I’m switching from Windows to Fedora 40. I’ve been using Fedora since version 38 and love its stability, so I’ve decided to leave Windows behind due to storage-related issues.
My setup:
127GB NVMe SSD
127GB regular SSD
1TB portable HDD
I want to use both SSDs for Fedora, but this time I’d like to partition them smartly. My goal is to separate system files from personal files and downloaded content.
Here’s what I’m thinking:
Use a portion of the NVMe SSD for system files. Since the NVMe is larger than needed for just system files, I’d like to split it into two partitions and keep the second one for DNF packages or other frequently accessed data (open to suggestions)
Use the second SSD (124GB regular SSD) for user data (/home).
If possible, I’d like to explore the option of using only a small part of the NVMe for system files, then combining the remaining NVMe space with the regular SSD to create a larger partition for user data and again DNF install location or something.
This way, when I upgrade Fedora in the future, I can wipe only the system partition while keeping everything else intact.
I’m not very familiar with Linux directory structures, so I’m looking for advice on the best way to set this up.
As for the 1TB HDD, I’ll use it for games, movies, projects, and other large files.
Can anyone help me plan this partition setup or suggest a better approach?
EDIT: Even though the solution is the first response I would recommend reading the entire topic, It will help you make a better decision.
Your idea seems to me to be 1) excessive work & 2) adding risk of failure.
The default installation automatically partitions the drive where fedora is installed into 4 parts.
/boot/efi to contain the required files to start the boot
/boot to contain the kernel files to operate the system.
A third segment is a btrfs volume that contains 2 subvolumes (partitions) to contain the system files under / and the users files under /home.
I would first install the system using the nvme drive with automatic partitioning.
Then after the installation is completed you could if you wish designate the second SSD for use as /home and the HDD as storage.
How you configure it is up to you but be aware that every time you designate any single file system or partition as spanning more than one device it adds additional failure points that add to the risk of losing all data with a single failure.
As far as upgrading fedora, the system does the upgrades without risk to the users files. It is also possible to do a complete new install of the OS without wiping user data.
can you tell me more about the upgrading fedora ? last time I upgraded from the store the kernal did not upgrade and I got a msg at boot saying kernal out of support or something even though I upgraded. can I upgrade Fedora using the ISO without loosing data and if so how ?
There are advantages to staying close to the default installation as many others will share the same configuration. I would install to the NVMe SSD using the btrfs defaults, which has subvolumes for root and home. Then track the sizes of directories in your home directory and when free space become a concnern, move large directoroes to the other SSD and use symbolic links in yur home directory so applications won’t be affected by the changed locations.
You should consider putting backups of your home directory on the portable drive. Fedora provides Pika, a simplified front end for BorgBackup. I keep details of changes I make to the system (lists of packages and notes for edits to files in /etc) under my home directory, so if I have to reinstall Fedora it is not hard to restore my configuration.
I just want to use the space I have as efficiently as I can and that’s an Option, but can’t I have 2 homes or something ? since its gonna get filled pretty fast or can I do it the other way around if where my sata SSD is the /home and if it gets filled I move the data to the NVMe. I don’t know the link thingy you mentioned, If you know any tutorial or easy guide I follow I won’t mind
I’d toss Fedora onto the NVMe as-is, and partition the regular SSD as a backup drive.
Relying on a portable /home across distros also comes with the potential of having old or incompatible config files being drug over to newer/different environments. Some people apparently do it fine.
Basically, I expect the concept of having /home on a separate drive to re-use across OS installs works fine until it doesn’t And if you end up having to ever erase /home to workaround issues and lose the configs/data, you may as well have just started with a dedicated drive with raw file backups.
