[olug] Newbie type question

[Benjamin Watson]

Like Carl mentioned, this is something easiest done during initial install.

For example, in the Windows world, when I build a new box, I create a
15-20G partition for the "C" drive for just the OS.  I know this seems
like a lot of space, but you know Windoze.  Even if you install an app
to another partition, Bill and Company like to stick additional files
on the OS partition.  I then partition the remainder of the space as I
see fit (file downloads, user data such as the "My Documents" folders,
etc).

The same can be said for most *Nix installs.  It is all in the
partitioning at initial build.  The partitions I worry about sizing
appropriately are the root (/) for the OS and swap (/swap) for
"virtual memory".  From what I've read, a good swap size is the size
of your RAM up to 2 times the size of your RAM.  For the root space,
it depends on the distro, but I'd say you're safe at 10G or so (of
course there are entire Linux systems running on 40MB flash memory).
The rest is user/program space, so partition as you see fit.

I'd second Car's bet that backing up your Home directories is enough
(granted that your users save everything to their respective home
directories and/or desktops).  The configs in /etc are good too for
custom program configurations.  If you've built anything from source
(e.g. custom kernels), you might want to delve into /usr/src

Ben

On 8/22/07, John Moran <bugs.moran at gmail.com> wrote:
> Carl - Thanks much.  I tried the Ubuntu IRC channel and got no
> response.  I knew one of my fellow Nebraskans would help me out, I
> just felt the question was a bit of a pest type question.  You've
> given me all the info I need.  Thanks again.
>
> And to everyone, I'd like to say I've made two committed linux
> converts lately, with Slax and Ubuntu.  I wouldn't be able to do that
> without lurking here.
>
> Thanks everyone,
> John
>
> On 8/22/07, Carl Lundstedt <clundst at unlserve.unl.edu> wrote:
> > Copying the home directories will get the user's data, what else you
> > might want/need off those machines depends on what else you've put on
> > them.  You *may* want configs out of /etc, you may need software out of
> > /opt you may have logs and email in /var, I don't know.
> >
> > I'd bet that you just need the /home directories, but that's a bet I'm
> > making with your data...
> >
> > I will say that this type of thing is what I love linux for.  By
> > carefully setting up partitions you can remove, reinstall or upgrade
> > OSes without touching user data.  Other operating systems seem to want
> > to make that pretty tough to do.
> >
> > Best of luck,
> > Carl Lundstedt
> > UNL
> > > I have a computer with one functional Windows install, and two
> > > functional Ubuntu installs.  I want to copy all of the important data
> > > from the two Ubuntu installs and delete those partitions and do one
> > > Ubuntu intsall there with all of the important user info from both of
> > > the current installs.
> > >
> > > Can I just copy the home directories, or is there something else I
> > > should copy in addition.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > > John Moran
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