# Partitions

Where do you want to install Red Hat Linux?

Please note: If you are performing a Partitionless Installation you will need to define an existing DOS/Windows partition as root, shown as /. Click on the FAT partition you want to select for this installation. Once it is highlighted, click Edit to assign it the mount point of / (root). Click Ok when you're done. Once you have confirmed this choice, you will need to define the appropriate amount of root filesystem and swap space for your system.

For more detailed instructions, you must refer to the chapter Installing Without Partitioning in the Red Hat Linux Installation Guide.

If you don't know how to partition your system, please read the section on partitioning in the Red Hat Linux Installation Guide or the Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.

If you just finished partitioning with `fdisk`, you must define mount points for your partitions. Use the Edit button, once you have chosen a partition, to define its mount point.

If you are using `Disk Druid`, you'll have to define mount points for one or more disk partitions. You may also need to create and/or delete partitions at this time.

The top screen shows your existing partitions. Each partition has five fields:

- Mount Point: This field indicates where the partition will be mounted when Red Hat Linux is installed and running. If a partition exists, but is labeled as "not set" you will need to define its mount point. You can use the Edit key or double-click on the partition.

- Device: This field displays the partition's device name (for example, hda2 represents the second partition on your primary hard drive).

- Requested: The Requested field shows how much space the partition has. If you want to re-define the size, you must delete the current partition and recreate it using the Add button.

- Actual: This field shows how much space the partition is using.

- Type: This field shows the partition's type (such as Linux Native or DOS).

As you scroll through the Partitions section, you might see an Unallocated Requested Partition message (in red text), followed by one or more partitions. A common reason for having an unallocated partition is a lack of sufficient free space for the partition.

To fix an unallocated requested partition, you must either move the partition to another drive which has the available space, resize the partition to fit on the current drive, or delete the partition entirely. Make changes using the Edit button or by double-clicking on the partition.

## Partitioning Your System

The center row of buttons controls the partitioning tool's actions. You can add, edit, and delete partitions here. In addition, there are buttons you can use to accept the changes you've made, or to reset and exit the partitioning tool.

- Add: Use this button to request a new partition. When selected, a dialog box will appear containing fields that must be filled in (such as mount point, size and type).

- Edit: Use this button to change the mount point of a currently selected partition.

- Delete: Use this button to delete a partition. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm the deletion.

- Reset: Use this button to cancel any changes you may have made.

- Make RAID Device: Use the Make RAID Device button ONLY if you have experience using RAID. To learn more about RAID, please refer to the Red Hat Linux Reference Guide.

## Drive Summaries

This section displays your computer's disk configuration. It is only meant to provide a summary. Each line has the following fields:

- Drive: This field shows the hard drive's device name (such as hda or hdb).

- Geom [C/H/S]: The hard drive's geometry shows the number of cylinders, heads and sectors.

- Total: This field shows the total available space on the hard drive.

- Free: Here you'll see how much of the hard drive's space is still available.

- Used: These fields show how much of the hard disk's space is currently allocated to partitions, in megabytes and percentage.