Arch Linux

raul_l

Member

From: Amsterdam

Registered: 2014-11-04

Posts: 58

What is the significance of partition type GUID?

I noticed that my swap partition has been created with the partition code 8300 (Linux filesystem), but there is actually a specific type for that purpose - 8200 (Linux swap). Should I be using that instead? Everything has been working fine thus far, so I'm not sure if it matters. Actually, all my partitions are encrypted, so maybe it's best to use 8308 (Linux dm-crypt) instead (for normal and swap partitions).

All I've found about the partition type GUID is that it is used to describe the type and general purpose of the partition. But that doesn't really answer it. Where is it used exactly and what happens if I use incorrect type?

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Raul Laasner

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,732

Website

Re: What is the significance of partition type GUID?

https://www.freedesktop.org/software/sy … rator.html

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Are you infected with Wetiko?

raul_l

Member

From: Amsterdam

Registered: 2014-11-04

Posts: 58

Re: What is the significance of partition type GUID?

So I gather the partition types are used for automatically generating entries in /etc/fstab and maybe also in /etc/crypttab. I usually edit those files manually anyway so I guess the choice of a partition type doesn't make much difference for me.

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Raul Laasner

SuperBoby

Member

Registered: 2020-03-25

Posts: 14

Re: What is the significance of partition type GUID?

It matters in some cases. For example, systemd-boot will refuse to install if the boot and EFI partition do not have the right GUIDs.

EDIT : also, I'm guessing that if the EFI partition does not have the EFI GUID, the firmware may not recognize it as such.

Last edited by SuperBoby (2020-05-18 08:52:52)