The software described in this documentation is either in Extended Support or Sustaining Support. See https://www.oracle.com/us/support/library/enterprise-linux-support-policies-069172.pdf for more information.
Oracle recommends that you upgrade the software described by this documentation as soon as possible.

2.1.3 Configuring Disk Partitions

The Disk Partitioning window displays the following options:

Use All Space

Removes all existing partitions and data. If you select this option, the installer creates the following default layout on the installation disk:

  • A 500 MB partition for an ext4 file system that contains /boot.

  • A partition in the remaining disk space configured an LVM physical volume for an LVM volume group that contains:

    • A logical volume for an ext4 file system that contains the root file system (/).

    • A logical volume for an ext4 file system that contains the /home file system (provided that the disk is larger than 50 GB).

    • A logical volume for a swap partition.

Replace Existing Linux System(s)

Removes any Linux partitions created by a previous Linux installation, and preserve any other partitions that contain data.

Shrink Current System

Resizes the existing partitions and create a default partition layout for Oracle Linux in the recovered space.

Use Free Space

Preserves any existing partitions and install Oracle Linux in the unused space.

The Disk Partitioning window also displays the following buttons:

Encrypt system

Allows you to choose to encrypt disk partitions other than the partition that contains /boot. You are prompted to enter a passphrase for the encryption.

Review and modify partitioning layout

Allows you to configure disk partitioning manually.

To configure the disk partitions for a system:

  1. In the Disk Partitioning window, select the disk partitioning option that you require and click Next.

    If the installer detects that the system has more than one storage device, the Storage Devices window appears.

    To choose the devices on which you want to install Oracle Linux:

    1. Select the devices from the Data Storage Devices list and click the right arrow to move them to the Install Target Devices list.

    2. From the devices in the Install Target Devices list, select the boot device by clicking the radio button next to the device.

    Click Next to save your changes and continue.

    If you selected Review and modify partitioning layout, the Partition Layout window appears. You can select one or more of the displayed storage objects (hard drives, partitions, software RAID partitions or devices, or LVM volume groups or logical volumes), and click Create, Edit, or Delete buttons to modify the layout.

  2. To add a storage object:

    1. Select the storage object or objects for which you want to add a storage object and click Create.

      The Create Storage dialog appears, and, depending on the context of the selected storage object or objects, you can choose to add one of the following storage objects:

      Standard Partition

      Specifies a standard disk partition.

      RAID Partition

      Specifies a standard disk partition that will form part of a software RAID device.

      RAID Device

      Specifies a RAID device configured over two or more RAID partitions.

      LVM Volume Group

      Specifies a volume group configured from one or more physical volumes.

      LVM Logical Volume

      Specifies a logical volume group configured within a volume group.

      LVM Physical Volume

      Specifies a physical volume within a disk partition.

    2. Select the type of storage object that you require and click Create.

      The Add Partition dialog appears. For standard partitions, RAID devices, and LVM logical volumes, you can configure the following settings:

      Mount Point

      Specifies the mount point for the file system. You can enter the mount point or select it from the drop-down list (for example: /, /boot, or /home). For a swap partition, do not enter a value.

      File System Type

      Specifies the file system type: ext2, ext3, ext4, LVM, RAID, swap, or vfat. From Oracle Linux 6 Update 3, the UEK R2 Boot ISO allows you to configure a btrfs file system. See Section 2.4, “Installing a System with a Btrfs root File System”.

      Allowable Drives

      Allows you to specify the devices to use for the file system.

      Size (MB)

      Specifies the size in megabytes of the partition.

      Additional Size Options

      Allows you to choose to keep the partition at a fixed size, to permit the partition to grow up to a designated size, or to use all remaining space on the device for the partition.

      Force to be a primary partition

      Specifies if the partition must be one of the first four partitions on the hard drive rather than a logical partition within an extended partition. This option applies only to hard disks with a traditional master boot record (MBR). It does not apply to disks with a GUID Partition Table (GPT), software RAID partitions, or LVM partitions.

      Encrypt

      Specifies if the underlying block device is Linux Unified Key Setup (LUKS) encrypted. If encrypted, you cannot access data on the partition without entering a passphrase.

      Note

      The file system that contains /boot cannot be encrypted.

    The Edit, or Delete buttons allow you to modify or delete the settings for storage objects.

    If necessary, click Reset to undo your changes.

    Click Next to save your changes.

  3. If you are warned that pre-existing devices are going to be formatted, potentially destroying any existing data, click Format to continue.

  4. If you are warned that data on deleted or reformatted partitions will be lost, click Write changes to disk to continue.

    The Boot Loader Selection window appears. The boot loader runs when the system starts and loads the kernel, without the need for boot media. Oracle Linux uses the GRand Unified Bootloader (GRUB), which is installed by default in the MBR of the disk that contains /boot.

  5. If required, click Change Device to select a different location for the boot loader. Only deselect the Install boot loader on ... check box if you intend to boot the system from a boot loader on a removable device.

  6. If you require the boot loader to be password protected, select the Use a boot loader password check box, and click Change password to set the password.

    A boot loader password is recommended to enhance system security for systems that are located outside a secure data center. Without a boot loader password enabled, users can use kernel boot options to give them root access to the system without providing the root password. However, with a boot loader password enabled, the system cannot reboot automatically without human intervention.

    Oracle Linux attempts to detect existing operating systems on the hard disk and configures GRUB to boot them. If necessary, click Add to configure operating systems in GRUB manually. Each operating system becomes a bootable entry in the GRUB configuration file.

    Click Next to save your changes and display the Software Package Selection.

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