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Bug 485888 - Install handbook should explicitly mention need for initramfs with separate /usr
Summary: Install handbook should explicitly mention need for initramfs with separate /usr
Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME
Alias: None
Product: [OLD] Docs on www.gentoo.org
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Installation Handbook (show other bugs)
Hardware: All Linux
: Normal normal (vote)
Assignee: Docs Team
URL: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook...
Whiteboard:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks: 481202
  Show dependency tree
 
Reported: 2013-09-24 19:19 UTC by Chris Reffett (RETIRED)
Modified: 2013-10-01 16:57 UTC (History)
1 user (show)

See Also:
Package list:
Runtime testing required: ---


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Description Chris Reffett (RETIRED) gentoo-dev Security 2013-09-24 19:19:37 UTC
With the upcoming move to requiring an initramfs for separate /usr, the install handbook needs to be very clear that users who want separate /usr MUST use initramfs/other early boot mechanisms. It also might be advisable to not suggest separate /usr in the example.
Comment 1 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2013-09-25 07:16:03 UTC
The partitioning instructions use a /boot, root and swap partition. Nothing about separate /usr.

Configuring the kernel has an entire section on initramfs, including:

"""
(Optional) Building an Initramfs

If you use a specific partition layout where important file system locations (like /usr or /var) are on separate partitions, then you will need to setup an initramfs so that this partition can be mounted before it is needed. 
"""

Only for sparc do we still have a /usr example. 

In the explanation about partitioning, we have:

"""
Another nuisance is that separate partitions - especially for important mountpoints like /usr or /var - often require the administrator to boot with an initramfs to mount the partition before other boot scripts start. 
"""

Marking this was WORKSFORME.
Comment 2 William Hubbs gentoo-dev 2013-10-01 05:42:44 UTC
Just as a note, /var is not an example of a file system that requires an
initramfs it is separate.  This only applies to /usr.
Comment 3 Sven Vermeulen (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2013-10-01 16:57:29 UTC
Are you sure on that? It's been a while, but I thought I had services break a bit (nothing major, mostly during shutdown of the system) because they couldn't locate their .pid file or certain sockets.

Reason was that, even though the files existed, they were hidden from the system because another file system was mounted on top of it.