[ubuntu-uk] Spare partition - add to /home?

[Andrew Bryant]

Bruno Girin wrote:
> On Sun, 2010-02-28 at 15:30 +0000, Dianne Reuby wrote:
>   
>> I have a spare ex-XP partition which I don't need now. I'm wondering
>> which would be best - to delete it and expand my /home partition, or
>> keep it as a separate (Ubuntu) partition for photos and music?
>>
>> I know people do have partitions for this sort of thing, but are there
>> any advantages or disadvantages to either setup?
>>     
>
> The advantages and disadvantages come from the fact that you partition a
> resource (in a generic sense of the word "partition").
>
> Pros of separate partitions:
>       * It enables you to segregate media (photos + music) from you home
>         folder.
>       * If the media partition is full, it won't affect your home
>         partition.
>       * You can encrypt the home partition while leaving the media
>         partition un-encrypted.
>       * You could set up the media partition with ACL support so that
>         you can create photos and music directories in it that are
>         shared by all users and that all users can update, if you have
>         more than one user on the machine.
>       * Any situation where you want to handle home and media
>         differently may be helped by having different partitions.
>
> Cons:
>       * It's less flexible so you may end up with one partition 90%
>         full, the other one 10% full.
>       * Setting it up so that it's transparent to applications like
>         fSpot or Rhythmbox may be complicated.
>
> I have probably forgotten things and others may disagree with my list.
>
> Bruno
>
>
>   
I note that your son also uses this PC.  Would there be any value in 
giving his home folder its own partition?  (I can't see a "quota" 
facility in "users & groups")

Andrew.