Re: New dual boot laptop: Best file system for a USB live image for installation?
On 4/11/19 5:02 AM, Tom Browder wrote:
I'm preparing to install Win 10 and Deb 9 on a new ZaReason laptop
which has no installed OS on it.
It comes with one 120 Gb SSD as its primary drive and has an empty
bay where I will install a Samsung evo 860 1 Tb SSD.
I would like to use a live image on a large USB for preparing the
disks before installing Win 10 and then Deb 9.
Some questions:
1. What is the best filesystem (FS) to use on the USB? They usually
come with a FAT32 or exFAT FS, but I have in the past made them
exFAT. As I understand it, I believe I can just copy the Debian CD
live iso image file onto the USB and it will be found and booted from
fine.
2. If a straight copy works as in question 1, is there any problem
with adding other files on the USB? I have a 64 Gb USB I would like
to use for both a live image as well as storing other files on it.
Given that I'm starting with two clean drives, my plan is to use the
small disk for Win 10 and the other for Debian and maybe have a small
partition to experiment with a BSD OS.
3. Any suggestions as to partitioning given the advantages of the new
(to me) GPT disk formats?
4. Which partitioning program is best to use? I am used to using
fdisk and parted, but I see partion manager mentioned.
On 4/11/19 8:01 PM, David Christensen wrote:
Which model zareason laptop? Which make, model, form factor, and
interface 120 GB SSD? Which form factor and interface Samsung EVO 860
1 TB SSD? How much RAM? Make and model WiFi interface?
On 4/12/19 7:09 AM, Tom Browder wrote:
Laptop ===== UltraLap 6440 i7 Options: Linux Version: No operating
system Processor: i7-8550U Dual Memory: 8 GB DDR4-2133 Video Card:
Intel UHD 620 (included) M.2 SSD: 120GB M.2 SSD (included) 2.5: —
WiFi: Intel® Wireless AC Dual-Band (2.4/5ghz) Bluetooth: (included)
Battery: 6-cell (included) AC Adapters: 1 (included) Card Reader:
SD/MMC (included) Webcam: HD webcam (included)
Samsung SSD 860 EVO ================== V-NAND SSD SATA 6 Gb/s size:
1 Tb production date: 2019-02-23 5 year limited warranty bought from
Amazon
On 4/12/19 7:50 AM, Tom Browder wrote:
I have used ext4 for many years while I have been watching zfs and
btrfs being developed. I am now considering using one or both on at
least one partion during my upcoming new Debian installation.
Can anyone recommend either one for a normal (non-developer,
non-hobbyiest) user who does backups and values his data and wants
reasonable reliability?
On 4/12/19 7:50 AM, Tom Browder wrote:
I have used ext4 for many years while I have been watching zfs and
btrfs being developed. I am now considering using one or both on at
least one partion during my upcoming new Debian installation.
Can anyone recommend either one for a normal (non-developer,
non-hobbyiest) user who does backups and values his data and wants
reasonable reliability?
Thank you for the hardware info. Looking at the product page:
http://zareason.com/ultralap-6440-i7.html
1. That looks like a nice laptop. :-)
2. It is interesting that the operating system drop-down list is
labeled "Linux Version", and that Windows is conspicuously absent.
3. It is also interesting that there is no "Support" link. But, there
is a telephone number.
I suggest:
1. Replace the 120 GB M.2 SSD with a 1 TB Samsung EVO 860 M.2 SSD ($168
on Amazon), so you can do RAID1 (mirror).
2. Plan to install one host OS on the hardware and use a hypervisor/
virtual machines for any and all other OS's.
3. Install Windows 10 (Professional or Enterprise). I don't know if
you can load a driver and configure hardware RAID during Windows
installation, create a software RAID during Windows installation, or
install Windows onto one SSD and set up RAID later. (Understand that
each choice has disaster recovery ramifications.) Let the Windows
installer allocate all available space on both SSD's. (The SSD's already
have over-provisioning built in; you should not need more for a
desktop). Be careful not to activate Windows (!). Once Windows is
installed, try to get all of the hardware working (e.g. drivers). Test
as much of Windows as you can. Then install whatever application
software you plan to use and test that. Explore backup, archive, image,
and restore scenarios. Type notes into another computer while you work.
Take photographs of important screens.
4. Repeat the above process using Debian. Choose manual partitioning
in the Debian installer, and explore every option until you figure it
out (you can always reboot the laptop if you get stuck). Delete all
partitions and partition tables on both drives. Create new partition
tables. Create three mirrored partitions on each SSD -- boot, swap, and
root. Choose partition sizes so that the three partitions together
consume 80~90% of a USB flash drive. (I prefer 16 GB devices and use ~1
GB boot partitions, ~1 GB swap partitions, and ~10 GB root partitions).
Encrypt swap and root, if desired. While RAID1 should detect bit rot
under ext4, use btrfs so that you can evaluate its features. Once
Debian is installed, fix issues, test Debian, install apps, test apps,
explore disaster recovery, take notes/ photos, etc..
Once you have gone through the above evaluations, you will be in a good
position to make decisions, wipe the SSD's, and rebuild the laptop the
way you want it.
David
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