partition sizes

[troxel at MIT.EDU]

There are several reasons on any system for having separate
partitions.

One is that sometimes things go amok and a file system fills up.
Having separate file systems constrains the damage and makes it easier
to recover.

Second (and a very important one that many users don't pay much
attention to) it facilitates backups.  Things which change
infrequently, or aren't that critical, do not need to be backed up
frequently.  Data and programs which can be reinstalled do not need as
frequent backups as working space such as home directories, etc.
It is generally easier to install from a backup than from source cds.
It is easy to forget the solutions taht needed to be found when doing
the original install.

One way to back files up from user error is to tar them to another
disk partition which is only mounted while doing the tar. Files on an
unmounted partition are fairly safe from user error.  Of course they
are subject to disk failure!

While it is possible to have swap files on any partition, one is less
prone to errors if the swap is to a separate partition and, thus, out
of mind.

If one has simply a single partition, then it is generally painful to
back up and thus the backup is not done, or not done as often as is
desirable.

Don Troxel
troxel at mit.edu
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