Partitioning With Fdisk

LINUX Fdisk Partitioning (Linux disk Management)
Partitioning with fdisk

This chapter shows you how to actually partition your hard drive with the fdisk utility. fdisk is the best
tool to manage disk partitions. fdisk is a text based utility.
Using fdisk you can create a new partition, delete an existing partition, or change existing partition.
Using fidsk you are allowed to create a maximum of four primary partitions, and any number of logical
partitions, based on the size of the disk.
Linux allows only 4 primary partitions. ou can have a much larger number of logical partitions by sub!
dividing one of the primary partitions. "nly one of the primary partitions can be sub!divided.
#eep in mind that any single partition re$uires a minimum size of 4%&'.
Examples:
(. )our primary partitions
*. &ixed primary and logical partitions
fdisk usage
fdisk -l
fdisk !l list the disks on the server and size of the disk along with fdisk partitions on the disk.
fdisk is started by typing +as root, fdisk device at the command prompt. Device might be something
like -dev-hda or -dev-sda .
The basic fdisk commands you need are.
p print the partition table
n create a new partition
d delete a partition
q $uit without saving changes
w write the new partition table and exit
fdisk /!u0 /!b sectorsize0 /!1 cyls0 /!2 heads0 /!3 sects0 device
fdisk !l /!u0 /device ...0
fdisk !s partition ...
fdisk 4v
!b sectorsize
3pecify the sector size of the disk. 5alid values are 6(*, (%*4, or *%47. +8ecent kernels know
the sector size.
Use this only on old kernels or to override the kernel9:;s ideas.,
!1 cyls
3pecify the number of cylinders of the disk. < have no idea why anybody would want to do so.
!2 heads
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3pecify the number of heads of the disk. +=ot the physical number, of course, but the number
used for partition tables., 8easonable values are *66 and (>.
!3 sects
3pecify the number of sectors per track of the disk. +=ot the physical number, of course, but the
number used for partition tables., ? reasonable value is >@.
!l List the partition tables for the specified devices and then exit. <f no devices are given, those
mentioned in
-proc-partitions +if that exists, are used.
!u Ahen listing partition tables, give sizes in sectors instead of cylinders.
!s partition
The size of the partition +in blocks, is printed on the standard output.
!v Brint version number of fdisk program and exit.
1hanges you make to the partition table do not take effect until you issue the write +w, command. 2ere is
a sample partition table.
Cisk -dev-hdb. >4 heads, >@ sectors, >*( cylinders
Units D cylinders of 4%@* E 6(* bytes

Cevice 'oot 3tart Fnd 'locks <d 3ystem
-dev-hdb( E ( (74 @G%H(*I 7@ Linux
-dev-hdb* (76 @>7 @G%H44 7@ Linux
-dev-hdb@ @>H 66* @G%H44 7@ Linux
-dev-hdb4 66@ >*( (@H(%4 7* Linux swap
The first line shows the geometry of your hard drive. <t may not be physically accurate, but you can
accept it as though it were. The hard drive in this example is made of @* double!sided platters with one
head on each side +probably not true,. Fach platter has >*( concentric tracks. ? @!dimensional track +the
same track on all disks, is called a cylinder. Fach track is divided into >@ sectors. Fach sector contains
6(* bytes of data. Therefore the block size in the partition table is >4 heads E >@ sectors E 6(* bytes
er...divided by (%*4. The start and end values are cylinders.
View All Existing Disk Partitions Using fdisk -l
'efore you create a new partition, or modify an existing partition, you might want to view all
available partition in the system.
Use fdisk !l to view all available partitions as shown below.
# fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sect!s/t!ack, "#2" cyli$de!s
%$its & cyli$de!s f 16065 ' 512 & 8225280 bytes
Disk ide$tifie!: 0(f6edf6ed
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Device Bt )ta!t *$d Blcks +d )yste,
/dev/sda1 1 1"5" 15#35636 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda2 1"60 5283 26#00030 f -"5 *(t4d 12B/3
/dev/sda3 5285 6528 100005626 # 78.)/90.)
/dev/sda5 652" "#2" 25#120326 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda5 ' 1"60 2661 5638#52 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda6 2662 2"05 1"51866 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda# 2"05 315# 1"51866 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda8 3158 3265 "3"##1 82 2i$:( s;a< / )la!is
/dev/sda" 3265 5283 1621#586 b -"5 ./032
The above will list partitions from all the connected hard disks. Ahen you have more than one
disk on the system, the partitions list are ordered by the deviceJs -dev name. )or example,
-dev-sda, -dev-sdb, -dev-sdc and so on.
2. View Partitions of a Specific Hard Disk using fdisk -l /dev/sd{a
To view all partitions of the -dev-sda hard disk, do the following.
