Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 16:57:57 -0500 (EST) From: Kenneth W Cochran <kwc@world.std.com> To: Cy Schubert - ITSD Open Systems Group <Cy.Schubert@uumail.gov.bc.ca> Cc: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Removal of Disklabel Message-ID: <200011212157.QAA21696@world.std.com>
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>From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Nov 21 10:26:20 2000
>Reply-To: Cy Schubert - ITSD Open Systems Group <Cy.Schubert@uumail.gov.bc.ca>
>From: Cy Schubert - ITSD Open Systems Group <Cy.Schubert@uumail.gov.bc.ca>
>To: Zero Sum <count@shalimar.net.au>, jkh@FreeBSD.ORG
>Cc: Cy Schubert - ITSD Open Systems Group <Cy.Schubert@uumail.gov.bc.ca>,
> Stijn Hoop <stijn@win.tue.nl>, FreeBSD <freebsd@kiwi-computer.com>,
> stable@FreeBSD.ORG
>Subject: Re: Removal of Disklabel
>Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 07:22:36 -0800
>
>[...editing...]
>> > > I'd like to see FreeBSD do the same as Linux on the i386 - use only
>> > > the partition table, along with extended partitions. Do away with
>> disklabel
>> > > *on that platform*.
>> > >
>[... more editing...]
>> > > One of the most FAQs I've heard from linux'ees that tried FreeBSD is
>> > > 'why can't I install to an extended partition?' Fact is when I hear that
>> > > question, I also wonder myself...
>> >
>[...more edits...]
>>
>> I do think that manipulating partitions in FreeBSD is rather harder than on
>> any other Unix I have had to do it on. Moving things around in a dynamic
(hmmm...)
>> and fluid way (which I have always consider part of tuning) is - difficult.
>>
>> Some better partition management tools would be rather useful. I'll think
>> on this and maybe do something. Suggestions welcome and solicited. [Can I
>> get arrested of soliciting on a mailing list?]
>
>Before I start coding a proof of concept and reading the comments thus
>far I'd like to have a consensus of whether it would be a worthwhile
>effort or would it be a waste of my time? At first I thought it was a
I think it would indeed be a worthwhile effort.
>good idea to make FreeBSD partitions have an MS-DOS or failing that a
>Linux look-and-feel. Judging from the feedback, I'm not so sure
>whether it is a good idea or not. From what I can tell, most people
>don't want any changes from the status quo.
The status quo is ok, too, but some alternatives would be a
Good Thing, I think...
>I am not trying to keep the argument going here. If people generally
>don't like the idea and thus my effort to implement this idea has no
>chance of being used or incorporated into the system, then I want to
>save myself some effort that might be wasted towards this endeavour and
>put it to better use elsewhere. The last thing I want to do is force
>this on anyone.
Ok... Throwing in my $.02...
My "gripes" (hmmm, too strong a word, sorry...)
1. I find BSD fdisk complex & unwieldy. I like the fdisk
tools in Slackware Linux, specifically fdisk & cfdisk;
Slackware's fdisk works enough like that in M$, SCO &
Interactive (remember that? :) to be Reasonably
Familiar. So, when I need to lay-out a hdd, I usually
use the Slackware tools, but also PartitionMagic,
depending on What I'm Trying To Do. Then I change the
type indicator for BSD. Maybe some kind of "port" of
Slackware's fdisk/cfdisk might be in order?
2. If I want to make more than 6 total filesystems on a
hdd, I make more than 1 BSD slice (& on more than 1
HDD) & that's ok for now. But, that uses a (relatively
scarce) Primary, so maybe it might be a Good Thing if
"entries" in an Extended Partition could be used by
*BSD (for "multiple" partitions a-h). (Hmmm, maybe it
works; I haven't tried... :). Btw, is it Really OK for
me to use partitions a & b (in another slice) for
"regular" filesystems (as opposed to root & swap)?
As someone suggested earlier, though, this thread should
probably be better discussed in -arch (or maybe -hackers?).
And as someone else has suggested, I think some kind of
summary/synopsis/Rules-Of-The-Game would be *excellent*
for the Handbook.
Thanks,
-kc
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