Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
Some points - I've done most of these... 1. Grub can boot from a secondary partition (my current laptop has a recovery partition in 1, vista (b) in 2, fbsd in 3, and linux in 4 as 2 secondary partitions.) works fine. Grub doesn't boot vista correctly, but handles bsd fine and (of course) linux. 2. Linux as of 2.6.27 can mount ufs2 once you figure out the incantation (you need -t ufs and -o ufstype=ufs2). I don't know if this is ok r/w or not; I leave the ntfs (actually all non-self) filesystems ro. (the linux ntfs-3g is supposedly safe for r/w and even growing files. Since it runs in userland over fuse it should port easily to fbsd. I don't know if that applies to the vista version of ntfs.) 3. BSD's ext2 driver (on stable) can't yet handle the 256-byte inodes that most modern linux's install on. /boot tends to be 128-byte and pure ext2. A journal replay would be a nice addition to fbsd's ext2 driver but isn't needed if linux was properly shut down. So this laptop has the ntfs and bsd mounted readonly in linux, ntfs mounted in bsd but only the grub partition (which is secondary - ad4s5) of the linux stuff mounted in bsd. The geom-linux-lvm does indeed work on this laptop, and mount finds and mounts the main linux partition; then any reference gets an errno back, apparently due to the inode length issue. I saw a request for mfc of the fix for this (it is apparently in fbsd-current, and already pr'd regarding 7-stable.) -- Pete ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
2009/4/26 Jorg Andersson jorg_anders...@lavabit.com: On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 03:45:33PM -0600, Tim Judd wrote: I don't recall FreeBSD supporting extended partitions... at all I remember reading they aren't in /dev/ but still is mountable. Is this still the case? They show up just fine here (8-current), and I am fairly sure they were visible in /dev when I was running 7.x The big deal is that you can't (easily) install FreeBSD on a logical slice. http://forums.freebsd.org/showthread.php?t=3194 -- -- ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 11:45:07AM -0700, Michael David Crawford wrote: I have a machine I plan to use solely for testing. I have FreeBSD 8.0-CURRENT on it right now, and would like to add FreeBSD 7.2-RC2 as well as CentOS 5.3 Linux. Presently I have three Master Boot Record primary partitions - slices in the FreeBSD parlance, if I understand correctly: - A Linux slice to be used for CentOS' /boot - A BSD slice subdivided into partitions that hold 8.0-CURRENT - A big FAT slice (so to speak) meant to be split up for 7.2 and CentOS A PC-style Master Boot Record can hold a maximum of four primary partitions, or it can hold three primaries and a single extended partition that is subdivided into logical partitions. The geometries of the logical partitions aren't given in the MBR, but exist as a linked list. I *should* be able to split that FAT slice up into a primary for 7.2 and an extended partition that will hold CentOS' other partitions; however: In Googling about this, I have read some dire warnings about FreeBSD being unable to understand logical partitions; apparently installing FreeBSD *before* an extended partition will result in all your logicals getting trashed. One is advised to put all the FreeBSD MBR partitions *after* the extended partition. Is that the case? Have you any advice for me? FreeBSD is not happy with MS 'extended partitions'. But, I don't really see your problem. You are not using Microsloth for anything. Create your Lunix slice first, then one for FreeBSD 7.2 and finally one for FreeBSD 8.0. You still logically have one left for something but it doesn't seem to be needed and neither does a 'logical partition'. Note that FreeBSD will not run from the FAT slice as far as I know. FreeBSD might be able to mount the CENTOS slice stuff if you use the right type of mount. I don't know about mounting Lunix from FreeBSD. But, you can't do it the other way (eg mount a FreeBSD type filesystem from Lunix - though maybe, I have never tried it) One more thing: if it's possible, I'd like for the /home directory to be shared between both of my FreeBSD installations. In a normal installation, there is a real /usr/home directory, with /home being a symbolic link. If I'm running FreeBSD out of one MBR partition (or slice), can I mount a directory that's in a different one? MBR has nothing to do with the filesystem type. MBR is just a [usually] one block/sector of code that makes a few choices and then reads in a subsequent, OS-specific block of code to begin the actual boot process.MS MBRs are not very friendly. The FreeBSD MBR will boot any OS that follows the official standard for boot code location. Linux