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 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-stable" in the body of the message
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