# fdisk -l /dev/sda
View all fdisk !o""ands #sing fdisk !o""and "
Use fdisk command m, to view all available fdisk commands as shown below.
# fdisk /dev/sda
0he $:,be! f cyli$de!s f! this disk is set t "#2".
0he!e is $thi$= ;!$= ;ith that, b:t this is la!=e! tha$ 1025,
a$d c:ld i$ ce!tai$ set:<s ca:se <!ble,s ;ith:
13 sft;a!e that !:$s at bt ti,e 1e.=., ld ve!si$s f 2+2>3
23 bti$= a$d <a!titi$i$= sft;a!e f!, the! >)s
1e.=., D>) .D+)?, >)/2 .D+)?3
Command (m for help): m
@,,a$d acti$
a t==le a btable fla=
b edit bsd disklabel
c t==le the ds c,<atibility fla=
d delete a <a!titi$
l list k$;$ <a!titi$ ty<es
, <!i$t this ,e$:
$ add a $e; <a!titi$
c!eate a $e; e,<ty D>) <a!titi$ table
< <!i$t the <a!titi$ table
A A:it ;ith:t savi$= cha$=es
s c!eate a $e; e,<ty ):$ disklabel
t cha$=e a <a!titi$4s syste, id
: cha$=e dis<lay/e$t!y :$its
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v ve!ify the <a!titi$ table
; ;!ite table t disk a$d e(it
( e(t!a f:$cti$ality 1e(<e!ts $ly3
$. Delete a Hard Disk Partition #sing fdisk !o""and d
Let us assume that you like to combine several partitions +for example, -dev-sda>, -dev-sdaG
and -dev-sda7, into a single disk partition. To do this, you should first delete all those individual
partitions, as shown below.
# fdisk /dev/sda
1e.=., D>) .D+)?, >)/2 .D+)?3
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: <
/dev/sda1 1 1"5" 15#35636 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda2 1"60 5283 26#00030 f -"5 *(t4d 12B/3
/dev/sda3 5285 6528 100005626 # 78.)/90.)
/dev/sda5 652" "#2" 25#120326 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda5 ' 1"60 2661 5638#52 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda6 2662 2"05 1"51866 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda# 2"05 315# 1"51866 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda8 3158 3265 "3"##1 82 2i$:( s;a< / )la!is
/dev/sda" 3265 5283 1621#586 b -"5 ./032
Command (m for help): d
Partition number (1-9): 8
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: ;
0he <a!titi$ table has bee$ alte!edB
@alli$= ictl13 t !e-!ead <a!titi$ table.
-/C9+9G: Ce-!eadi$= the <a!titi$ table failed ;ith e!!! 16: Device !
!es:!ce b:sy.
0he ke!$el still :ses the ld table. 0he $e; table ;ill be :sed at
the $e(t !ebt ! afte! y: !:$ <a!t<!be183 ! k<a!t(183
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)y$ci$= disks.
%. !reate a &ew Disk Partition with Specific Si'e #sing fdisk !o""and n
"nce youJve deleted all the existing partitions, you can create a new partition using all available
space as shown below.
# fdisk /dev/sda
1e.=., D>) .D+)?, >)/2 .D+)?3
Command (m for help): n
.i!st cyli$de! 12662-5283, defa:lt 26623:
%si$= defa:lt val:e 2662
2ast cyli$de!, 6cyli$de!s ! 6siDeE?,F,GG 12662-3265, defa:lt 32653:
%si$= defa:lt val:e 3265
<n the above example, fdisk n command is used to create new partition with the specific size.
Ahile creating a new partition, it expects following two inputs.
3tarting cylinder number of the partition to be create +)irst cylinder,.
3ize of the partition +or, the last cylinder number +Last cylinder, Icylinders or Isize ,.
Blease keep in mind that you should issue the fdisk write command +w, after any modifications.
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: ;
!es:!ce b:sy.
)y$ci$= disks.
?fter the partition is created, format it using the mkfs command as shown below.
# ,kfs.e(t3 /dev/sda#
(. View the Si'e of an e)isting Partition #sing fdisk -s
?s shown below, fdisk !s displays the size of the partition in blocks.
# fdisk -s /dev/sda#
5853566
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The above output corresponds to about 4H%%&'.
*. +oggle the ,oot -lag of a Partition #sing fdisk !o""and a
)disk command displays the boot flag of each partition. Ahen you want to disable or enable the
boot flag on the corresponding partition, do the following.
<f you donJt know why are you are doing this, youJll mess!up your system.
# fdisk /dev/sda
1e.=., D>) .D+)?, >)/2 .D+)?3
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: <
/dev/sda1 1 1"5" 15#35636 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda2 1"60 5283 26#00030 f -"5 *(t4d 12B/3
/dev/sda3 5285 6528 100005626 # 78.)/90.)
