The concept of splitting your Ubuntu set up between two exhausting drives is an idea that isn’t new. The concept typically comes up from those who wish to unfold out one Linux set up onto completely different exhausting drives, for a lot of causes. One of many major causes customers cut up Ubuntu is to compensate for the small sizes of stable state drives, For instance: when you’ve an SSD and a big 1TB 7200 RPM drive. You need to profit from the break-neck speeds of an SSD, however you notice it’s small. That’s if you notice that you just’ve additionally received a big second exhausting drive. With this methodology, it’s attainable to separate half of the Linux set up onto the SSD, and the opposite onto the RPM one.
On this tutorial, we’ll give attention to Ubuntu, because the set up software is probably the most straight ahead, and best to know with regards to splitting up an set up. That stated, the fundamental idea is definitely repeatable on many kinds of Linux distributions (each advanced and newbie ones).
Arduous Drives & Strong State Drives
Perceive that this methodology doesn’t require an SSD. It simply so occurs that SSDs are often costly the bigger they get. Consequently, many Linux customers discover methods to “expand storage” on their machines. “Splitting up” an set up is the popular methodology. Any two exhausting drives will work with this course of, as will a tough drive and a stable state drive.
Word: as SSDs are sooner, we’ll use this as /dev/sda. The RPM exhausting drive must be /dev/sdb.
Preparation
Earlier than putting in Ubuntu, get your drives prepared for the set up course of. Ensure that all the information on these two exhausting drives is backed up, as all the pieces on them must be deleted. The Ubuntu customized set up software will format them to create a brand new file system.
Word: it’s attainable to mount an present, in use file system as a second drive, however it’s beneficial that you just as an alternative begin contemporary with a brand new file system for drive well being causes.
With the drives ready, obtain Ubuntu. Any Ubuntu model, or taste will do because the set up software is what issues right here. As soon as downloaded, go to the Etcher website, and make a stay disk. Then, use your PC’s BIOS to load from it.
Set up
As you load up the Ubuntu stay disk, a greeting display screen seems with two choices. Choose the choice to “Install Ubuntu”. Clicking this selection will kick off the pre-setup course of. This course of entails deciding on a number of choices in your new set up. Undergo, learn, and verify the packing containers for all the pieces you need in your new set up.
When carried out, make your solution to the “Installation Type” window. On this part, the one choice that issues is “Something else”. Choose this selection, and the “continue” button to be taken to the customized set up part.
What follows is the Ubuntu Ubiquity partition software. On this window, you’ll have to manually assign mount-points in your new set up.
Word: Begin off by deciding on /dev/sda within the partition format software. If there isn’t a file system on it, click on “New Partition Table” to create a brand new one. Do the identical with the second drive (/dev/sdb)
BIOS/MBR Directions
The BIOS/MBR partition format may be very easy, as there isn’t a want for a particular boot partition. Step one is to create the “root” drive. Choose the free house beneath /dev/sda, and click on + to create a brand new partition. Multiply 1024 occasions nevertheless many to transform MB to GB.
For instance: your complete /dev/sda exhausting drive is 14 GB. I’d prefer to make a root partition of 12 GB, so I’d do: 1024 x 12 and get 12288 MB.
Enter your individual conversion into the “Size:” space, click on “mount point” and set it to /. Click on OK to simply accept the adjustments.
Subsequent, create a SWAP partition. Choose “free space”, click on +, search for “use as” and select “swap area”.
Word: Should you use an SSD, strongly contemplate skipping the swap partition/file because it contributes to extreme writes.
Lastly, click on on the “free space” part beneath the /dev/sdb drive, choose the + signal and create a brand new partition. Don’t fear about conversion, as this partition ought to fill your complete exhausting drive. Discover “mount point”, and choose /dwelling.
In any case three partitions are arrange, click on the set up button to complete the remainder of the Ubuntu set up course of.
UEFI/GPT Directions
The directions for UEFI Computer systems is an identical to the MBR/BIOS mode with one distinction: the boot partition. Earlier than doing something, choose “free space” on /dev/sda and click on + to create a brand new partition. Below dimension for this partition, enter 512 MB. Then, choose discover “use as” and choose the choice “Use as EFI system partition”.
Word: the installer will spherical 512 MB all the way down to 510 MB. Don’t worry! The whole lot is ok. Plenty of occasions, the Ubuntu installer doesn’t replicate the precise numbers customers enter.
When the EFI system partition arrange within the installer, the exhausting half is finished. From right here, go to the directions above, and comply with them.
Misplaced? Check out the image under. Your EFI partition format for Ubuntu will likely be related.