How do you choose the best partition scheme for your operating system installation?

If I have a preference I'd use ZFS, which essentially does away with the legacy PC partitions. Using ZFS, you can mirror the boot disks, and then use ZFS snapshots to send the data to a remote system. Another benefit of ZFS root disks is if you run low on space, you can replace each side of the mirror with larger physical drives, and when the second drive is re-attached, then the extra space is made available to the OS right away. No more fighting with partitions or slices (Solaris's method). I teach in my Unix/Linux class showing students traditional partitioning, then LVM, and finally ZFS. All of the students like ZFS far better than the other two methods.

Typically when I partition a drive at all, I think of ways that it's going to fail and I set it up accordingly, for the most part anyways. This varies with what I will be using the drive for Sometimes I test multiple OS with Programs and I want to see what if any problems I encounter. Very rarely do I use VM for this type of testing because that can throw false positives into the mix so I prefer a native OS installation for these types of scenarios.

You can definitely create more than four total partitions when using logical partitions inside of an extended partition. For example I have built multi-boot systems with three primary partitions and a fourth extended partition containing the remaining space on the disk. Inside of the extended partition I could include multiple logical partitions. It was not uncommon for my older systems to have MBR partition tables and 6 to 10 or maybe more partitions. MBR is less common today. Typically GPT will be used and is usually required for disks of more than 2 TB size. One exception is MBR partition tables may still be preferred for USB and other SD-Card media depending on what is required by hardware or software using that media.

The many pains of determining partition sizes! On Linux I tend to use logical volume manager (LVM). This requires extra knowledge to understand and administer, but frees things up to modify partition sizes with less pain. Newer versions of Windows have improved in allowing for partition resizing as well. In the past I used tools like Partition Magic to resize Windows partitions. Most of my systems today run Linux as a single OS or as a hypervisor. Depending on the number and size of physical disks, I may have one or a couple LVM partitions per disk. Windows tends to live on LVM virtual disks. This is worth it if you run into partition space issues frequently.

In my experience there are things to consider - first the size of the disk - second the intended use of the computer. — if the computer is a server a smaller root partition (maybe one or two hundred gigs may be beneficial and a second partition for data or storage. — if the computer is for games or software development a larger partition up to the full disk size may be appropriate again depending on the size of the disk. Of note bios drives have a max partition size of 2 TB and GPT drives Have almost unlimited size capacity. Another issue is that not all operating systems can boot from a gpt partition. So a mixed partition scheme might be needed for certain operating systems if the disk is larger than 2 TB.

If I am setting up a computer for a more permanent use then I tend to plan for recovery on the same drive besides having a physical or cloud backup in case I have to replace a whole drive. I like to run only my OS and the security along with my critical work applications from the OS partition. I install all other applications and redirect my personal files and storage to a separate partition altogether. Then I will create a partition that will back up both of those partitions in case of a minor disaster. By minor I am referring to an update that may have broken the OS or Program or some form of Malware that did the same.

Partitioning balances efficiency, security, and flexibility. I've doubled the OS's recommended disc space to maximise real-world usability, following Mike's advice. Reserve 60GB for a 30GB OS. It's a digital frontier ripe for updates, expansion, and supplementary apps. Dual-OS trip? Considering filesystem compatibility, carefully shape partitions to reserve space for shared data storage. This genius allows partition wipes, data integrity, and OS reinstallation without data loss. Use duality to protect data, save OS, and simplify disc management. Be practical, adaptable, and secure when choosing partitions!

Sometimes I enjoy finding out why it broke but I don't always have the time to bother with it and need my computer back up and running sooner rather than later. This is a great way to recover your system if your backup is on the same physical disk you can't get any faster than that. External backups are great for when your entire disk has been compromised but as many of you know restoring this type of backup can take much longer to restore depending on the amount of data and the source image type. Typically I will use the OS File system for all partitions unless I am backing up some other type of Data as well.

