Partitioning divides a physical storage device into logical sections.
Each partition can host a filesystem, OS, or data.
Use Case: Older BIOS systems, backward compatibility
Use Case: Newer systems with UEFI, large drives
sudo parted -l
Look for:
Partition Table: msdos → MBR
Partition Table: gpt → GPT
| Feature | MBR | GPT |
|---|---|---|
| Max Disk Size | 2 TB | >9.4 ZB (theoretical) |
| Max Partitions | 4 (or 3 + 1 extended) | 128+ |
| Boot Mode Support | BIOS | UEFI |
| Redundancy | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (backup headers) |
| OS Compatibility | Widely supported | Required for modern systems |
| Use Case | Legacy PCs, small disks | New systems, large drives |
🖥️ GUI: GParted
🔧 CLI: fdisk, parted, gdisk, lsblk
✅ Use GPT for UEFI systems and disks > 2 TB
🧪 Always backup before repartitioning
⚠️ MBR not recommended for new setups
🔄 Convert with care using tools like gdisk or fresh install
UEFI vs BIOS – Modern vs legacy firmware
Bootloader – Loads OS from disk (e.g., GRUB)
Filesystem – ext4, xfs, btrfs, etc. on top of partitions
Swap Partition – Optional space for virtual memory