/dev/sda5 652" "#2" 25#120326 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda5 ' 1"60 2661 5638#52 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda6 3265 5283 1621#586 b -"5 ./032
/dev/sda# 2662 3265 5853566 83 2i$:(
8a!titi$ table e$t!ies a!e $t i$ disk !de!
Command (m for help): a
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: <
/dev/sda1 1 1"5" 15#35636 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda2 1"60 5283 26#00030 f -"5 *(t4d 12B/3
/dev/sda3 5285 6528 100005626 # 78.)/90.)
/dev/sda5 652" "#2" 25#120326 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda5 1"60 2661 5638#52 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda6 3265 5283 1621#586 b -"5 ./032
/dev/sda# 2662 3265 5853566 83 2i$:(
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8a!titi$ table e$t!ies a!e $t i$ disk !de!
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3:
?s seen above, the boot flag is disabled on the partition -dev-sda6.
.. -i) Partition +a/le 0rder #sing fdisk 1)pert !o""and f
Ahen you delete a logical partition, and recreate it again, you might see the Kpartition out of
orderL issue. i.e KBartition table entries are not in disk orderL error message.
)or example, when you delete three logical partitions +sda>, sdaG and sda7,, and create a new
partition, you might expect the new partition name to be sda>. 'ut, the system mightJve created
the new partition as sdaG. This is because, after the partitions are deleted, sdaH partition has been
moved as sda> and the free space is moved to the end.
To fix this partition order issue, and assign sda> to the newly created partition, execute the expert
command f as shown below.
H fdisk /dev/sda
1e.=., D>) .D+)?, >)/2 .D+)?3
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: <
/dev/sda1 1 1"5" 15#35636 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda2 1"60 5283 26#00030 f -"5 *(t4d 12B/3
/dev/sda3 5285 6528 100005626 # 78.)/90.)
/dev/sda5 652" "#2" 25#120326 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda5 ' 1"60 2661 5638#52 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda6 3265 5283 1621#586 b -"5 ./032
/dev/sda# 2662 3265 5853566 83 2i$:(
Partition table entries are not in disk order
@,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: (
Epert !ommand (m for help): f
D$e.
*(<e!t c,,a$d 1, f! hel<3: ;
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!es:!ce b:sy.
)y$ci$= disks.
"nce the partition table order is fixed, youJll not get the KBartition table entries are not in disk
orderL error message anymore.
# fdisk -l
/dev/sda1 1 1"5" 15#35636 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda2 1"60 5283 26#00030 f -"5 *(t4d 12B/3
/dev/sda3 5285 6528 100005626 # 78.)/90.)
/dev/sda5 652" "#2" 25#120326 c -"5 ./032 12B/3
/dev/sda5 ' 1"60 2661 5638#52 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda6 2662 3265 5853566 83 2i$:(
/dev/sda# 3265 5283 1621#586 b -"5 ./032

(.2. -our pri"ar2 partitions
The overview:
Cecide on the size of your swap space and where it ought to go. Civide up the remaining space for the
three other partitions.
Fxample.
< start fdisk from the shell prompt.
M fdisk /dev/hd/
which indicates that < am using the second drive on my <CF controller. Ahen < print the +empty, partition
table.
1ommand +m for help,. p
< knew that < had a (.*Nb drive, but now < really know. >4 E >@ E 6(* E >*( D (*7(H7*4>4 bytes. < decide
to reserve (*7&b of that space for swap, leaving ((6@H7*4>4. <f < use one of my primary partitions for
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swap, that means < have three left for ext* partitions. Civided e$ually, that makes for @74&b per partition.
=ow to get it work.
1ommand +m for help,. n
1ommand action
e extended
p primary partition +(!4,
p
Bartition number +(!4,. 3
)irst cylinder +(!>*(, default (,.451+#5&6
Using default value (
Last cylinder or Isize or Isize& or Isize# +(!>*(, default >*(,. 7$8%9
=ext, < set up the partition < want to use for swap.
1ommand action
e extended
p
)irst cylinder +(HG!>*(, default (HG,.451+#5&6
Using default value (HG
Last cylinder or Isize or Isize& or Isize# +(HG!>*(, default >*(,. 73289
=ow the partition table looks like this.
-dev-hdb( ( (H> @H6(%4 7@ Linux
-dev-hdb* (HG *>* (@@%6> 7@ Linux
< set up the remaining two partitions the same way < did the first. )inally, < make the first partition
bootable.
1ommand +m for help,. a
?nd < make the second partition of type swap.
1ommand +m for help,. t
2ex code +type L to list codes,. 82
1hanged system type of partition * to 7* +Linux swap,
1ommand +m for help,. p
The end result.

