FC2 Webserver partitioning scheme

[carbo18]

I'm trying to determine the best partioning scheme for a webserver and will also have a DB running on it as well(either PostgreSQL or MySQL).

I currently have 3 HDs (40GB, 20GB, 10GB) on the server.

I was thinking of using:
-the 40GB as the primary drive (/boot, /, etc...)
-the 20GB for backups
-the 10GB for swap and logfiles

Any ideas? I've also heard that it is a good idea to put /tmp on a seperate partition for security reasons.

Should any modifications be made to fstab such as making certain partitions load as read only, also for security reasons?

Thanks in advance.

[Jman]

Both Apache's web root and the logs are under the /var filesystem. Perhaps when partitioning /var could be on the 10 GB drive.

/tmp really doesn't have security as far as I know. Anyone can write there. It's more a common place for programs to dump stuff.

You will probably just want to format the backup drive but only mount it on occasion for backups or restores.

[dnar]

Personally, I would do:-

10GB / and everything excluding the following:-
20GB /var & /tmp
40GB /mnt/backup (mount as needed, capable of several full backups)

(mostly/only the 10GB drive is involved when upgrading your OS).

I would partition the 10GB (size to suit needs of /home) as follows:-

/ 7-8GB
/boot 100MB
/home 2-3GB

Of cource, it depends of what else you set this server up for. The above would be fine for my FC2 Intranet/Worstation needs. I use a server for package/downloads/master backups so my /home requirements are low. My FC2 install requires 6GB for the system, you cant afford too many partions for the 10GB drive, to / /boot and /home provides reasonable partitioning while not locking up valuable space in one partition that doesnt need it.

A heavily loaded server may benefit from seperating /var /tmp and / across 3 seperate drives, depending on the hard drive interface used. Master/Slave IDE on the same channel often dont benefit in this case. SCSI can be better here.

I use a few nice backup scripts on my workstation/server. The past 7 days /home backups are maintained. Also, weekly system (/etc, /spool, /boot, /usr/src). I can give you a peek at my cron scripts if you like, you can modify them to suit your needs, backup what you require.

You needs may vary.

[carbo18]

Thanks dnar

I decided to use your partitioning scheme but separate /usr as well.

I would like to take a look at your cron scripts if you don't mind. What do you use for your backups tar or cpio or do you use something else?

Here is the setup I ended up using
-On the 10 GB (hda)
--2GB / (reiserfs)
--6GB /usr (reiserfs)
--1.5GB /home (reiserfs)
--100MB /boot (ext3)

-On the 20GB (hdc)
--13GB /var (reiserfs)
--5GB /tmp (reiserfs)
--1GB swap

I will post my fstab config later if it is of interest to anyone.

[leaded]

While I was reading this I was wondering something. I'm not trying to hi-jack the topic, cause it should be a quick answer that people who have posted in this thread would be able to answer.

Why would you divide the filesystem across multiple drives? I went from Windows to OS X to now Linux, and then I could understand partitioning that way- to put files on different volumes (Windows- C:\ D:\; OS X- \Volumes\Home \Volumes\Backup). But what advantage do you have by writing a seperate partition, on the same drive, for your /home (or other) folder?

Feel free to yell if I should've started my own topic *shudders* Part of the reason I'm asking is because I too am interested in running a webserver so if I can learn of the advantages or using a similar parition scheme used by the posters.

Thanks!

[carbo18]

See the following post for interesting follow-up discussion on the topic
http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18294