diff --git a/chapter03/creatingfs.xml b/chapter03/creatingfs.xml index ec3043a2e..d78db47db 100644 --- a/chapter03/creatingfs.xml +++ b/chapter03/creatingfs.xml @@ -2,19 +2,19 @@ Creating a file system on the new partition -Once the partition is created, we have to create a new file system on -that partition. The standard file system used these days is the ext2 file -system, but the so-called journaling file systems are becoming increasingly -popular too. We'll assume that you wish to create an ext2 file system. -However, build instructions for other file systems may be found at -. +Now the partition has been made, we can create a file system on it. +Most widely used in the Linux world is the second extended file system (ext2), +but with the high-capacity hard disks of today the so-called journaling file +systems are becoming increasingly popular. Here we will create an ext2 file +system, but build instructions for other file systems can be found at . -To create an ext2 file system, use the mke2fs command. The LFS partition -is used as the only option to the command and the file system is created. +To create an ext2 file system on the LFS partition run the following: mke2fs /dev/xxx -Replace "xxx" by the partition's designation (like hda11). +Replace xxx with the name of the LFS partition +(something like hda5). diff --git a/chapter03/creatingpart.xml b/chapter03/creatingpart.xml index af0741e81..7a5e77f9a 100644 --- a/chapter03/creatingpart.xml +++ b/chapter03/creatingpart.xml @@ -2,42 +2,37 @@ Creating a new partition -It is possible to build LFS on only one partition - the partition -in which your original distribution is installed. While this is not -recommended for your first LFS installation, it may be useful if you -are short on disk space. If you feel brave, take a look at the -Install LFS next to existing systems on the same -partition hint at . +In order to build our new Linux system, we will need some space: +an empty disk partition. If you don't have a free partition, and no room +on any of your hard disks to make one, then you could build LFS on the +same partition as the one on which your current distribution is installed. +This procedure is not recommended for your first LFS install, but if you +are short on disk space, and you feel brave, take a look at the hint at +. -Before we can build our new Linux system, we need an empty -Linux partition where we can build it. We recommend a partition size -of at least 1 GB. This provides enough space to store the tarballs and -compile all of the packages. You will probably need more space if you -intend to install additional software and use the LFS system as your -primary Linux system. If a Linux native partition is already available, -this subsection can be skipped. +For a minimal system you will need a partition of around 1 GB. +This is enough to store all the source tarballs and compile all the packages. +But if you intend to use the LFS system as your primary Linux system, you +will probably want to install additional software, and will need more space +than this, probably around 2 or 3 GB. -Since your system memory can only hold a limited amount of data -at one time, we recommend that disk space be set aside for swap files. -A swap file is a place where items in memory may be stored until they -are called for. This disk space may be shared between your host system -and your LFS system. If you already have a swap partition, then you -probably don't need to create another one. Otherwise, you should create -a swap partition via an fdisk program. Regardless, you need to remember -the designation of the swap partition (such as hda2) as it will be needed -when we create the /etc/fstab file. +As we almost never have enough RAM in our box, it is a good idea to +use a small disk partition as swap space -- this space is used by the kernel +to store seldom-used data to make room in memory for more urgent stuff. +The swap partition for your LFS system can be the same one as for your host +system, so you won't have to create another if your host system already uses +a swap partition. -The cfdisk program (or another fdisk-like program) should be -started with the appropriate hard disk as the argument (like /dev/hda -if a new partition is to be created on the primary master IDE disk). -Using this program, create a Linux native partition. Please refer to -the documentation of your fdisk program (the man pages are often a -good place to start) for information about creating Linux native -partitions and writing partition tables. +Start the cfdisk program with as argument the name +of the hard disk upon which the new partition must be created -- for example +/dev/hda for the primary IDE disk. Create a Linux native +partition, and if needed a swap partition. Please refer to the man page of +cfdisk if you don't yet know how to use the program. -The designation of your new partition should be remembered. -It might be something similar to hda11. This newly created partition -will be referred to as the LFS partition in this book. +Remember the designation of your new partition -- something like +hda5. This book will refer to it as the LFS partition. +If you (now) also have a swap partition, remember its designation too. These +names will later be needed for the /etc/fstab file. + diff --git a/chapter03/introduction.xml b/chapter03/introduction.xml index 956f69aba..3e51d206c 100644 --- a/chapter03/introduction.xml +++ b/chapter03/introduction.xml @@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Introduction -In this chapter, the partition which will host the LFS system is +In this chapter the partition which will host the LFS system is prepared. We will create the partition itself, make a file system on it, and mount it. diff --git a/chapter03/mounting.xml b/chapter03/mounting.xml index 838f1567b..0a6b4d252 100644 --- a/chapter03/mounting.xml +++ b/chapter03/mounting.xml @@ -1,39 +1,40 @@ -Mounting the new partition +Mounting the new file system -Now that we have created a file system, it is ready for use. All we have -to do to be able to access the partition (as in reading data from and writing -data to) is mount it. If it is mounted under /mnt/lfs, this partition can -be accessed by cd'ing to the /mnt/lfs directory. This book will assume -that the partition was mounted under /mnt/lfs. It doesn't matter which -directory is chosen, just make sure you remember what you chose. +Now that we've created a file system, we want to be able to access it. +For that, we need to mount it, and have to choose a mount point. +In this book we assume that the file system is mounted under +/mnt/lfs, but it doesn't matter what directory +you choose. -Create the /mnt/lfs directory by running: +Choose a mount point and assign it to the LFS environment variable +by running: -mkdir -p /mnt/lfs +export LFS=/mnt/lfs -Now mount the LFS partition by running: +Now create the mount point and mount the LFS file system by running: -mount /dev/xxx /mnt/lfs +mkdir -p $LFS && +mount /dev/xxx $LFS -Replace xxx by the partition's designation (like hda11). +Replace xxx with the designation of the LFS +partition. -This directory (/mnt/lfs) is the LFS variable you have read about -back in Chapter 2. If you were planning to make use of the LFS environment -variable, export LFS=/mnt/lfs has to be executed -now. +(If you decided to use multiple partitions for LFS (say one for +/ and another for /usr), mount +them like this: -If you decided to create multiple partitions for LFS (say $LFS and -$LFS/usr), mount them like this: +mkdir -p $LFS && +mount /dev/xxx $LFS && +mkdir $LFS/usr && +mount /dev/yyy $LFS/usr -mkdir -p /mnt/lfs && -mount /dev/xxx /mnt/lfs && -mkdir /mnt/lfs/usr && -mount /dev/yyy /mnt/lfs/usr +Of course, replace xxx and yyy +with the appropriate partition names.) -Of course, replace /dev/xxx and /dev/yyy with the appropriate -partition designations. +Now that we've made ourselves a place to work in, we're ready to begin +assembling the temporary tools in the next chapter.