Unravelling the Partition Format Symphony Explore the melodic resonance of data storage, where invisible limits on our discs shape the information symphony. Who are the extraordinary conductors of this orchestra? Each partition format weaves complicated patterns of bits and bytes. From Windows' NTFS to Linux's ext4, each system provides distinct harmony while also posing unique compatibility issues. Mastering this symphony entails developing an orchestra of compatibility and security, allowing data to move in our digital environment seamlessly.

There are many Linux file system options depending on the distribution you use a few or many may be supported out of the box. While ext4 (and its predecessors ext3 and ext2) is common and has been a default for RedHat and its derivatives, there are other popular file systems available. BTRFS, XFS, ReizerFS, and ZFS are a few examples. If you are running multiple operating systems, or expect to change at some point it is critical to understand what file systems your operating system supports and the features each file system provides. Picking a Linux file system is partly about how you intend to use the file system as each has its strengths and weaknesses.

All I can say is just don't count on Windows System Restore to ever be your protection against disaster, Partitioning tools are better with real backups going all the way back to Norton Ghost and Partition Magic, you want something that is stand-alone and doesn't rely on your OS to be working in order to restore things down the road if you do have some type of disaster. Remember your data is only as safe as your method of backup. So partition planning is a key to success when it comes to reliability.

Partition Tool Mastery: Navigating Disc Management Explore the world of partition tools, your valued partners in the creation of storage devices. Essential functionality are provided by built-in choices such as Disc Management in Windows and GParted in Linux. Standalone programmes such as EaseUS Partition Master and AOMEI Partition Assistant provide further flexibility. Remember to back up your data because partitioning has inherent hazards. Utilise the power of partition tools to confidently customise your storage devices.

I have kind of covered this throughout my comments, and I stand by having a good plan for what your intentions are going to be in the real-world practice of the system. You may find yourself setting up something to test multiple OS's and there are tools to help you boot into each, now you can put them all on separate partitions I recommend that however you then want your backups to have enough space to cover equally the amount you are going to use.

When things get complicated enough, LVM and virtualization are a great asset. You may still have some file system resizing pains or backups and restores to do, but in a virtual environment with LVM volumes as file systems and/or as virtual disks, it becomes a lit easier to make mistakes and start over and try again, or just keep adjusting until you get things right. Some times that means using one of the partition tools mentioned for pesky Windows problems, but that is what you get with Windows. Of course if you can afford or are in a big enterprise shop good SAN equipment gives you LVM features pretty much built in. Good times!

Sometimes backups can just be another copy of your data. Preferably on a different physical disk and probably in a different system. The further apart the safer, but also usually distance implies slower backup speeds. On Linux rsync might become your best friend. There are tons of options to support tons of ways of doing things. One method I particularly like is to use rsync "link" options to perform incremental backups. Essentially I can get a snapshot of a file system for each backup, and only transfer the changes each time after the initial backup. Each new tree represents a full snapshot and can be easily restored. The other link options can allow you to expose just the changes between snapshots if that is needed.

How to Use Disc Management and Partition Tools Like a Pro Learn all there is to know about partition tools, your new best friends when it comes to customising your storage media. Disc Management in Windows and GParted in Linux are built-in choices that provide crucial functionality. Additional flexibility is provided by stand-alone applications like EaseUS Partition Master and AOMEI Partition Assistant. Keep in mind that there are hazards associated with partitioning, thus it is important to have backups of your data. You can confidently modify your storage devices by utilising partition tools.

When Pandemonium Breaks Out: Leveraging the Strength of Partition Tools The ATM was destroyed when a blackout left the business in the dark. We quickly fixed the network with the use of powerful networking?tools. We quickly imaged and formatted the server with the help of the Incident Management group. There were urgent warnings, rising priority, and still headway was made. Tools for partitioning helped organise the disordered partitions. Expertise in setting up partitions was on full display in this action-packed epic. These aids apportioned assets, consolidated records, and prevented waste. As the network came back online, we were in awe of the effectiveness of the partition tools. They gracefully navigated challenge.............