Once the keyboard is configured, the installation software looks over the system again. If partitions don't already exist on the installed drives, then the menu will look something like the following:
The opportunity to select which physical drive will be partitioned is presented when the option to Partition a Hard Disk is chosen. Cfdisk is used to partition the specified drive.
Use this tool to create at least one Linux partition and, unless circumstances get in the way, a swap partition. With a 24 MB swap partition, and 8 MB of RAM, a 486 will compile a kernel without running out of virtual memory. However, when compiling very large packages, 24 MB is nowhere near enough, even on a Pentium, with 16 MB of memory. However, with 16 MB, a 48 MB swap partition becomes quite adequate. From this it can be seen that deciding on the size of the swap partition isn't really a simple formula. Depending on the tasks the system is expected to perform, the formula will be different for each configuration.
When Partition a Hard Disk is selected, the following dialogue box is presented:
If this drive has not been partitioned yet, the screen presented will look something like:
With no partitions created the obvious choice is New, which will give the options: Primary, Logical, and Cancel
Only 4 primary partitions can be created on any one physical drive. Usually this is sufficient. When it isn't, logical partitions are used to extend the number of partitions. Logical partitions, sometimes known as ``extended'' partitions live inside of a primary partition. To add logical partitions will thus require the removal of one of the 4 possible primary partitions. With only 3 primary partitions whatever space that is left on the drive can be divided up into as many logical partitions as needed. The limit on logical partitions is only constrained by the space on the disk.
Whether you are constructing a primary, or a logical partition, the total space left on the device will be offered for the new partition. Simply type in a new value to override the displayed size. Pressing enter to accept the value typed will present the options: Beginning, End, and Cancel. The new partition may be placed at either the beginning of the free space, or at the end of it, or its creation can be canceled all together, by choosing the appropriate option.
A few suggestions:
Whenever cfdisk creates a partition, it assumes that it will be a Linux partition and creates it so. When creating a swap partition the FS (file system) type is not correct. It should be a Linux Swap FS type. When the highlight bar rests on a partition the options section of the screen looks like:
| [Bootable] | [ Delete ] | [ Help ] | [Maximize] | [ Print ] |
| [ Type ] | [ Units ] | [ Write ] |
While the up/down arrow keys move from one partition information line to the next, the left/right arrow keys move the highlight bar from one option to the next/previous one. In addition the first letter of the option will activate it as well, so pressing the 't' key will allow the FS type to be changed. This will display a list of all the allowed FS types. Typing the number of that FS type will change the partition to the new type when enter is pressed. The correct FS type for a swap partition is number 82, Linux Swap.
In addition, the first partition should be marked bootable if it is to be the boot partition. This is not necessary for additional drives that get added to the system.
In the current example, we need a partition for /boot, a swap partition, a partition for the root file system, a partition for /home, and a partition for /var, with an additional partition for other possibilities (like an archives). The screen would look like the following when these partitions are completed.
