InstallUbuntu - Revision history

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Partitioning a disk to use as a second drive

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== How to install Linux ==
This document explains how to install the Linux operating system on a new disk. And explores a few other options.

== Upgrading to a new disk, Linux already installed on existing drive ==

If there is a functional operating system on an existing disk, the new disk can be installed as a second drive and there is no need to reinstall Linux. The process involves partitioning the disk (Wiki page coming, skeletal instructions follow in the document), and (optionally) linking the new disk to a folder on the existing disk.

If a good copy of Linux exists on the old drive and it all you want to do is to move everything to the new drive, many times a new drive will come with a bootable migration CD. Not all support Linux, but many do. There are also downloadable tools that can do the job if the migration CD won't, or the migration CD is missing.

Many times the best bet is to install a fresh copy of Linux onto the new drive and then copy any needed data files from the old disk to the new. This will also mean that you'll need to reinstall programs.

== To install Linux from scratch ==

It is recommended that you disconnect any hard drives that you want to preserve, since the imaging (installation) procedure wipes the disk. You don't want to accidentally install on the wrong disk.

'''At Free Geek'''

Boot from the internet and choose to install the desired version of Linux from the menu that is presented. You may be asked a question or two during the installation process. YES is usually the right answer.

'''At home or some other location'''

It will be necessary to burn an installation disk from an .iso file. An .iso file is in a format that is a bit by bit representation of the CD to be burned. Using an .iso file will create a bootable CD. Most CD burning programs recognize an .iso file and will automatically burn it correctly. Some programs require that you select an option to burn a disk image.

The .iso file can be obtained from the Linux distribution website. For Ubuntu, it is [http://www.ubuntu.com]www.ubuntu.com. Download the file and burn it to a CD. The CD can be burned on any operating system.

Then boot from the CD and follow the instructions.

== Installing a Linux/other dual boot system ==

Refer to Wiki (in progress)

== Trouble shooting ==

'''CD won't boot'''

The burning program didn't burn in image mode. If you put the CD in a functional machine you will see a single file with an .iso extension. Burn it again making sure the burning program knows it is burning an image.

Burn failure that wasn't reported.

Burned to a R/W disk and computer doesn't support booting from R/W disk (older machine).

'''Confusion answering questions and Linux didn't install correctly'''

Boot from the CD again and start over. If it asks you to allow it to erase partitions (or format the disk, or something else along these lines) say Yes.

== Addendum ==
'''The following information has not been tested and is therefore likely in error!'''

== Partitioning a disk to use as a second drive ==

Several programs exist for this task. Some even on different operating systems. If you already have a program installed on a different computer and OS that you are familiar with, by all means use it. A very popular one is Partition Magic. Just temporarily install the new drive.

For Linux use, most programs are a variation of either ''parted'' or ''fdisk''. A nice graphical version is ''QtParted'', available for installation via synaptic or apt.

Start the application and choose the new drive. Be careful that you don't accidentally choose the old drive. The applications are usually very good at telling you if you make this mistake, and will warn you that you will destroy the operating system if you proceed. Believe them, they are telling the truth.

The best bet is to make the entire drive a single partition. Use ext4 as the type if supported, otherwise ext3. Don't make the drive bootable, don't create a swap partition, don't enable RAID. If you don't understand something, don't select it.

DO WE NEED TO DO MKFS ????

== Linking the new drive to the existing drive ==

It's possible to just use the new drive as a totally separate drive and there's nothing to say you shouldn't. But many times it is more convenient to use the second drive as an extension of the primary drive. To accomplish this:

''Note that folder and directory mean the same thing. Command line users tend to use the term directory and it's reflected in the (abbreviated) names of the commands.''

Create a folder on the new drive. Name is not important, but it helps if it's the same name you will use on the primary drive. The folder can be created with the file browser or the command line. The command sequence is:

cd <Name of root file system on NEW drive>

mkdir <name you choose>

cd

ln -s <name you chose> <name on primary/old disk, if different>

Example, links a new folder in your home directory to the new disk, italics text is comments and is not to be entered:

cd /dev/sdb0 ''change to the new disk partition'''''THIS IS PROBABLY WRONG'''

mkdir myGoodStuff ''create the folder(directory) named myGoodStuff''

cd ''change back to the home folder on the primary drive''

ln -s /dev/sdb0/myGoodStuff ''link folder on the new drive to a folder of the same name on the primary drive''

The example will create a folder named myGoodStuff on the primary drive that is in reality using a folder on the new drive. By using the same name on both drives, you don't have to use the optional second name on the ''ln'' command. Don't forget the second ''cd'' command, this sets you back to your home folder so the link is created in the correct place.

