How to use non default partitions including the additions of /dev/sda* disks
The default configuration for LCG installations with LCFG assumes you have IDE disks (/dev/hda*) and then uses the very safe but far from optional partitions.
/dev/hda1 /boot ext3 38 Megs
/dev/hda2 / ext3 Remainder
/dev/hda3 swap swap 512 Megs
This is set up in the configuration file redhat-73-cfg.h which is part of the release. It contains by default:
fstab.disks hda
fstab.dopartition_hda yes
fstab.partitions_hda hda2 hda1 hda3
fstab.mpt_hda1 /boot
fstab.size_hda1 32
fstab.type_hda1 ext3
fstab.preserve_hda1 no
fstab.mkmpt_hda1 zap
fstab.mpt_hda2 /
fstab.size_hda2 free
fstab.type_hda2 ext3
fstab.preserve_hda2 no
fstab.mkmpt_hda2 zap
fstab.size_hda3 512
fstab.type_hda3 swap
fstab.preserve_hda3 no
fstab.mkmpt_hda3 zap
Most of the values above are fairly obvious but:
- Setting dopartitions_hda to yes specifieis that the disk should be partitioned at install time.
- Setting preserve_hda1 to no specifies that the partition should be formatted at install time.
- Setting mkmpt_hda3 to zap dictates that any files found in the mount point before the mount is made will be removed.
- Setting size_hda3 to free will calcualte the size of the disk left and create the partition at this size.
So it is possible to just extend all of this or override any of it, eg to add a second scsi disk to the situation.
EXTRA(fstab.disks) sda
fstab.dopartition_sda yes
fstab.partitions_sda sda2 sda1
fstab.mpt_sda1 /usr/local
fstab.size_sda1 32
fstab.type_sda1 ext3
fstab.preserve_sda1 no
fstab.mkmpt_sda1 zap
fstab.mpt_sda2 /usr
fstab.size_sda2 free
fstab.type_sda2 ext3
fstab.preserve_sda2 no
fstab.mkmpt_sda2 zap
would create a /usr and /usr/local partitions on sda. Note the order which
the partitions are created in must be sensible. You can not create /usr/local
before /usr.
A couple of things to note:
- If the nodes profile has SCSI_HOSTADAPTOR set then an #ifdef exists in redhat-73-cg.h then the default disk will be set to sda rather hda. So if all you have is one scsi disk instead of one ide disk then that is all that is needed. See the faq about scsi for some more details and also look at redhat-73-cfg.h to understant it. The file contains comments.
- The default install assumes a /boot partition. If you combine /boot into your / partition then all the grub paths change. You will have to correct the values for the grub profile as well.
- The partition tool in LCFG only supports primary partitions so there is a maximum of 4 partitons per disk.
Last modified Mon 14 June 2004 . View page history
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