Re: [Sheflug] Some basic info please...

[Alex Hudson <xxxxx [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tuesday 09 October 2001 20:32, you wrote:
> (e.g. usr). When I performed the previous install, thinking that 'usr'
> meant "User's area", I stupidly made the new partition 'usr'. I now know
> that 'usr' contains all sorts of stuff that a user shouldn't even touch!

/usr used to be the user's area. For example, on my work SCO system /usr 
contains the home directories for all the users ('cept root, for whom 
$HOME=/, which I still hate). /usr is now supposed to be the area for 
whichpackage-managed-systems store programs and things users would like to 
access (excluding /usr/local). See the FHS. And then read DJB's explanation 
of why it isn't very good ;)

> This time, I intend to make this new partition dedicated to the /home
> drectory, which will contain /ruthie etc., etc. Seem sensible?

Yup.

> So, on a 10GB drive, how much would you recommend I reserve for /home?

About 4 of your gigs.

> Secondly, when I last installed StarOffice, it seemed to want to install
> itself in /home/ruthie/staroffice or somesuch. This seems silly to me.
> Surely it should not be installed in a user's home directory?!?! Where
> would others install it?

hudson_a@lapland:~$ du -hc $HOME/staroffice6.0/ | grep total
332M    total

Oh well ;)

It used to go in /opt, with a ~4Mb package in $HOME containing your 
preferences, etc. Not sure what's happening with it now....

> Thirdly. When I have the system up and running again, with a shiny new
> /home directory, what happens in the (hopefully rare) event of a system
> crash and requiring a re-install? Is it possible to reinstall everything
> keeping the "/home" partition intact - and will a fresh install recognise
> its presence and let me see/use it?

Should do - just don't tell it to format the drive prior to install. If you 
were really paranoid, don't let it mount the partition. Let it make /home a 
directory in / (rather than a partition), and when you've reinstalled just 
mount it over /home (nasty, but works :)

But why do you care - you backup, surely ?

:)

Cheers,
			Alex.
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