Encrypted Install Questions

[User4]

I would like to install Ubuntu onto a laptop to handle all of my personal files etc. Ideally I would like to put the whole installation onto an encrypted partition, but I not not have a lot of experience with Linux and I have a few questions: -


How difficult is it to install Ubuntu on an encrypted partition?

Can this be done from the standard installation disc?

What are the usual problems?

What would you expect the start-up times to be like if it were a ~50GB partition with a typical laptop core i3 processor?


Is there anything else I should know?

Thank you

[Dutch70]

I'm no expert in this area, but I'll answer the best I can & maybe someone will add to it.

1. It's not difficult at all. IIRC the installer will give you the option.
2. Yes
3. The only one I can think of is if you're system gets botched somehow, it will be difficult at best for someone to help you recover your files.
4. Roughly 30-40sec.

You're swap partition will be encrypted also. Not that it's a problem.

Anyone want to add to this???

[User4]

Thank you Dutch, that's really helpful.

What do you mean by botched? - some kind of hard drive failure?

Can anyone else think of any reasons not to do this?

[mseney]

My experience with the latest release (Natty 11.04):

Only Encrypt /home - ubuntu-11.04-desktop ISO Image
Fully Encrypt - ubuntu-11.04-alternate ISO Image

The problem that can arise is if you forget your encryption passphrase, you will never be able to access the contents of the drive. When a drive isn't encrypted and the Operating System becomes unusable, you can still plug the hard disk into another running machine or use a Live CD/DVD to access the files. This also means if someone gets ahold of your Laptop they have full access to your files. Personally, I would encrypt everything. Just make sure you never forget the passphrase. ;)

[User4]

Thank you mseney.

I agree with you there, the fully encrypt option would have been much better.
Unfortunately I have installed using the 'encrypt /home' option.

How can I go about uninstalling ubuntu? - is this easy to do?
Where can I get hold of the alternate ISO image?

[superdad0128]

i also have a question...? support still available?