Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:21:25 +0200 From: Roger Genre <genre.roger@orange.fr> To: freebsd-current@freebsd.org Cc: ohartman@zedat.fu-berlin.de Subject: Re: 9.x installer and GPT vs geom, features in bsdinstall Message-ID: <4E995EA5.5050505@orange.fr>
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On 10/13/11, Oliver Hartman wrote: > On 10/13/11 10:39, Johan Hendriks wrote: >> > Hello all. >> > >> > I just used the 9.0 B3 installer, and it defaults to GPT, which is nice. >> > However, and there has been some discussions about it, it would be nice >> > if the installer warns me that i could get in trouble if i want to use >> > gmirror and the like. >> > >> > Also i find it a little strange that the default mode, GPT in this case >> > is in some sort not compatible with the other default geom structure. >> > For a newcomer or for people who use gmirror and glabel on a regular >> > basis because there somewhat default, it could strike them if they start >> > using the default GPT. >> > >> > It is not logical. >> > Two default ways to do things that are in a way not compatible. >> > >> > So a warning at the installer level could make a lot of users aware of >> > this, and they can decide what to do, use GPT or go back to the old MBR. >> > They can start looking at the mailling list and so on to make the right >> > decision is GPT acceptable for me or not. >> > And not install FreeBSD and find out later that you could not use your >> > old gmirror and glabel tactics without corrupting the GPT structure. >> > >> > Just my thoughts about this. >> > >> > regards, >> > Johan Hendriks >> > >> > Shouldn't be there also a warning that GPT can not be used with the > FreeBSD native bootselector? I had trouble installing FreeBSD > 9.0-CURRENT a while ago with default being GPT on my notebook and also > wanting a Windows 7/x64 for presentations, selectable via the FreeBSD > bootselector. This was possible with MBR, but it seems gone with GPT. > > > Regards, > Oliver > GPT shouldn't be installed with ANY bootselector present on the same device ! But, I noticed that when installing 9.0B1 on 2nd slice of a MBR disk (1st slice with 8.2), using "expert" mode in Bsdinstall, (so selecting a MBR installation), I did not have the expected choice (like in sysinstall) between a MBR bootloader, a standard MBR , or "don't touch to bootsector"; (no damage for me, as my bootselector --grub--is installed on a separate disk dedicated to rescue and booting, allowing me to be more safe when testing newer releases); could this usefull previous choice be merged in Bsdinstall ? Later, I installed the 9.0B3 on a free disk, using the "guided" mode in Bsdinstall, and selecting an GPT installation, that worked fine; but I found very few differences between "guided" and "expert" mode (both require a minimal expertise). The use of "auto" choice would be too more documented, instead of letting the user to "see what will happen" ?. I agree with the suggestion to introduce warnings in the installer itself, against the most dangerous incompatibilities, between gpt and geom, or whatever that could appear during the beta testing; but more generally the question is : what level of information need to be present in the installation medium, apart of the installer, allowing non-expert to succed installation whit a minimum of mistakes; it is obvious that having a look on the mailing lists BEFORE to begin is very helpfull, and a digest of the most important threads could appear as a README-1st or an installation-FAQ with the proper comments, at the ordinary-user level? Regards Roger
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