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diff --git a/ca/partitioning/sizing.xml b/ca/partitioning/sizing.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..3a7441dc6 --- /dev/null +++ b/ca/partitioning/sizing.xml @@ -0,0 +1,52 @@ +<!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking --> +<!-- original version: 11648 untranslated --> + + + <sect1 id="partition-sizing"> + <title>Deciding on Debian Partitions and Sizes</title> +<para> + +At a bare minimum, GNU/Linux needs one partition for itself. You can +have a single partition containing the entire operating system, +applications, and your personal files. Most people feel that a +separate swap partition is also a necessity, although it's not +strictly true. <quote>Swap</quote> is scratch space for an operating system, +which allows the system to use disk storage as <quote>virtual +memory</quote>. By putting swap on a separate partition, Linux can make much +more efficient use of it. It is possible to force Linux to use a +regular file as swap, but it is not recommended. + +</para><para> + +Most people choose to give GNU/Linux more than the minimum number of +partitions, however. There are two reasons you might want to break up +the file system into a number of smaller partitions. The first is for +safety. If something happens to corrupt the file system, generally +only one partition is affected. Thus, you only have to replace (from +the backups you've been carefully keeping) a portion of your +system. At a bare minimum, you should consider creating what is +commonly called a <quote>root partition</quote>. This contains the most essential +components of the system. If any other partitions get corrupted, you +can still boot into GNU/Linux to fix the system. This can save you the +trouble of having to reinstall the system from scratch. + +</para><para> + +The second reason is generally more important in a business setting, +but it really depends on your use of the machine. For example, a mail +server getting spammed with e-mail can easily fill a partition. If you +made <filename>/var/mail</filename> a separate partition on the mail +server, most of the system will remain working even if you get spammed. + +</para><para> + +The only real drawback to using more partitions is that it is often +difficult to know in advance what your needs will be. If you make a +partition too small then you will either have to reinstall the system +or you will be constantly moving things around to make room in the +undersized partition. On the other hand, if you make the partition too +big, you will be wasting space that could be used elsewhere. Disk +space is cheap nowadays, but why throw your money away? + +</para> + </sect1> |