From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org ([208.92.234.80] helo=lists.gentoo.org) by finch.gentoo.org with esmtp (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1Nl4sF-0004hw-E5 for garchives@archives.gentoo.org; Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:25:15 +0000 Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 4965FE0887; Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:24:44 +0000 (UTC) Received: from mail-gy0-f181.google.com (mail-gy0-f181.google.com [209.85.160.181]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 25509E0887 for ; Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:24:44 +0000 (UTC) Received: by gyg4 with SMTP id 4so171551gyg.40 for ; Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:24:43 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:received:in-reply-to:references :date:message-id:subject:from:to:content-type; bh=AZR18mdtota+Cd8PBQk0NFGvMlf3AfMFYlRQkEYLOPo=; b=gLoSZMoW061fIT7JwE4EbbAMpRo/VXxMS/HUmwJGaoqzqVa9tTHAF7aoEEx6qvQbNu Z3qwx1oBcj/WTz7s3PzRYMIyBmZ9o3JEjT4KiASzLcyrIt3K0FoW8Y/sjmlhdOpPlQfM 7xtuLkdfznWkg7UXjZXOFFjLCUtJuDTeYlGvo= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; b=kvYwptUcN65mSCF7DWXCmv1wzOzS7RHr8e5HJ2nRliB3kAV5xPIKiWz8YkDv9n/Ugm kC+tAexNQ7d0XtjYUzXMr6PNxgVDtu+DzKwmZwBhb4JMMzKqAQvhWiON9dUwgIuAurMf ZTC3gDwK7q7XqND6R9YhIYRYepEZOhzsXOlXw= Precedence: bulk List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List-Id: Gentoo Linux mail X-BeenThere: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org Reply-to: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.101.151.28 with SMTP id d28mr1287363ano.34.1267208683750; Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:24:43 -0800 (PST) In-Reply-To: <58965d8a1002260954v37bc6293xd4b92d82183bd346@mail.gmail.com> References: <58965d8a1002260954v37bc6293xd4b92d82183bd346@mail.gmail.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:24:43 -0800 Message-ID: <854dca5c1002261024k48b17392r8b59098a987b2938@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Advice/best practices for a new Gentoo installation From: Kyle Bader To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 X-Archives-Salt: 2c37c307-ac11-4621-8755-d5d937502350 X-Archives-Hash: 7a1ce52a386f27cc6070c412c15f09c2 > - be aware of cylinder boundaries when partitioning (thanks to the > recent thread) +1 > - utilizing device labels and/or volume labels instead of hoping > /dev/sda stays /dev/sda always +1 > - initrd - I've never used one, but maybe it's needed if root is on > software RAID? It's not technically needed and boot times are faster without them. I'm a fan of statically compiled kernels too but that's more to prevent malicious LKMs. > - grub/kernel parameter tips and tricks... i'm already using uvesafb, > and don't dual-boot with MSWin or anything, just Gentoo > - better partitioning scheme than my current root, boot, home (need > portage on its own, maybe /var as well?) putting portage on it's on partition is a good idea imo, I usually use reiserfs because it handles large amounts of small files well. > - some kind of small linux emergency/recovery partition? equivalent to > a liveCD maybe. I usually keep a bootable usb in my bag for recovery, which also works if there is a problem with the disk/raid. > - best filesystem for portage? something compressed or with small > cluster size maybe. reiserfs > - SSD vs 10000rpm vs big-and-cheap hard drive for rootfs/system files. > I lean toward the latter since RAM caches it anyway. SSDs can make things snappier for boot times. Having lots of ram for disk cache eliminates the benefit after booted since ram is even faster than a SSD. > - omit/reduce number of reserved-for-root blocks on partitions where > it's not necessary. I never get close to filling my disks so never have bothered with this > - I have never used LVM and don't really know about it. Should I use > it? will it make life easier someday? or more difficult? I'm not a fan, if you don't plan on changing your partition sizes I don't see a lot of utility in adding the extra layer of complexity. > - Is RAID5 still a good balance for disk cost vs usable space vs data > safety? I can't/don't want to pay for full mirroring of all disks. It's better than no raid but as you probably know it will only allow for a single disk failure. Getting drives from different lots (but same geometry) is recommended. -- Kyle