Partition Sizes - SOLVED

[JerryP]

This seems like a simple question. Maybe it's too simple and I'm just a dummy...

What is the "ideal" size for a /root partition and an "ideal" size for a /swap partition?  I would also like to know the ideal /home partition in the event I put all my personal storage on a /data partition. My idea is to install 2010 to a new 1TB drive and I want to "get it right".

I want /root to be big enough to accommodate anything I choose to install without having to resize my partition later this year. I want a /swap that is "correct" for the amount of ram I have (some percentage, same as, whatever) so that my system operates optimally.  This would leave me a huge /home but I'd prefer to have an ideal /home for working and I'll keep all my personal documents, pictures, music, videos, etc... on a /data partition. So home should be big enough to handle anything that comes it's way including some gigs for mail and stuff I keep in the desktop but that's about it.

Maybe my scanning replies on this thread missed what I'd like to know. In this case, please point me to where the answer is and please accept my apology.

[Was_Just19]

There is no "ideal size" for everyone.
The size requirements depend on usage and hardware.

I install quite a lot of stuff from the repository .....  including different DEs etc, but not large games.
My root partition is currently using 14GB out of 20GB.
My /home partition is 30GBs of which 24GB is presently used, but I have a lot of ISOs and other large video files to move off to a data partition.

I found that if /home is small I hit difficulties with some apps when dealing with large files.

Your Swap size will vary depending on your installed memory and whether or not you expect to use suspend/hibernate etc. It should be one partition if you intend to use it for that.

If I intended to install a lot of large games then I would likely increase the / partition to 30GBs also.

Not really helpful, but I hope I have given you an idea of why only you can determine the sizes you need.

regards.

[old_guy]

JerryP
Like JohnBoy says There is no "ideal size" for everyone.
I set up a 1TB  HD like this:
/dev/sda1      2007     30G 
/dev/sda2      EXTEDED
/dev/sda5      Swap           2G
/dev/sda6            2009      30G       
/dev/sda7            Mini      30G
/dev/sda8            2010     30G
/dev/sda9             Gnome   30G
/dev/sda10           Zen       30G
/dev/sda11         Data      100G
/dev/sda12    Music           100G   
/dev/sda13    Docs     50G                               
/dev/sda14     Misc      50G                               
/dev/sda15    Work     380G   
I then added another 1TB HD to add the other versions (E17, etc) and a few other distros to play around with.
Earl

[JerryP]

This is great! Thanks. So it looks like a reasonable size for a distro's root is 30GB. I can afford a little more with 1TB to work with but I didn't want to be "crazy" which I think would be something like 100BG. My current /home is 300GB and it's 78% full. Granted a LOT of it is carp but it's my carp. I will be pretty comfortable with another 500GB.
Isn't there some sort of "rule" for /swap?  Something like the same as the amount of RAM or half the amount of RAM or twice the amount of RAM or something like that.  I have a desktop and never hibernate or even use a screen saver.

[Was_Just19]

This is great! Thanks. So it looks like a reasonable size for a distro's root is 30GB. I can afford a little more with 1TB to work with but I didn't want to be "crazy" which I think would be something like 100BG. My current /home is 300GB and it's 78% full. Granted a LOT of it is carp but it's my carp. I will be pretty comfortable with another 500GB.
Isn't there some sort of "rule" for /swap?  Something like the same as the amount of RAM or half the amount of RAM or twice the amount of RAM or something like that.  I have a desktop and never hibernate or even use a screen saver.

Twice the RAM allows you to suspend2RAM.
If you do not have any need to do so then it is unlikely you will ever use much Swap ..... probably 1GB is more than plenty.

[putz]

JerryP,

It has been stated that if you ever want to ReMaster your system, i.e. use mylivecd and make an installable .iso of your system, you will need 2G Swap.
With as much space as you seem to have, a 2G swap is affordable.

putz

[JerryP]

Thanks. One last question (oh sure) - If my mobo can support 4GB of RAM but I only have 2GB installed it there any performance hit in just making the /swap 4GB now in anticipating kicking up the RAM? I now realize it's a minor issue becasue I can always make the /swap bigger or smaller with all the room I have but now I'm just curious.

[Was_Just19]

Thanks. One last question (oh sure) - If my mobo can support 4GB of RAM but I only have 2GB installed it there any performance hit in just making the /swap 4GB now in anticipating kicking up the RAM? I now realize it's a minor issue becasue I can always make the /swap bigger or smaller with all the room I have but now I'm just curious.

No performance hit.
Also you can add a second Swap partition if you ever need it and the system will use both.

[JerryP]

Excellent and thanks - "SOLVED"