephas