Linux Partitioning

Summary

Block Device

A physical storage device that manages data in fixed-size blocks.

Examples: HDDs (Hard disk drives), SSDs (solid state drives), and USB flash drives.

Partition

A logical division of a block device into smaller, independent sections.

Examples: GPT (GUID Partition Table, MBR (Master Boot Record).

Filesystem

A data structure used by an operating system (OS) to manage and organize data on partitions of a block device.

Examples: XFS, EXT4, NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, NFS, SMB, APFS, HFS+.

Common Tasks

Partition and Format a New Disk

List partition layout on all block devices

parted -l

Open parted on the block device you want to modify

parted /dev/sdb

View partition table for block device specified above

(parted) print

Create a new partition table

If needed.

(parted) mklabel gpt

Make new XFS partition filling up entire block device

(parted) mkpart hdd xfs 0% 100%

Make a new filesystem on the new partition

mkfs.xfs /dev/sdb1

Find UUID of a partition

lsblk -f

Mount a partition at boot

Edit your /etc/fstab to add a line like the following:

UUID=5b433ecf-875a-4282-a876-47073fc3a207 /mnt/hdd xfs defaults 0 0

Erase a Disk

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync