"bootable flag" option under swap area configuration

m4rtin · 08-26-2010, 06:32 PM

I'm installing Debian as a file server and during partition configuration I created swap area. There is a "bootable flag" on/off option under swap area configuration. I makes perfect sense with other partitions, but is there a some possibility to boot from swap area? Or why is this option there?

syg00 · 08-26-2010, 09:03 PM

Doesn't make sense, but doesn't matter to Linux bootloaders, they ignore the boot flag anyway. It's just a bit in the partition table entry.

m4rtin · 08-26-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syg00

Doesn't make sense, but doesn't matter to Linux bootloaders, they ignore the boot flag anyway. It's just a bit in the partition table entry.

Isn't this "bootable flag" on/off this very same bit in partition table?

If this makes no sense, why this option is there?

syg00 · 08-26-2010, 10:25 PM

All (primary) partition table entries are the same structure - what you choose to put in a partition is largely irrelevant. You can even set the boot flag on an extended or logical partition if you so desire.

If you're asking why the (Debian in this case) distro installer design person(s) make stupid decisions, I ask that constantly ...
Raise a bugzilla and ask them.

m4rtin · 08-27-2010, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syg00

All (primary) partition table entries are the same structure - what you choose to put in a partition is largely irrelevant. You can even set the boot flag on an extended or logical partition if you so desire.

If you're asking why the (Debian in this case) distro installer design person(s) make stupid decisions, I ask that constantly ...
Raise a bugzilla and ask them.

Booting from logical partition doesn't look so stupid and should be possible. However, booting from swap partition really is

Thanks!