3.1.1 Partition Types
Every hard disk has a partition table with space for four entries. Every entry in the
partition table corresponds to a primary partition or an extended partition. Only one
extended partition entry is allowed, however.
A primary partition simply consists of a continuous range of cylinders (physical disk
areas) assigned to a particular operating system. With primary partitions you would be
limited to four partitions per hard disk, because more do not t in the partition table.
This is why extended partitions are used. Extended partitions are also continuous ranges
of disk cylinders, but an extended partition may be divided into logical partitions itself.
Logical partitions do not require entries in the partition table. In other words, an extended
partition is a container for logical partitions.
If you need more than four partitions, create an extended partition as the fourth partition
(or earlier). This extended partition should occupy the entire remaining free cylinder
range. Then create multiple logical partitions within the extended partition. The maxi-
mum number of logical partitions is 63, independent of the disk type. It does not matter
which types of partitions are used for Linux. Primary and logical partitions both function
normally.
3.1.2 Creating a Partition
To create a partition from scratch select Hard Disks and then a hard disk with free
space. The actual modication can be done in the Partitions tab:
1
Select Add and specify the partition type (primary or extended). Create up to four
primary partitions or up to three primary partitions and one extended partition.
Within the extended partition, create several logical partitions (see Section 3.1.1,
“Partition Types” (page 75)).
2
Specify the size of the new partition. You can either choose to occupy all the free
unpartitioned space, or enter a custom size.
3
Select the le system to use and a mount point. YaST suggests a mount point for
each partition created. To use a different mount method, like mount by label, select
Fstab Options.
Advanced Disk Setup 75
