Linux/Ubuntu laptop setup/install -- Steps for complete? installation needed

[Robert Heller]

What *I* do is:

Create a small (maybe 5gig) /boot partition and the rest of the disk as LVM, 
then create a 32-gig volume for root (/), and then maybe a 50 gig partition 
for /home, and maybe another 50 gig partition for /scratch.  Initially leave 
the rest alone to start with.  I may create additional volumes for other 
things, depending on what I need.

Note: this is very much particular to what I do (and I am sure there are going
to be those who will find the above strange and even absurd, esp. with 256G
SSDs or 2TB disks. I generally symlink ~/Downloads to /scratch -- I figure
anything I download once I can always download again, so anything on /scratch
is expendable and can be deleted at whim. I like to put a limit on my /home
file system as a way to curb my tendency towards packratitous. 

With LVM, I can grow (or shrink) volumes without having to reboot or resort to
single user mode. Or create whole new volumes, usually for special projects.  
On my desktop machine I create VMs with LVM volumes for the VMs' disks.  I 
don't know if Ubuntu's installers use LVM by default, but I am pretty sure it 
is an option, one I highly recommend.

Ultimately, there really aren't any real rules about how to partition a disk
for Linux . In the "old" days, the rule of thumb was partitions for /, /usr,
and /home. Modern Linux is not going to like / and /usr on separate file
systems, so don't even think about that. Having /home separate makes things
easier for backups. One option for simplifying backups is not really bother to
backup / at all, since just about everything there is regeneratable  from a
fresh install (well stuff under /etc and selected directories under /var and
possible stuff under /usr/local and /opt might not be, so making occasional
backups of those directories is sensible).

At Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:53:45 -0500 "Ubuntu user technical support,? not for general discussions" <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:

> 
> Hi Karl,
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> But regarding the setting up of the partitions/vols etc.. I'd like to
> get input from the list, instead of "just giving it a go"!!
> 
> I'm looking to have a process/setup that would be more along the lines
> of what a dev dept would have for a software operation, or dev shop.
> 
> Long ago, used to do this mess with the sysAdmin/devops guys, but i've
> been out of the process for too long.
> 
> thanks
> 
> 
> On Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 1:42 PM Karl Auer <kauer at biplane.com.au> wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, 2024-11-20 at 13:15 -0500, bruce wrote:
> > > Basically, I'm looking to create a series of steps to install Ubuntu
> >
> > If this is your first time, and it seems it is, just get a liveusb and
> > give it a go. The installer software guides you through disk
> > partitioning etc. If you are lucky, it will all go without a hitch and
> > you will have a working system and (provided you took notes) a
> > procedure to follow.
> >
> > If you are unlucky, you will have to figure out how to make a few
> > things work, and maybe we can help more then.
> >
> > > on a "windows" laptop
> >
> > Does this mean you want to preserve the windows installation and add
> > Ubuntu to make a dual-boot system?
> >
> > Regards, K.
> >
> > --
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Karl Auer (kauer at biplane.com.au, he/him)
> > http://www.biplane.com.au/kauer
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-users mailing list
> > ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> 

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