As a complete beginner with Linux and trying out Mint, I'm used to the setup I've had with Windows where I kept the OS on one partition and all my data on another (or even a second drive). I'm curious about the best practices in the Linux world. Should I move the /home directory to a separate partition, or is it better to keep everything on the OS partition and just back up my data to the second partition using tools like Timeshift and Back in Time? I've also thought about just relocating the Download, Documents, Music, etc. folders, but it seems much more complicated in Linux with commands, symbolic links, and such, which is beyond my current skills. Any advice would be appreciated!
5 Answers
If you’re working with just one drive, keeping a separate /home partition mainly helps during re-installation or if you switch distros. However, it can be tricky if you over-allocate space to one partition and need to resize later. For new users, a single partition on one drive might be the simplest route. If you have several drives, setting them up this way during installation is much easier, but if you’re struggling with the terminal commands, backing up your data and starting fresh could be a less stressful option.
Moving your home folder can lead to issues with your user account since the system expects it to be in its original location. I once tried linking my ~/Music folder to my Windows drive, but it messed up things like Steam. Now, I just have a symbolic link that works better for me. For Downloads, I set up a cronjob to copy files to my NAS weekly. It takes care of backups without changing too much of my current setup!
You’ll find mixed opinions on having a separate /home partition. Personally, I've always kept one, and for me, there's no right or wrong answer—it's really about your preference. Just keep in mind that all your system preferences and settings live in your home folder, so be cautious if you decide to separate it from your main OS drive.
Same here! I used to have one too, but now all my data is on a NAS, making my /home just a bunch of symlinks, haha!
When you set up your Linux Mint, you usually have the option to combine the system and data during installation. Separating them is often better, especially if you ever switch distributions. Roughly, the system only needs about 40-70 MB space, while the /home directory can be allocated in a separate partition for easier management. If you need tutorials, there are plenty on YouTube to help with this process. Also, Timeshift is a solid backup tool that works well for protecting your files. No worries if you just want a small SSD for the system and a larger one for /home!
Just to add, if you can, it's totally fine to have multiple partitions on your drive for organization. You can mount extra partitions under /mnt and name them something simple like u1, u2, etc. This method keeps things tidy without complicating your /home too much. Plus, getting familiar with command-line basics will make things way easier for you!
Linux is pretty flexible about where data is stored; it mainly cares about how things are mounted. Having a separate partition for /home is a great way to structure things, aligning with your previous Windows setup of separating OS and data!
I hear you! I'm testing Mint right now too, and I think once I settle, using a second physical drive for personal files would make things simpler. Sometimes it feels like we’re overcomplicating things when we just need a straightforward answer!