explore the disk layout for the head-start: examine how the HDD is divided into partitions
explore the disk layout for the head-start: examine how the HDD is divided into partitions
Sure. I've tried it twice and am improving my grasp, though I'm stuck in permissive mode due to audit issues that could ruin the system. I plan to wrap it up eventually. By the way, Ed's email client is awesome.
I just set up one partition at the root, /. I prefer a clean install over a dirty one so I don’t have to deal with mounting my boot or home separately. This keeps everything intact when you need to wipe or format the rest of the drive. If you want separate partitions later, LVM can help make it easier to expand or reduce them. Just avoid merging multiple drives into a single logical volume—it’s something I learned the hard way. You can keep everything inside your home directory too. Add it to your path and place all your user programs there if possible. It’s simpler to manage software, scripts, and files in places like /lib, /bin, etc., rather than relying on package managers. The downside is you’ll need to handle updates and uninstallers yourself, which can be tricky if they don’t come with built-in tools. It’s probably for a reason, but I find it easier to stay in control from the home directory.
I've been using Linux since its early days, and I believe most distributions can manage their own partition setup on their own. The main choice is whether to include a sleep or hibernation partition. I meant it loosely, since some niche distros aren't suited for everyday use and skip certain features. Everything here applies to a single hard drive. For multiple drives, I keep the home partition on the secondary drive after installation. Once set up, you might add another home drive for frequent users, so each person can store their own data securely. If you have kids or want shared access, a guest account works—users can run apps but won’t alter system files or save locally. If you need to connect Windows, install it first; Linux will take up as much space as possible, leaving room for more data. I’m not very familiar with MacOS, but the outcome should be similar.
I completely disagree with this claim beyond a simple partition setup. I haven’t seen any installer for any distro that can handle the layout I described without a lot of trouble and wasted time. The main issue with Linux today is its poor partitioning in GUI installers. For the simplest layouts it works, but adding complexity quickly causes problems. If you truly want this kind of arrangement, the only dependable method I’ve found is to manually create partitions yourself using the CLI. Once that’s done, most modern installers will recognize it and proceed smoothly, often prompting you to choose specific options like "Advanced partitioning." Once that’s set up, it usually becomes straightforward. I’m not sure if this is entirely accurate, but partitioning isn’t about permissions. Permissions are generally well-managed. There’s no need for a separate partition just to isolate another user. Most distros assign home directories with default permissions like "750" (or similar), meaning each user stays within their own group. "Everyone else" access isn’t enabled by default, so users can’t reach each other’s directories. A separate partition alone doesn’t matter unless the filesystem itself has proper restrictions to block access. The real advantage here is storage separation. With individual partitions, each user gets their own dedicated space up to the partition size, preventing interference. Even then, using file system quotas might be a better approach, as they can be adjusted dynamically by an admin, rather than dealing with the hassle of resizing partitions—even with LVM.
I believe there was a misunderstanding about the structure of your home partition. Linux organizes it into sections like Desktop, Downloads Music, Pictures, and Video, among others that are typically hidden from regular users. Most of these named areas are relatively small—often just a few megabytes—and expand only when needed. The main constraint is the available disk space. You can also include additional directories in your home partition or further split existing ones to achieve better organization. In my Music folder, I separate it by Artist; in my Documents, I categorize by subject, such as Tech, then by major topics, and finally by genre like Fiction or Non-Fiction, with books arranged by series or author.