Now you can use the folder myGoodStuff just like it lived on the primary drive, but you've got the entire new drive to use for its data.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 17 July 2012
Line 47:		Line 47:

	== Addendum ==		== Addendum ==
−	~~== TODO ==~~
−
−	~~'''How to determine the name of the new drive/partition. I think I used df.~~
−	~~How to explain the drive you booted from (I called it the running drive, but there's got to be a~~
−
−	~~better term).~~
−	~~'''~~
	== Partitioning a disk to use as a second drive ==		== Partitioning a disk to use as a second drive ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:56, 17 July 2012
Line 47:		Line 47:

	== Addendum ==		== Addendum ==
−	~~===The following information has not been tested and is therefore likely in error!===~~
−
−
	== TODO ==		== TODO ==

@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 Exercise extreme care, only add the line for the new disk and don't change anything else.  Editing /etc/fstab requires root privileges.  Making a backup copy (with the cp command) will be done first in case something disastrous happens.
-sudo cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstabBAK
+:sudo cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstabBAK
-<provide password when asked>
+::<provide password when asked>
-sudo nano /etc/fstab
+:sudo nano /etc/fstab
 Add the following line:
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 After exiting nano, it's necessary to create the mount point.  <userid> should be the default user of the machine. Text after # are comments and need not be entered:
-sudo mkdir /newDrive           #creates mount point
+:sudo mkdir /newDrive           #creates mount point
-sudo chown <userid> /newDrive  #makes the owner of the mount point <userid> rather than root
+:sudo chown <userid> /newDrive  #makes the owner of the mount point <userid> rather than root
 The next step is to actually mount the drive.  This also serves to test the change made to fstab.
-sudo mount /dev/sda1
+:sudo mount /dev/sda1
 If this fails, something is wrong with /etc/fstab.  It must be fixed before the next steps can betaken.  The backup copy (/etc/fstabBAK) can be used to start over.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:34, 17 July 2012
Line 66:		Line 66:

	The best bet is to make the entire drive a single partition. Use the msdos type partition table. Use ext4 as the type if supported, otherwise ext3. Don't make the drive bootable, don't create a swap partition, don't enable RAID. If something doesn't make sense, don't select it. GParted defaults work just fine.		The best bet is to make the entire drive a single partition. Use the msdos type partition table. Use ext4 as the type if supported, otherwise ext3. Don't make the drive bootable, don't create a swap partition, don't enable RAID. If something doesn't make sense, don't select it. GParted defaults work just fine.
		+
		+	== Gparted example ==
		+
		+	Insure that Gparted is installed. It should appear in the System->Administration menu. If it doesn't exist, it can be installed via Synaptic.
		+
		+	When Gparted starts, it will list the new drive as something like /dev/sda. This will be in GParted's title bar.
		+
		+	Create a partition table.
		+
		+	''Partition->new''
		+
		+	choose ext4, then click Add
		+
		+	Then apply the changes:
		+
		+	''Edit->Apply All Operations''
		+
		+	When Gparted completes, the new partition name will be listed under the column header Partition. That name will be used in subsequent operations. Most likely the name will be /dev/sda1, and that name will be used in examples to follow.

