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31.

How to configure start-up options

33.

Analogy Time

34.

Simply broken down, a new hard disk is similar to the foundations of a house - it needs some structure and walls before you can start putting things (like furniture) into it. The partition is the first level of foundation on the disk. Once the disk is logically carved up into partitions, it can be thought of as a house with rooms. Each partition (room) is of a specific size which could potentially be resized again after you move it, but would cause some disruption as objects get moved to make room. Once a partition (room) is created it can then be formatted using the filesystem of your choice. Once the filesystem has been laid down, it's possible to start populating the partition with data in the form of files and folders (furniture).

35.

So, a partition is a logical chunk of space allocated out of the entire disk. Depending on how a system is configured at installation time, there may be one or more partitions on a disk. In some instances, it is also possible to modify the layout, number and size of partitions, but this is often considered an expert's function.

36.

Many Microsoft Windows users will have just one large partition - often known as "C: drive", however it is also common for Microsoft Windows users to have multiple partitions which are labelled with successive alphabetic characters (D:, E: and so on).

37.

Similarly, with Ubuntu it's possible to install the system in exactly one partition on the disk, or spread data and applications over multiple partitions.

39.

There are valid arguments for both scenarios. Having one single partition with all applications, libraries and data will result in a simple to manage system. It also provides flexibility as installing applications or adding data will use space from a common "pool".

40.

If you accept all the defaults when installing Ubuntu, you will end up with a system separated into two partitions on the disk. One contains all files, the other is known as "swap" which can be thought of as an extension to your computer's internal memory.

41.

Alternatively, it is possible to create multiple partitions of differing sizes into which different types of applications, libraries and data can be placed. This is often used in a multi-user or server environment where user data is kept separate from system programmes, log files and configuration files. A significant benefit to this can be seen when there is a problem on the system and log files start to grow. The log files (in one partition) will not consume all available disk space in this scenario because they will be confined to their own (small) partition of the physical disk.

42.

Which ever partitioning scheme has been chosen, this is not set in stone. It is possible to use a partition editing utility to resize partitions (subject to sufficient free space in each partition), however this is quite an advanced topic, and generally nto done while the system is in use.