need help with SSD/Disk drive installation and organization

[Lloydb39]

In my next build, I want to use an SSD for Linux and put my data on a large hard drive. Question is, where on which disk will Ubuntu put the software? If I have to designate where, should they be on the SSD with the OS? All on one partition? And roughly how large a drive would I need if everything but data is going to be on it? Can anyone point me to instructions or a tutorial on this if there is one? (I hope this is the right forum and it hasn't been answered. I searched.)

[Dennis N]

Ubuntu's root partition is where Ubuntu will install all the applications you install from the software center or repositories.

Generally, I allow about 25-30 gB per OS and I don't use separate home partitions. But do use a large separate data partition shared between all the OS installs on the system. I have 6 on here right now.

[Dennis N]

Here are the partitions on this computer so you can see the sizes. Partition 4 on sda is the common data partition.


dmn@Sydney:~$ sudo parted -l
[sudo] password for dmn:
Model: ATA WDC WD5000AAKX-0 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 538MB 537MB fat32 boot
2 538MB 42.5GB 41.9GB ext4
3 42.5GB 46.7GB 4194MB linux-swap(v1)
4 46.7GB 90.7GB 44.0GB ext4


Model: ATA WDC WD10EZEX-22B (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt

Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 211MB 210MB fat32 boot
2 211MB 33.8GB 33.6GB ext4
3 33.8GB 38.0GB 4194MB linux-swap(v1)
4 38.0GB 58.9GB 21.0GB ext4
5 58.9GB 86.2GB 27.3GB ext4
6 86.2GB 113GB 27.3GB ext4
7 113GB 141GB 27.3GB ext4

[oldfred]

I do the same as Dennis N.

I have / (root) partition of about 25GB including /home. But hidden settings in /home are small. My /home is a bit larger as I use .wine for Picasa so my /home total is about 2GB. And total including /home in my 25GB / is 14GB. I then have large data partition, backup partition, partitions for ISO and other test installs on hard drive.

One advantage of partitioning in advance is that the installer will use the swap space to speed up the install. Thanks Herman for the tip.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DiskSpace
suggested partitions for just Ubuntu on 3TB drive.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/336439/any-problems-with-this-partition-scheme
Another advanced suggestion from TheFu with Multiple / (root) - Post #5 similar to what I actually do
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2170308
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2021534
http://askubuntu.com/questions/336439/any-problems-with-this-partition-scheme
http://askubuntu.com/questions/461394/how-to-partition-ssdhdd

[Kale_Freemon]

I recently redid my Ubuntu install to accommodate a two drive system. Ubuntu itself, and software, are all installed onto the 120GB SSD. However, my /home partition is the 500GB HDD. Works for me. Allows me to have the speed of the SSD without losing the storage space of the HDD.

Honestly, though, it all depends on what you're trying to achieve. Ubuntu tends to work pretty well on small partitions as the other two posters have touched on.