Partition sizing ????

[b2bpro]

I'm sorry but I've posted this several times in different forums.  I can only assume that not everyone reads all the forums.  Unfortunately, I've never gotten an answer.

When installing a new rom, i have the option of changing the size of the partition. It seems that there are both root (or system?) and user partitions. What are these used for?

Basically, what are the partitions in the Zaurus (without considering SD or CF cards) and what is put in those partitions by default?  It seems this is important so one can consider what size to use.

[ScottYelich]

I'm not as close to this as others, but I *believe* the original sharp roms used
a read only root partition.... perhaps due to running as root and fear of corruption
due to user interaction.... a /home partition was used to be read-write and to
install, etc.

With cacko, this isn't really the case... the root is writable.  Also, you have the ability
to resize the root partition -- so you can make it larger and install more into it.

I believe, cacko also required a larger root partition (ie: > 32mb) so you HAD to
repartition...  to install.

I have not had good luck with repartitioning.  I am now using a 40mb root.  Any larger
and the rom doesn't seem to want to install.

Scott

[b2bpro]

so you can make it larger and install more into it.

Install more what?  If the root in the sharp rom was read only then that isn't the place to install programs or data. It would make sense then to make the root as small as possible, but still able to install the rom.  Then all programs would install to the remaining (user?) partition. If that was the case, then all roms would come with a statement that "this rom requires exaclty 32 megs root size" or 27 or 43 or whatever the absolute minimum size is for that rom.

However, this isn't what happens, some people have said that they make the root the maximum size.  Do they install programs there? If so what about data?

Where is the top of the tree for the root partition in the file system and where is the top of the tree for the user partition?   Which partition is the default partition for program installation?

These are the questions I have.  I'm just trying to understand how this all fits together so I can make appropriate sizing.  I think I would prefer that there is only one partition where the operating system, programs and data all live.  that way you have the most efficient use of space.

[ikm]

I think I would prefer that there is only one partition where the operating system, programs and data all live.  that way you have the most efficient use of space.

That's right -- the best option is to have a root-only setup. Ashley once modified the installer of the pdaXrom 1.0.5 to provide such an option, here's that thread:

https://www.oesf.org/forums/inde...?showtopic=3361

I recall Laze saying that the current 1.1.0 RC series installer can do the same, but providing no further details. Me, I just don't understand how exactly -- while you can resize root to some maximum, having a minimalistic /home partition and then removing a corresponding /etc/fstab line, I don't like the idea of wasting any additional megabyte of a flash space for any kind of /home remnant. With the Ashley's installer, there is no waste.

Personally, I use a root-only setup which was once arranged by the Ashley's modified 1.0.5 installer, and the current 1.1.0 RC series of the rom install and work just fine with it.

[Bundabrg]

Root partition is mounted on /
User is mounted on /home

Under pdaXrom, both are read/write.

Apps by default are stored on / partition.
User settings, mailbox etc are stored under /home. ipkg also uses /home for temp storage.

I use an 80Mb root, rest to user and have a 1Gb sdcard mounted on /mnt/card. On hind site I'd rather allocate all memory to /, so home is included in that space. Maybe next time I reflash or if I put on a resize tol.

 - BRG

[b2bpro]

Excellent.  I'm beginning to understand.

Now, I have an 860.  If I wanted to have a root directory with the maximum size and put my /home there, what size would that be? I understand that it has 192 megs of memory.  Can I make the root partition 192 megs?

[wmadan]

I believe under pdaxrom the largest root partition size is 121MB.

[pgas]

the 860 has 128 megs of flash and 64 megs of ram (128+64=192).
Unless you create and mount a ram drive you can't use the 64 megs of ram
for filesystem. And you don't want to do this.

[b2bpro]

And you don't want to do this.

So, the 64 megs of ram is for running programs just like a pc, whereas the flash is like a hard drive in that you store the operating system, program files and data on.

Now I wonder why you can't make a 128 meg root partition.  Is this the same as with hard drives where there is some amount of lost space due to filing overhead?

Hold on now.  When I flash a rom, it creates a /home in the user partition with lots of stuff in it.  If I make my root partition 121 megs, will that /home be put in the root partition.  Or is that why the max size is 121 megs, so there is 7 megs to put a /home directory on the remaining which is the user partition?

[ikm]

Or is that why the max size is 121 megs, so there is 7 megs to put a /home directory on the remaining which is the user partition?

The first 7 megs are used for the internal bootloader/kernels/maintenance/diagnostics menus. This space is preallocated and can not be used.