¶ Understanding Manual Partitioning in Calamares for RebornOS
Manual partitioning allows you to create custom partitions on your drive for greater flexibility and control. This is useful if you want to dual-boot, manage files across multiple drives, or optimize performance for your use case. Here’s how to set it up and what each partition option means.
- Start the installer and, on the "Disk Partitioning" screen, choose Manual Partitioning.
- Select the disk where you want to install RebornOS (e.g.,
/dev/sda).
- Click Next to enter the partition manager.
¶ 2. Understanding Different Partitions and File Systems
When setting up partitions, you’ll need to decide on partition size, file system, and mount point. Here are the partitions you typically create and what each option means:
Root Partition (/):
- Purpose: This is the main partition where the operating system and all system files are stored.
- Recommended Size: At least 20 GB to ensure enough space for the OS and software.
- File System Choices:
- ext4: This is a widely-used, reliable, and fast file system for Linux. It’s generally recommended for most users as it provides good performance and stability.
- btrfs: A newer file system with advanced features like snapshots and data integrity checks. It’s ideal if you want to experiment with snapshots or need extra data protection, though it can require more management.
- Mount Point:
/ (root) – This is where the system mounts the core file system.
Swap Partition:
- Purpose: Swap space is like a backup for RAM. When your computer runs out of memory, it uses swap space to prevent crashing. Swap is also used for hibernation, which saves the system state.
- Recommended Size:
- 2-4 GB for systems with plenty of RAM (8 GB or more).
- 8+ GB if you plan to use hibernation, as this will store your system’s entire state.
- File System:
swap – This isn’t a regular file system but a specific type that Linux uses for memory management.
Home Partition (/home):
- Purpose: This partition stores user files and settings, like documents, music, and application configurations. By separating it, you can keep personal data separate from the operating system, making it easier to reinstall or upgrade the OS without losing personal files.
- Recommended Size: Use as much remaining space as possible for your files.
- File System Choices:
- ext4: Standard choice for stability and good performance.
- btrfs: Good for users who want the option to use snapshots for data recovery or need better data integrity features.
- Mount Point:
/home.
EFI System Partition (if using UEFI):
- Purpose: Required on systems using UEFI (rather than BIOS). This is where the system stores boot files, allowing the system to start properly.
- Recommended Size: 200-500 MB.
- File System: FAT32 (required for EFI compatibility).
- Mount Point:
/boot/efi.
- Click Create and enter the desired partition size, file system, and mount point for each partition as described above.
- You’ll see each partition listed with its size, file system, and mount point as you create them.
- Confirm that you have a root (
/), home (/home), and swap partition (and an EFI partition if needed for UEFI).
- Double-check that sizes and file systems match what you want for your system.
- Once you’re satisfied, click Next to proceed with the installation.
- The installer will format the partitions, set up RebornOS, and install the operating system.