	== Making the new drive appear ==		== Making the new drive appear ==

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 If there is a functional operating system on an  existing disk, the new disk can be installed as a second drive and there is no need to reinstall Linux.  The process involves partitioning the disk (Wiki page coming, skeletal instructions follow in the document), and (optionally) linking the new disk to a folder on the existing disk.
-If a good copy of Linux exists on the old drive and it all you want to do is to move everything to the new drive, many times a new drive will come with a bootable migration CD.  Not all support Linux, but many do.  There are also downloadable tools that can do the job if the migration CD won't, or the migration CD is missing.
+If a good copy of Linux exists on the old drive all that's required is to move everything to the new drive, many times a new drive will come with a bootable migration CD.  Not all support Linux, but many do.  There are also downloadable tools that can do the job if the migration CD won't, or the migration CD is missing.
-Many times the best bet is to install a fresh copy of Linux onto the new drive and then copy any needed data files from the old disk to the new.  This will also mean that you'll need to reinstall programs.
+Many times the best bet is to install a fresh copy of Linux onto the new drive and then copy any needed data files from the old disk to the new.  This will also mean that programs and packages will need to be reinstalled in the fresh copy.
 == To install Linux from scratch ==
-It is recommended that you disconnect any hard drives that you want to preserve, since the imaging (installation) procedure wipes the disk.  You don't want to accidentally install on the wrong disk.
+It is recommended that any hard drives not involved in the installation be disabled, since the imaging (installation) procedure wipes the disk.  Accidentally installing on the wrong disk can ruin one's day.
 ====At Free Geek====
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ====At home or some other location====
-It will be necessary to burn an installation disk from an .iso file.  An .iso file is in a format that is a bit by bit representation of the CD to be burned.  Using an .iso file will create a bootable CD.  Most CD burning programs recognize an .iso file and will automatically burn it correctly.  Some programs require that you select an option to burn a disk image.
+It will be necessary to burn an installation disk from an .iso file.  An .iso file is in a format that is a bit by bit representation of the CD to be burned.  Using an .iso file will create a bootable CD.  Most CD burning programs recognize an .iso file and will automatically burn it correctly.  Some programs require that an option be selected to burn a disk image.
 The .iso file can be obtained from the Linux distribution website.  For Ubuntu, it is [http://www.ubuntu.com]www.ubuntu.com.  Download the file and burn it to a CD.  The CD can be burned on any operating system.
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ====CD won't boot====
-The burning program didn't burn in image mode.  If you put the CD in a functional machine you will see a single file with an .iso extension.  Burn it again making sure the burning program knows it is burning an image.
+The burning program didn't burn in image mode.  Loading the CD into in a functional machine will display a single file with an .iso extension.  Burn it again making sure the burning program knows it is burning an image.
 Burn failure that wasn't reported.
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ====Confusion answering questions and Linux didn't install correctly====
-Boot from the CD again and start over.  If it asks you to allow it to erase partitions (or format the disk, or something else along these lines) say Yes.
+Boot from the CD again and start over.  If it asks to allow it to erase partitions (or format the disk, or something else along these lines) say Yes.
 == Addendum ==
 ===The following information has not been tested and is therefore likely in error!===
 == Partitioning a disk to use as a second drive ==
-Several programs exist for this task.  Some even on different operating systems.  If you already have a program installed on a different computer and OS that you are familiar with, by all means use it.  A very popular one is Partition Magic.  Just temporarily install the new drive.
+Several programs exist for this task.  Some even on different operating systems.  A very popular one is Partition Magic.  To use a partioning program on a different computer, just temporarily install the new drive, and then move it to the Linux machine after the partition is created.
-For Linux use, most programs are a variation of either ''parted'' or ''fdisk''.  A nice graphical version is ''QtParted'', available for installation via synaptic or apt.
+Add the following line:
-Start the application and choose the new drive.  Be careful that you don't accidentally choose the old drive.  The applications are usually very good at telling you if you make this mistake, and will warn you that you will destroy the operating system if you proceed.  Believe them, they are telling the truth.
+/dev/sda1 /newDrive ext4
-The best bet is to make the entire drive a single partition.  Use ext4 as the type if supported, otherwise ext3.  Don't make the drive bootable, don't create a swap partition, don't enable RAID.  If you don't understand something, don't select it.
+A bit of explanation of the above.  /dev/sda1 is the name of the new drive.  It might vary.
-DO WE NEED TO DO MKFS ????
+/newDrive is the name of a directory where the drive will be mounted (known as a mount point).  The naming of a mount point is arbitrary, /newDrive is used for illustration purposes.
 == Linking the new drive to the existing drive ==
-It's possible to just use the new drive as a totally separate drive and there's nothing to say you shouldn't.  But many times it is more convenient to use the second drive as an extension of the primary drive.  To accomplish this:
+It's possible to just use the new drive as a totally separate drive and there's nothing to say one shouldn't.  But many times it is more convenient to use the second drive as an extension of the primary drive.  To accomplish this:
 ''Note that folder and directory mean the same thing.  Command line users tend to use the term directory and it's reflected in the (abbreviated) names of the commands.''
-Create a folder on the new drive.  Name is not important, but it helps if it's the same name you will use on the primary drive.  The folder can be created with the file browser or the command line.  The command sequence is:
+:cd  #this changes to the home directory. Link can be created in any directory desired
 :cd
-:ln -s <name you chose> <name on primary/old disk, if different>
+:ln -s moreDataStorage /newDrive
-The example will create a folder named myGoodStuff on the primary drive that is in reality using a folder on the new drive.  By using the same name on both drives, you don't have to use the optional second name on the ''ln'' command.  Don't forget the second ''cd'' command, this sets you back to your home folder so the link is created in the correct place.
+The example will create a folder named moreDataStorage in the users home directory that is in reality using the new drive.
-Now you can  use the folder myGoodStuff just like it lived on the primary drive, but you've got the entire new drive to use for its data.
+The folder moreDataStorage can now be used just like it lived on the primary drive, but the entire new drive is available for its data.
 [[Category:Build Program Education Modules]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:06, 15 June 2012
Line 85:		Line 85:

