On 2003-04-05 at 12:05:33 [-0800], Ingo Weinhold wrote: > > Tyler Dauwalder <tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > On 2003-04-05 at 08:00:25 [-0800], Axel D=3DF6rfler wrote: > > >=3D20 > > > Tyler Dauwalder <tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > > > We will also need some kind of overhead or better a spare > > > > > > partition > > > > > > for > > > > > > the partition meta data in R2. That includes things like how > > > > > > the > > > > > > partitions have to be mapped during a move operation, but > > > > > > also > > > > > > informations about the RAID setup or similar things. > > > > > I like that idea. > > > > Initially, I'd say I don't like the idea. However, I mostly just > > > > don't > > > > like the messiness of having an extra partition floating around. > > > > For > > > > example, I hate having to make separate linux swap partitions. > > > > But > > > > that's just a personal dislike. That being said, I recognize the > > > > advantages it could bring. > > >=3D20 > > > Yes, I have the same problems with it - especially because there > > > are > > > only 4 primary partitions on the PC. > > > But the advantages it bring cannot be achieved otherwise (at least > > > I > > > don't see a way). > > > > We should all think very hard about it and maybe we'll come up > > with=3D > > 20 > > something. ;-)=3D20 > > We could simply use disk space not assigned to any partition, but I > don't think, that's a good idea. No, that's pretty sketchy. > Furthermore, there is the possibility > to use a logical partition instead of a primary one. This might > restrict the options a bit, but at least no primary partition is > wasted. Yes. BTW, what is the difficulty in booting from a logical partition? > > > > > > It probably won't be possible to write this information down > > > > > > to > > > > > > an > > > > > > existing file system. > > > > > Right. > > > > My one question is, couldn't a special file referenced from the > > > > BFS > > > > superblock be used=3D3D3F Or is that too much overhead to get at > > > > the > > > > necessary data=3D3D3F I guess that also wouldn't allowing > > > > booting a > > > > RAID > > > > partition, but... > > >=3D20 > > > If that data would lie on the boot partition, you would not be > > > able > > > to > > > resize or move that partition as well. And yes, RAID wouldn't be > > > possible as well. > > Well, for software RAID you'll never get a around using a partition on > a non-RAID disk (unless the BIOS supports it ;-). Why is that (I know next to zero about RAID :-)? > To store the data on the boot partition is an option, I think. I > wouldn't use a file, but leave some room for the meta data at the > beginning. ReiserFS for instance skips the first 64 KB. That would be > space enough for quite a bunch of RAID settings and a small job > journal. But even 1 MB or so wouldn't hurt. Perfect would be to make > this an option when initializing the volume. Be's BFS add-on wouldn't > be able to read such a volume, but I think, that doesn't matter much. That seems like a good idea. Though why not in a file: the access overhead, or contiguity, or...? If it were a setting at initialize time, you could certainly guarantee a contiguous chunk. > What's the benefit=3F I believe, then resizing and moving the boot > partition is possible, too. Resizing should be no problem at all, > moving is a bit more difficult, but managable, I think. > > > >=3D20 > > > Without an extra partition, the boot partition could only be > > > resized/ > > > moved off-line, as with Windows :-) > > > > Actually, PartitionMagic allows online enlarging now of the > > boot=3D20 > > partition. :-) > > Journalled=3F Could you please try and turn off power while resizing. > ;- > )) Oh, I don't have that newest version, I'm afraid. :-P If anyone is interested in ponying up the $70 US or whatever it costs, I might be willing to see. :-) > > > > > would > > > > > need to > > > > > be extended vastly. It would incorporate the functionality > > > > > currently > > > > > implemented in the registrar, plus support for locking, > > > > > managing > > > > > jobs > > > > > and the like. > > > > >=3D20 > > > > > I'd like to write up a design draft for that part, so that we > > > > > have > > > > > something more concrete to discuss about. > > > > Great! I was about to bring that up, but now I can sit back and > > > > relax. > > > > :-) > > Damn, I should have waited till you propose to do it. ;-) Ha. :-) -Tyler