So I'm finally setting up some dedicated Linux boxes, and I'm wondering which disklabel I should use when formatting my HDDs. The default appears to be msdos, but I'm wondering if using one of the other types would offer any advantages, such as more than 4 "primary" partitions (since I will never have a Microsoft OS trying to read the partition table of this HDD).

Thanks!

The partition table, and thus the disk label, is determined by your hardware. If you are using an Intel or compatible CPU then there really is no option. The other options are there in case you want to bring your disk to a SPARC machine or a VAX, for example. Machines based on Intel CPUs always use the same type of disk partition table. This is required for your motherboard to be able to find and run the operating system.

Linux can use the extended partitions in the same way that Windows uses them. You can create logical drive partitions in the extended disk partition.