this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2022
13 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

48099 readers
807 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I have been trying to use (#debian) #linux with separate partitions for /home and couple of others. However, I have been facing the problem of /var becoming full and thus blocking further updates and installations. Most of the time deleting /var/log/auth.log would help but now I have messed up and can't startup lightdm and using it from another tty. Can you guys share some tips and tricks as to avoiding this problem? I know keeping everything in one partition is one such trick. Anything else? #linux #foss #gnu #free_software #libre_software #disk #operatingsystems

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] yeolsongarak@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

Having a separate partition is a good idea and funny enough it can help you in this issue. If you try to reinstall the system, you can format the other partitions and leave /home untouched, so you will have a fresh system but keeping all your personal data as it is; that's the main benefit of having multiple partitions.

Next time, you should just make /var bigger according to your own experience. Other people only have 2 partitions: / as a 20-40 GB one (or bigger, this is according your needs) and the rest of your HDD/SDD for /home. Another tip is that when you're re-installing the system, use a new nickname, otherwise the new system will try to use all the old config files in your old account, and finally, if there's very important stuff in /home, definitely make an outside backup, there's always the chance of misreading something or ticking the wrong box.