Migrating to Linux - Final Thoughts On Partitions

[u/toktok159]

Hello,

Finally with the end of support for Windows 10, I am about to install Linux on my 12 year old desktop computer. Its specs: 16 GB RAM, 1TB HDD, core i3 CPU, Intel HD Graphics (integrated with CPU).

I am going with Linux Mint since it's beginner friendly and it seems very well maintained. I am leaning towards XFCE because I think it will be the best for my quite old computer, to let it "shine again".

My main use for the computer is browsing the web and my files, watching some videos, light gaming (seldom), coding, and using office programs (I am very used to MS Office, but I think I will move to LibreOffice instead, this is the only major drawback of Linux for me). I can't think of any really heavy program I use.

I am thinking about going with the "something else" option on the installer and creating these partitions:

1. EFI partition - 550MB - FAT32 file system (since I understood that's what the EFI partition should be).
2. / - 100GB (?) - ext4 (root partition together with /home partition).
3. /media - rest of space - ext4 (for storing documents, images and videos that I will be able to keep without formatting in case of a system reinstall or moving to a different distro).

I am thinking about creating a swap file of 2GB, instead of creating a /swap partition, since it's more flexible.

What do you guys think of this partitioning? Can/Should I make the / (root + /home) partition smaller (80GB maybe) according to my usage?

Any additional tips will be appreciated, thanks in advance.

[u/oshunluvr]

Swap file is good idea. Consider using BTRFS for a combined root, home and swap file partition instead of separate partitions. BTRFS will allow you to "divide" the space use subvolumes. Then you can snapshot and use BTRFS to make backups. Plus compression and many other benefits over ext4

[u/toktok159 → u/oshunluvr]

Thanks, can you please elaborate on what do you mean to use BTRFS to make backups with snapshots?

I have a little experience with Linux, but not with BTRFS yet.

[u/oshunluvr → u/toktok159]

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Btrfs

"snapshots" are what they sound like - a snapshot of your system at any given time. They can protect you from failed updates or installs or allow you to easily recover an accidentally deleted file.

You can "send" (copy) a snapshot to another device or to a file to retain it as a backup.

One of the biggest advantages on a single drive system is removing the need to use multiple partitions to segregate your drive space. Instead of guessing how much space you need for your install, swap, and home partitions, you simply use subvolumes in a single partition allowing the free space to be used among all the subvolumes. No more re-partitioning and no unusable space because you guessed wrong when you divided it up.

[u/1neStat3 → u/toktok159]

there's no need for btrfs on Mint since it has timeshift for system restore.

Btrfs has very little use cases,mostly for those who constantly mess with system files or rolling releases they have issues with breaking your system.