-dev-hdb( E ( (H> @H6(%4I 7@ Linux
-dev-hdb* (HG *>* (@@%6> 7* Linux swap
-dev-hdb@ *>@ 467 @H6(@> 7@ Linux
-dev-hdb4 46H >*( @*7>%7 7@ Linux
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)inally, < issue the write command +w, to write the table on the disk.
(.$. 9i)ed pri"ar2 and logical partitions
The overview: create one use one of the primary partitions to house all the extra partitions. Then create
logical partitions within it. 1reate the other primary partitions before or after creating the logical
partitions.
Fxample.
< start fdisk from the shell prompt.
M fdisk -dev-sda
which indicates that < am using the first drive on my 313< chain. +3ee 3ection *.(.,
)irst < figure out how many partitions < want. < know my drive has a (7@Nb capacity and < want *>Nb
partitions +because < happen to have back!up tapes that are about that size,.
(7@Nb - *>Nb D OG
so < will need G partitions. Fven though fdisk accepts partition sizes expressed in &b and #b, < decide to
calculate the number of cylinders that will end up in each partition because fdisk reports start and stop
points in cylinders. < see when < enter fdisk that < have **7%% cylinders.
P The number of cylinders for this disk is set to **7%%. There is
P nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than (%*4, and could in
P certain setups cause problems with. (, software that runs at boot
P time +e.g., L<L", *, booting and partitioning software from other
P "3s +e.g., C"3 )C<3#, "3-* )C<3#,
3o, **7%% total cylinders divided by seven partitions is @*67 cylinders. Fach partition will be about @*67
cylinders long. < ignore the warning msg because this is not my boot drive +3ection 4,.
3ince < have 4 primary partitions, @ of them can be @*67 long. The extended partition will have to be +4 E
@*67,, or (@%@*, cylinders long in order to contain the 4 logical partitions.
< enter the following commands to set up the first of the @ primary partitions +stuff < type is bold ,.
1ommand action
e extended
p
)irst cylinder +(!**7%%, default (,. 451+#5&6
Using default value (
Last cylinder or Isize or Isize& or Isize# +(!**7%%, default **7%%,. $2(8
The last partition is the extended partition.
Bartition number +(!4,. %
)irst cylinder +HGG6!**7%%, default HGG6,. 451+#5&6
Using default value HGG6
Last cylinder or Isize or Isize& or Isize# +HGG6!**7%%, default **7%%,. 451+#5&6
Using default value **7%%
The result, when < issue the print table command is.
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-dev-sda( ( @*67 *>(>H76@I 7@ Linux
-dev-sda* @*6H >6(> *>(>H776 7@ Linux
-dev-sda@ >6(G HGG4 *>(>H776 7@ Linux
-dev-sda4 HGG6 **7%% (%4>@(@46 6 Fxtended
=ext < segment the extended partition into 4 logical partitions, starting with the first logical partition, into
@*67!cylinder segments. The logical partitions automatically start from -dev-sda6.
)irst cylinder +HGG6!**7%%, default HGG6,. 451+#5&6
Using default value HGG6
Last cylinder or Isize or Isize& or Isize# +HGG6!**7%%, default **7%%,. (@%@*
The end result is.
-dev-sda( ( @*67 *>(>H76@I 7@ Linux
-dev-sda* @*6H >6(> *>(>H776 7@ Linux
-dev-sda@ >6(G HGG4 *>(>H776 7@ Linux
-dev-sda4 HGG6 **7%% (%4>@(@46 6 Fxtended
-dev-sda6 HGG6 (@%@* *>(>H76@I 7@ Linux
-dev-sda> (@%@@ (>*H% *>(>H76@I 7@ Linux
-dev-sdaG (>*H( (H674 *>46H%*@I 7@ Linux
-dev-sda7 (H676 **7%% *67@*477I 7@ Linux
)inally, < issue the write command +w, to write the table on the disk. To make the partitions usable, < will
have to format each partition and then mount it.
(.%. Su/"itted 1)a"ples
<Qd like to submit my partition layout, because it works well with any distribution of Linux +even big 8B&
based ones,. < have one hard drive that ... is (% gigs, exactly. Aindows canQt see above H.@ gigs of it, but
Linux can see it all, and use it all. <t also has much more than (%*4 cylenders.
+a/le .. Partition la2out e)a"ple
Partition 9ount point Si'e
-dev-hda( -boot +(6 megs,
-dev-hda* windows H7 partition +* gigs,
-dev-hda@ extended +=-?,
-dev-hda6 swap space +>4 megs,
-dev-hda> -tmp +6% megs,
-dev-hdaG - +(6% megs,
-dev-hda7 -usr +(.6 gigs,
-dev-hdaH -home +rest of drive,
< test new kernels for the U3' mass storage, so that explains the large -boot partition. < install L<L" into
the &'8, and by default < boot windows.
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Partitioning With Fdisk

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