What size disks and partitions should I have?

What size disks and partitions should I have?

If you install all of Solaris, with no AnswerBook2 on disk,
you typically need to have 1 GB plus space for optional software
and data and log files.
This can be pared down (e.g., by not installing Asian fonts), but
with today's large disks, I usually install all of Solaris.


Solaris uses a tmpfs where both the swap area and /tmp share a
common disk space. Configure about 200 MB of swap space on a single
user system. Many programs use the tmpfs for speeding up applications.
My swap file is usually 1.5 times my physical memory.


Solaris installation usually suggests several filesystems.
However, for workstations, I recommend a simple layout with just two
slices in the Solaris partition:
root (/) and swap (/tmp).
and everything else goes in the root (/) filesystem.
If you're expecting a lot of overflow from /var (usually on servers),
consider creating a separate /var filesystem
(say 200 MB or more, depending on your needs).


During installation, you will be asked to select the boot disk to use.
Next, you will be asked if you want to "Preserve Data?"
Answer "yes" if you have unused disk space and want to keep your
existing operating system (e.g., Linux or Windows).
Answer "no" if
you want remove all existing partitions on the disk and
use the all or part of the disk for Solaris.


If you are installing Solaris on a disk with Linux, be especially
careful not to use the Linux swap partition for Solaris if installing Solaris
or vice versa installing Linux.
They bo th use the same partition ID, 0x82.
For more information, see the question later in this FAQ,
Can I install Linux and Solaris on the same drive?



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