Thread: Moving /home to a separate partition

i asked question in thread.
getting bit off-topic, decided post answer here.

there seem several threads topic (of course haven't read them all) seem specific 1 or other person's problem.

attempt @ more generic post on subject.
corrections, etc welcome.

putting /home on different partition

biggest advantage allows upgrade/re-install os without having re-install user files in home directory.

if @ time of installation, it's easy

moving /home @ later date not faint-hearted can done.

because process involves modifying system on (like cutting branch sitting on) @ point need either drop system single-user , of root or, if you're not expert or easier life, live cd.

following intended simple check list -- don't rely on alone, read other references first , make own plan.

main stages of process [software in brackets]:

1. take complete copy (backup) of current /home [cp -a or rsync]
2. re-partitioning disc can damage data on so, take complete copy/backup of else of value on disc and, safe, defragment windows partitions.
3. create new partition [gparted or cfdisk or fdisk]
4. format partition [gparted or mkfs.ext3]
5. mount new partition , copy to backup of /home
6. move current /home /old_home [mv]
7. modify /etc/fstab system see , mount new partition /home when boots

there's old reference @ http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/li...-partplan.html .
there's ubuntu page, points 2 other references, here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/pa...ng/home/moving (with edits people discovered gotchas ).

nb (for reading , other post giving technical advice/instructions) make sure understand doing before it: if i've made mistake or forgotten here, it's merely embarrassing me; if implement mistake, it's potentially big data loss you. read other references. read man pages.

luck.

this guide making/moving separate home partition.

Forum The Ubuntu Forum Community Ubuntu Official Flavours Support Installation & Upgrades [all variants] Moving /home to a separate partition

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