[SunHELP] What do you think about that for Solaris 8?

[Brian Hechinger]

> One File System or Two?
> Over the years there has been debate about whether to use one large file
> system for
> the entire Solaris Operating Environment installation or, multiple smaller
> file
> systems. Given modern hardware technology and software enhancements to the
> UNIX\256 Fast File system, the case for multiple file systems seems
> anachronistic

i think it goes far beyond that.  i don't split my partitions for technical
reasons, i split them for administrative reasons.  yeah, sure, multiple parts
can be a huge PITA, and take a lot of planning on systems with limited 
resources.  however, if something starts spewing to /var and it's on it's own
partition, it has less chance of completely hosing the system, just as an old
stand by example.  but there is also the point, that smaller partitions take
less time to restore.  so if you have a 36GB disk, would you rather restore a
honking 36GB / or a 50MB / if the filesystem damage is only in / (the virtual
/, meaning something like /etc, or something you wouldn't normally split onto
another part like /sbin or something)

you can localize the damage and get a system up and running much more quickly
with smaller partitions.

performance? on systems disks?  don't worry about it.  the system disks 
probably take the least amount of abuse and activity as compared to where you
store your data.  and on that point, put your data on a seperate spindle from
the system.  best way to maximize performance and reliability and reduce 
restore time.

just my $1.50

-brian