Partition structure
Partitions are accessed through the file system by mounting them at a specific level. Linux structures its files, folders and partitions as a tree. When you start Linux, your primary boot partition is mounted first at / at the root (or trunk) of the tree. Other partitions can then be mounted at specific folder points above it in the tree – the /mnt and /media folders are a good choice for a partition that’s specifically been created for sharing, eg. It’s also where external partitions – eg from another operating system – are automatically mounted if the partition’s file system is recognised by Linux.
It’s also possible to mount partitions directly to key directories like /tmp (temporary files) or /home (the home directories of each user on your PC) when applicable – this provides a seamless and consistent experience regardless of whether you decide to set up dedicated partitions for key folders or not. Mount points are stored in the /etc/fstab file.
The best time to partition your drive is when you first set up Linux on an empty drive. ( CheckoutthePartitionfrom Scratchbox,p80,fordetailsonhoweasythisis.)
You’ll also encounter partitioning when setting up a dualboot system. In this event, things are made much easier if your existing OS is detected during the installation process – if it is the hard work of partitioning is done for you because the installer suggests a suitable partition layout, which you can tweak to your personal needs based on how much free space is currently available on the drive.
That’s not a practical route for most people to take – and thankfully there are third-party tools that can repartition your drive without data loss, although it’s important to note there’s always an element of risk involved. That’s why it pays to take a full drive image of your current setup now, so if things go wrong you can reset and start again. Use a tool like Clonezilla ( http://clonezilla.org) or create a snapshot if you’re running your installation in a virtual machine. It also pays to sit down and work out what your requirements are and how much space you have to play with. In the first instance, decide what additional partitions you wish to create and what you’re