Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

praka123 · 2012-07-19 07:54:01

I bought a intel 330 series SSD and am confused how to format and install arch linux on to it.

I read about partition table GPT is the better option. I want to go with gdisk.
but, with a BIOS supported motherboard(no UEFI) and GPT table, can I dual boot windows 7 and arch linux ?

I don't mind chain-loading from other boot-loader to Grub2. emulating EFI mode.

regarding SSD alignment, I read about Erase Block Size. but, there is no information about this in intel community forum.
what will be the ideal partitioning scheme?
/ of 15GB and /home of 50GB is in My mind. is it OK?

I have 4GB of RAM(DDR-3 on DH67CL board). can I mount /tmp on tmpfs? also, swap partition, is it better to place it in hard drive than in SSD?

Also needs info on TRIM support with ext4 FS.

Thanks in Advance,
praka123

Last edited by praka123 (2012-07-19 08:16:57)

MisterAnderson · 2012-07-19 10:13:16

Windows 7 will refuse to boot or install from a GPT disk in a BIOS only system, Microsoft set it to require UEFI. Arch will be happy with whatever though. You can try running windows 7 in a VM, or you'll just have to stick to MBR. I've not heard of emulating EFI myself so I can't comment.

You should be safe to just mount /tmp in tmpfs (I do this with 2GB RAM). Anything else I don't know about.

acvar · 2012-07-19 20:48:41

Can't help you with your windows question, but as for the rest.

You really do not need to worry about the erase block size. It is either 4k or 8k and both gdisk and fdisk now default to multiples of these numbers.

4GB is plenty of ram to mount your /tmp there, and unless you are trying to suspend to ram you will not need a swap partition. If you do decide to use swap put it on a normal hard drive.

Trim support is enabled in the fstab by adding discard to the list of options. You should also add noatime.

praka123 · 2012-07-20 01:44:15

Thanks for the replies @MisterAnderson,@acvar. I will go with MBR since dual booting is needed.

MisterAnderson · 2012-07-20 02:22:39

Install Windows 7 first! It's a pain to do it the other way around. You can put all of your Arch partitions in logical partitions with MBR, it won't mind. I think Windows 7 creates 3 primary partitions anyway so you pretty much have to use the last for an extended one.

progandy · 2012-07-20 03:29:07

praka123 wrote:

Thanks for the replies @MisterAnderson,@acvar. I will go with MBR since dual booting is needed.

You could also try DUET but I don't see the point in using a bootloader to chainload the loader to load UEFI to load your system (4 steps). If you go with this setup, even GRUB2 is simpler I think. bootloader to load grub2 to directly boot your system (even windows without chainloading: 3 steps)

Last edited by progandy (2012-07-20 03:35:33)

praka123 · 2012-07-20 11:31:37

progandy wrote:

praka123 wrote:
Thanks for the replies @MisterAnderson,@acvar. I will go with MBR since dual booting is needed.
You could also try DUET but I don't see the point in using a bootloader to chainload the loader to load UEFI to load your system (4 steps). If you go with this setup, even GRUB2 is simpler I think. bootloader to load grub2 to directly boot your system (even windows without chainloading: 3 steps)

Will You simplify for Me?

with DUET, can I format SSD to GPT and install archlinux and GRUB2 bootloader? I don't mind chainloading from grub2 to whatever system to boot Windows 7.

Thanks.

progandy · 2012-07-20 12:03:08

praka123 wrote:

with DUET, can I format SSD to GPT and install archlinux and GRUB2 bootloader? I don't mind chainloading from grub2 to whatever system to boot Windows.

When you want to use DUET, then GRUB2 is a waste of time.
- Either use BIOS + GPT + chainloading of DUET (with rEFInd) + EFI boot as described here
- or use BIOS + MBR + GRUB2 + "default boot"
Here is how it works if I understand it correctly:
DUET:

BIOS initializes, and runs:
    SYSLINUX from MBR (each GPT disk has an empty MBR)
        BootDuet from EFI partition boot sector
            DUET from EFI partition (with rEFInd)
                EFI-stub + operating system

GRUB2:

BIOS initializes, and runs:
    GRUB2 loader from MBR
        GRUB2 from boot partition
                operating system

Edit: Forgot one possibility:

BIOS initializes, and runs:
    GRUB2 loader from MBR 
        GRUB2 from boot partition
            - linux in MBR mode (undestands GPT, no need for slower DUET load)
            - chainload BootDuet from EFI partition boot sector
                DUET from EFI partition (with rEFInd)
                    EFI-stub + operating system

Last edited by progandy (2012-07-20 12:17:02)

praka123 · 2012-07-20 16:59:20

thanks @progandy for elucidating. I will have a thorough read later. seems interesting.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-07-19 07:54:01

Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#2 2012-07-19 10:13:16

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#3 2012-07-19 20:48:41

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#4 2012-07-20 01:44:15

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#5 2012-07-20 02:22:39

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#6 2012-07-20 03:29:07

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#7 2012-07-20 11:31:37

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#8 2012-07-20 12:03:08

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

#9 2012-07-20 16:59:20

Re: Installing Arch to SSD. Help regarding SSD Alignment,GPTvsMBR

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