Also I do Custom Partitioning during Fedora’s set-up to do a Standard partition layout (not LVM), delete /home and root / partitions, and re-create the root / partition so that it uses all available space. By-default I think it does like 15GB on the root / partition and has the rest on /home, but I don’t benefit from that kind of separation and ran into some issue with that small space on root / years ago on Server.
why would I have a backup drive ? I don’t think I need it. I mean I am gonna put /home in the sata SSD and everything else in the nvme while maybe keeping some empty space storage or something
Distro update or distro change is still largely-changing the environment that existed with the older configs. I suppose that gets into how people upgrade their distros normally (like F39 to F40), but I also have enough experience with that from XP days and seen enough horror stories (even with Fedora) to know not to entertain that
F40 to F41 for me is a complete NVMe drive wipe, clean install, and re-setup, even when I have a good F40 install currently.
so I have to keep clean installing every single upgrade ??? after rereading that dude I think you have Fedora trauma or something, I don’t think stuff like that is going to happen with newer versions especially for Home. I just need to DNF packages just so that I don’t have to keep reinstalling them
I am not sure I understand that.
What version of fedora are you using?
I have never had a problem with updating and kernels being update but I also do not use any kernels except the native fedora kernels.
Would you please show us what you are using that may impact kernel updates with the following inxi -Fzxx and dnf list installed \*kernel\* as well as ls /boot
Post those as preformatted text using the </> button on the toolbar so we have the same formatting as seen on-screen.
The iso cannot be used for updating, only for a new clean install or repairs or testing the release version.
I am gonna wipe everything actually I am not gonna upgrade anything now I am gonna have a fresh install but I was asking about updating for the future basically. I will try to access fedora now if I can since I have already removed my HDD. but It said something along the lines of Kernel not supported or something and I only use the default Fedora Kernel.
Someone in this topic said that I can upgrade without loosing data and I don’t know how to do it since he didn’t mention
You can do an upgrade without losing user data. The default upgrade process does not overwrite or erase user data.
You can also do a new install without losing user data if you use the manual config option for partitioning (custom partitioning) and choose not to format the users /home area.
Note that when you ignore requests for information that is intended to aid us in providing assistance the net result is that you are telling us our assistance is not wanted.
No; you can definitely give your idea a go and I encourage it! It sounds like you already want to try it, have a good idea how to go about it, and probably should just go ahead and do it
Linux is about making your system your own and I’d wager most people do Fedora version updates with little or no problem (Fedora supports it and people expect to be able to do it, so it has to work well for the most part)
Edit: I never said a solution doesn’t work. you guys know better…
I assume you are talking about the Fedora kernel issue. I tried to boot to fedora with the currently portable HDD and it failed. I tried reinserting it and still it didn’t boot (It tries to boot to windows and ignores the other boot partitions). I am sorry about that but I would try to get the partition linked to a vm or something but for now thanks
There are way too many “easy solutions to Linux problems” that offer bad advice, so look to linux distros for documentation. Linux distros differ in package management, default security policies, and GUI’s, but filesystems and the majority of command-line tools are shared across distros. I have been recommending Linux Command for years. The Linux command line is much the same acros multiple distros, and using a text interface makes it easier to post questions in a form that can be found with web searches.
Well to conclude this, here is are some important info I will consider:
This eliminates the possibility of merging two drives together.
having an entire 127Gb of space as backup is too much if you ask me, especially the SSD not the HDD
If there is a way to keep user files at the cost of the DNF files I would take take that option.
That was just a question since I am going to clean everything this time and completely switch to Fedora, currently I have a dual boot system that I just broke
So what I am currently thinking of doing is what Jeff said:
except I would make the second sata SSD as /home in the installation process.
using an SSD for backup ? I would not take the option but its valid just not for me since I don’t have that much space.
Mass storage space has become very cheap, so efficient use of the space should be secondary to reliability (I run Fedora on 128 and 256GB SSD’s removed from Windows systems that needed more space, so essentially free). Part of reliability is being able to resolve problems quickly, which is where it is helpful to stick with the distro defaults and avoid creating a “unicorn” configuration.
And if you end up having to ever erase 