	Now you can use the folder myGoodStuff just like it lived on the primary drive, but you've got the entire new drive to use for its data.		Now you can use the folder myGoodStuff just like it lived on the primary drive, but you've got the entire new drive to use for its data.
		+
		+	[[Category:Build Program Education Modules]]

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 It is recommended that you disconnect any hard drives that you want to preserve, since the imaging (installation) procedure wipes the disk.  You don't want to accidentally install on the wrong disk.
-'''At Free Geek'''
+====At Free Geek====
 Boot from the internet and choose to install the desired version of Linux from the menu that is presented.  You may be asked a question or two during the installation process.  YES is usually the right answer.
-'''At home or some other location'''
+====At home or some other location====
 It will be necessary to burn an installation disk from an .iso file.  An .iso file is in a format that is a bit by bit representation of the CD to be burned.  Using an .iso file will create a bootable CD.  Most CD burning programs recognize an .iso file and will automatically burn it correctly.  Some programs require that you select an option to burn a disk image.
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 == Trouble shooting ==
-'''CD won't boot'''
+====CD won't boot====
 The burning program didn't burn in image mode.  If you put the CD in a functional machine you will see a single file with an .iso extension.  Burn it again making sure the burning program knows it is burning an image.
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 Burned to a R/W disk and computer doesn't support booting from R/W disk (older machine).
-'''Confusion answering questions and Linux didn't install correctly'''
+====Confusion answering questions and Linux didn't install correctly====
 Boot from the CD again and start over.  If it asks you to allow it to erase partitions (or format the disk, or something else along these lines) say Yes.
 == Addendum ==
-'''The following information has not been tested and is therefore likely in error!'''
+===The following information has not been tested and is therefore likely in error!===
 == Partitioning a disk to use as a second drive ==
@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 Create a folder on the new drive.  Name is not important, but it helps if it's the same name you will use on the primary drive.  The folder can be created with the file browser or the command line.  The command sequence is:
-cd    <Name of root file system on NEW drive>
+:cd    <Name of root file system on NEW drive>
+:mkdir <name you choose>
-mkdir <name you choose>
+:cd
+:ln -s <name you chose> <name on primary/old disk, if different>
 Example, links a new folder in your home directory to the new disk, italics text is comments and is not to be entered:
-cd /dev/sdb0                 ''change to the new disk partition'''''THIS IS PROBABLY WRONG'''
+:cd /dev/sdb0                 ''change to the new disk partition'''''THIS IS PROBABLY WRONG'''
+:mkdir myGoodStuff            ''create the folder(directory) named myGoodStuff''
-mkdir myGoodStuff            ''create the folder(directory) named myGoodStuff''
+:cd                           ''change back to the home folder on the primary drive''
+:ln -s /dev/sdb0/myGoodStuff  ''link folder on the new drive to a folder of the same name on the primary drive''