wants you to use some fancier, non-standard (but by now, pretty much usable everywhere) MBRs such as Grub. They all do essentially the same thing - ask you which block you want to boot and then go load it in and transfer over control to it. Generally they don't care what is in the block but MS still goes out of its way to pretend that the rest of the world does not exist so it won't play with others, though I have heard rumors that the newest stuff takes a somewhat broader outlook. From FreeBSD you can mount other types of filesystems such as MS by using the correct mount types. For example, if you want to mount an MS FAT or FAT32, you use an 'msdosfs' type in your fstab file or mount_msdosfs(8) utility to do the mount. Do some studying to see if you can mount any Lunxi type filesystem from FreeBSD. When you create a new __non-root__ account, you can put the home directory anywhere the system can reliably read and write. DO NOT put the home directory for a root account outside of the root (/) filesystem. Since both FreeBSD 7.xx and 8.xx are going to be UFS type file systems, you could put them both in your /etc/fstab for each and pick a single partition for (non root) home directories. I don't know if that is a good idea, but it should work OK. jerry Thanks for your help! Mike -- Michael David Crawford m...@prgmr.com prgmr.com - We Don't Assume You Are Stupid. Xen-Powered Virtual Private Servers: http://prgmr.com/xen ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
ill...@gmail.com skrev: 2009/4/26 Jorg Andersson jorg_anders...@lavabit.com: On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 03:45:33PM -0600, Tim Judd wrote: I don't recall FreeBSD supporting extended partitions... at all I remember reading they aren't in /dev/ but still is mountable. Is this still the case? They show up just fine here (8-current), and I am fairly sure they were visible in /dev when I was running 7.x The big deal is that you can't (easily) install FreeBSD on a logical slice. http://forums.freebsd.org/showthread.php?t=3194 I've had my FreeBSD running from a logical slice for a while now. It's not too hard to do if you already have a working FreeBSD on one of the primary slices. To be able to boot the system I use a patched GRUB boot manager and a patched FreeBSD /boot/loader The tricky part is bootstrapping the system to get all this in place. Gyrd ^_^ ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:30:43 -0400, Jerry McAllister jerr...@msu.edu wrote: On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 11:45:07AM -0700, Michael David Crawford wrote: FreeBSD is not happy with MS 'extended partitions'. But, I don't really see your problem. You are not using Microsloth for anything. That's why I'm not sure why FAT has been mentioned. As far as I understood, the disk should have three operating systems (Linux, FreeBSD 7, FreeBSD 8) and a partition where all these systems can have a shared mount point for /home. So my idea would be... no, my further questions would be: 1. Can FreeBSD mount -o rw a file system that is usable on Linux, maybe ext2? If yes, use this file system type for the partition that is /home then. 2. Can Linux mount -o rw a file system that is usable on FreeBSD, maybe UFS? If yes, use this file system type for the partition that is /home then. Because the /home partition is not intended to be booted from, it should be possible to add it. Create your Lunix slice first, then one for FreeBSD 7.2 and finally one for FreeBSD 8.0. You still logically have one left for something but it doesn't seem to be needed and neither does a 'logical partition'. Hasn't the fact that Linux needs two primary partitions (one for itself, one for its boot loader) mentioned? FreeBSD might be able to mount the CENTOS slice stuff if you use the right type of mount. I don't know about mounting Lunix from FreeBSD. But, you can't do it the other way (eg mount a FreeBSD type filesystem from Lunix - though maybe, I have never tried it) That would be the idea. From FreeBSD you can mount other types of filesystems such as MS by using the correct mount types. For example, if you want to mount an MS FAT or FAT32, you use an 'msdosfs' type in your fstab file or mount_msdosfs(8) utility to do the mount. Do some studying to see if you can mount any Lunxi type filesystem from FreeBSD. Exactly. Or, if not, maybe it works vice-versa: mounting a FreeBSD partition (within a slice, a primary partition) from within this Linux. -- Polytropon From Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
On Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 10:17:47PM +0200, Polytropon wrote: On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:30:43 -0400, Jerry McAllister jerr...@msu.edu wrote: On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 11:45:07AM -0700, Michael David Crawford wrote: FreeBSD is not happy with MS 'extended partitions'. But, I don't really see your problem. You are not using Microsloth for anything. That's why I'm not sure why FAT has been mentioned. As far as The FAT (more likely FAT32) can be the filesystem type that each of the OSen can read/write.I occasionally make one for scratch space that more than one OS on a machine can access. I understood, the disk should have three operating systems (Linux, FreeBSD 7, FreeBSD 8) and a partition where all these systems can have a shared mount point for /home. So my idea would be... no, my further questions would be: 1. Can FreeBSD mount -o rw a file system that is usable on Linux, maybe ext2? If yes, use this file system type for the partition that is /home then. 2. Can Linux mount -o rw a file system that is usable on FreeBSD, maybe UFS? If yes, use this file system type for the partition that is /home then. Because the /home partition is not intended to be booted from, it should be possible to add it. Create your Lunix slice first, then one for FreeBSD 7.2 and finally one for FreeBSD 8.0. You still logically have one left for something but it doesn't seem to be needed and neither does a 'logical partition'. Hasn't the fact that Linux needs two primary partitions (one for itself, one for its boot loader) mentioned? I thought that the fancy MBR went in the extra track space beyond that official single sector that almost no one actually uses any more. I haven't heard of that.The RHEL and SUSE installs I did recently did not look like they were using two primaries.But I didn't make a point of looking for that, so I am not sure. jerry FreeBSD might be able to mount the CENTOS slice stuff if you use the right type of mount. I don't know about mounting Lunix from FreeBSD. But, you can't do it the other way (eg mount a FreeBSD type filesystem from Lunix - though maybe, I have never tried it) That would be the idea. From FreeBSD you can mount other types of filesystems such as MS by using the correct mount types. For example, if you want to mount an MS FAT or FAT32, you use an 'msdosfs' type in your fstab file or mount_msdosfs(8) utility to do the mount. Do some studying to see if you can mount any Lunxi type filesystem from FreeBSD. Exactly. Or, if not, maybe it works vice-versa: mounting a FreeBSD partition (within a slice, a primary partition) from within this Linux. -- Polytropon From Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ... ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Partitioning for multiple systems
I have a machine I plan to use solely for testing. I have FreeBSD 8.0-CURRENT on it right now, and would like to add FreeBSD 7.2-RC2 as well as CentOS 5.3 Linux. Presently I have three Master Boot Record primary partitions - slices in the FreeBSD parlance, if I understand correctly: - A Linux slice to be used for CentOS' /boot - A BSD slice subdivided into partitions that hold 8.0-CURRENT - A big FAT slice (so to speak) meant to be split up for 7.2 and CentOS A PC-style Master Boot Record can hold a maximum of four primary partitions, or it can hold three primaries and a single extended partition that is subdivided into logical partitions. The geometries of the logical partitions aren't given in the MBR, but exist as a linked list. I *should* be able to split that FAT slice up into a primary for 7.2 and an extended partition that will hold CentOS' other partitions; however: In Googling about this, I have read some dire warnings about FreeBSD being unable to understand logical partitions; apparently installing FreeBSD *before* an extended partition will result in all your logicals getting trashed. One is advised to put all the FreeBSD MBR partitions *after* the extended partition. Is that the case? Have you any advice for me? One more thing: if it's possible, I'd like for the /home directory to be shared between both of my FreeBSD installations. In a normal installation, there is a real /usr/home directory, with /home being a symbolic link. If I'm running FreeBSD out of one MBR partition (or slice), can I mount a directory that's in a different one? Thanks for your help! Mike -- Michael David Crawford m...@prgmr.com prgmr.com - We Don't Assume You Are Stupid. Xen-Powered Virtual Private Servers: http://prgmr.com/xen ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
2009/4/26 Michael David Crawford m...@prgmr.com: I have a machine I plan to use solely for testing. I have FreeBSD 8.0-CURRENT on it right now, and would like to add FreeBSD 7.2-RC2 as well as CentOS 5.3 Linux. Presently I have three Master Boot Record primary partitions - slices in the FreeBSD parlance, if I understand correctly: - A Linux slice to be used for CentOS' /boot - A BSD slice subdivided into partitions that hold 8.0-CURRENT - A big FAT slice (so to speak) meant to be split up for 7.2 and CentOS A PC-style Master Boot Record can hold a maximum of four primary partitions, or it can hold three primaries and a single extended partition that is subdivided into logical partitions. The geometries of the logical partitions aren't given in the MBR, but exist as a linked list. I *should* be able to split that FAT slice up into a primary for 7.2 and an extended partition that will hold CentOS' other partitions; however: In Googling about this, I have read some dire warnings about FreeBSD being unable to understand logical partitions; apparently installing FreeBSD *before* an extended partition will result in all your logicals getting trashed. One is advised to put all the FreeBSD MBR partitions *after* the extended partition. Is that the case? Have you any advice for me? I haven't found that to be the case at all. I don't have as many variable as you, but on my dual boot I have ad4s1[a-g] FreeBSD ad4s2 Linux /boot ad4s3 extended ad4s5 Linux swap ad4s6 Linux / and I have tested using nothing but logical slices for Linux (including /boot) and it works fine. I would advise (roughly, you can do it as you please) adNs1 FreeBSD 7.x / /var /usr /tmp* adNs2 FreeBSD 8 / /var /usr /ports* adNs3 Fat32 /home adNs4 extended adNs5 . . . Linux /boot / swap I would install Linux first and just use grub as the boot loader for everyone. (*whichever, but they can be mounted on both FreeBSDs, don't forget to symlink /usr/ports) One more thing: if it's possible, I'd like for the /home directory to be shared between both of my FreeBSD installations. In a normal installation, there is a real /usr/home directory, with /home being a symbolic link. I would mount a Fat32 partition for /home and use it for all 3 OSes. And symlink /usr/home to /home. If I'm running FreeBSD out of one MBR partition (or slice), can I mount a directory that's in a different one? Yes. -- -- ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 12:45 PM, Michael David Crawford m...@prgmr.comwrote: I have a machine I plan to use solely for testing. I have FreeBSD 8.0-CURRENT on it right now, and would like to add FreeBSD 7.2-RC2 as well as CentOS 5.3 Linux. Presently I have three Master Boot Record primary partitions - slices in the FreeBSD parlance, if I understand correctly: - A Linux slice to be used for CentOS' /boot - A BSD slice subdivided into partitions that hold 8.0-CURRENT - A big FAT slice (so to speak) meant to be split up for 7.2 and CentOS A PC-style Master Boot Record can hold a maximum of four primary partitions, or it can hold three primaries and a single extended partition that is subdivided into logical partitions. FreeBSD's standard bootloader (not boot0) will only boot off the first 0xA5/dec.165 partition it finds. I've never tried multibooting with boot0. I don't recall FreeBSD supporting extended partitions... at all The 4-entry MBR will be the problem GPT (GEOM Partition Table) bumps that limit up to like 127 entries. you'd have to use an external non-native (terms of boot0 versus 'standard') boot loader to start working. You might utilize a 5.25 HDD enclosure as a solution to run multiple OSs on a box. The enclosures are pretty inexpensive and I have enjoyed working them that way. The geometries of the logical partitions aren't given in the MBR, but exist as a linked list. I *should* be able to split that FAT slice up into a primary for 7.2 and an extended partition that will hold CentOS' other partitions; however: In Googling about this, I have read some dire warnings about FreeBSD being unable to understand logical partitions; apparently installing FreeBSD *before* an extended partition will result in all your logicals getting trashed. One is advised to put all the FreeBSD MBR partitions *after* the extended partition. Is that the case? Have you any advice for me? One more thing: if it's possible, I'd like for the /home directory to be shared between both of my FreeBSD installations. In a normal installation, there is a real /usr/home directory, with /home being a symbolic link. If I'm running FreeBSD out of one MBR partition (or slice), can I mount a directory that's in a different one? Thanks for your help! ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
Re: Partitioning for multiple systems
On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 03:45:33PM -0600, Tim Judd wrote: I don't recall FreeBSD supporting extended partitions... at all I remember reading they aren't in /dev/ but still is mountable. Is this still the case? ___ freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions To unsubscribe, send any mail to freebsd-questions-unsubscr...@freebsd.org
