.. BEGIN_Overview

By default, xCAT will install the operating system on the first disk and with default partitions layout in the node. However, you may choose to customize the disk partitioning during the install process and define a specific disk layout. You can do this in one of two ways: '**partition definition file**' or '**partition definition script**'.

**Notes**

- 'Partition definition file' way can be used for RedHat, SLES and Ubuntu.
- 'partition definition script' way was tested only for RedHat and Ubuntu, use this feature on SLES at your own risk.
- Because disk configuration for ubuntu is different from RedHat, there maybe some section special for ubuntu.

.. END_Overview


.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_Overview

You could create a customized osimage partition file, say /install/custom/my-partitions, that contains the disk partitioning definition, then associate the partition file with osimage, the nodeset command will insert the contents of this file directly into the generated autoinst configuration file that will be used by the OS installer. 

.. END_partition_definition_file_Overview


.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_content

The partition file must follow the partitioning syntax of the installer(e.g. kickstart for RedHat, AutoYaST for SLES, Preseed for Ubuntu). you could refer to the `Kickstart documentation  <http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Anaconda/Kickstart#part_or_partition>`_ or `Autoyast documentation  <https://doc.opensuse.org/projects/autoyast/configuration.html#CreateProfile.Partitioning>`_ or `Preseed documentation  <https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/apbs04.html.en#preseed-partman>`_  write your own partitions layout. Meanwhile, RedHat and SuSE provides some tools that could help generate kickstart/autoyast templates, in which you could refer to the partition section for the partitions layout information:

* **[RedHat]**

  - The file /root/anaconda-ks.cfg is a sample kickstart file created by RedHat installer during the installation process based on the options that you selected.
  - system-config-kickstart is a tool with graphical interface for creating kickstart files

* **[SLES]**

  - Use yast2 autoyast in GUI or CLI mode to customize the installation options and create autoyast file
  - Use yast2 clone_system to create autoyast configuration file /root/autoinst.xml to clone an existing system

* **[Ubuntu]**

  - For detailed information see the files partman-auto-recipe.txt and partman-auto-raid-recipe.txt included in the debian-installer package. Both files are also available from the debian-installer source repository. Note that the supported functionality may change between releases.

.. END_partition_definition_file_content

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_RedHat_Standard_Partitions_for_IBM_Power_machines

Here is partition definition file example for RedHat standard partition in IBM Power machines

::
    # Uncomment this PReP line for IBM Power servers
    part None --fstype "PPC PReP Boot" --size 8 --ondisk sda
    # Uncomment this efi line for x86_64 servers
    #part /boot/efi --size 50 --ondisk /dev/sda --fstype efi
    part /boot --size 256 --fstype ext4
    part swap --recommended --ondisk sda
    part / --size 1 --grow --fstype ext4 --ondisk sda

.. END_partition_definition_file_example_RedHat_Standard_Partitions_for_IBM_Power_machines

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_RedHat_LVM_for_IBM_Power_machines

Here is partition definition file example for RedHat LVM partition in IBM Power machines

::
    # Uncomment this PReP line for IBM Power servers
    part None --fstype "PPC PReP Boot" --ondisk /dev/sda --size 8
    # Uncomment this efi line for x86_64 servers
    #part /boot/efi --size 50 --ondisk /dev/sda --fstype efi
    part /boot --size 256 --fstype ext4 --ondisk /dev/sda
    part swap --recommended --ondisk /dev/sda
    part pv.01 --size 1 --grow --ondisk /dev/sda
    volgroup system pv.01
    logvol / --vgname=system --name=root --size 1 --grow --fstype ext4

.. END_partition_definition_file_example_RedHat_LVM_for_IBM_Power_machines

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_RedHat_RAID1_for_IBM_Power_machines

Partition definition file example for RedHat RAID1 please refer to :doc:`Configure RAID before Deploy OS </guides/admin-guides/manage_clusters/ppc64le/diskful/customize_image/raid_cfg>`

.. END_partition_definition_file_example_RedHat_RAID1_for_IBM_Power_machines

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_Standard_Partitions_for_X86_64

Here is partition definition file example for SLES standard partition in X86_64 machines

.. code-block:: xml

    <drive>
        <device>/dev/sda</device>
        <initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>
        <use>all</use>
        <partitions config:type="list">
            <partition>
                <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
                <filesystem config:type="symbol">swap</filesystem>
                <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
                <mount>swap</mount>
                <mountby config:type="symbol">path</mountby>
                <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr>
                <partition_type>primary</partition_type>
                <size>32G</size>
            </partition>
            <partition>
                <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
                <filesystem config:type="symbol">ext3</filesystem>
                <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
                <mount>/</mount>
                <mountby config:type="symbol">path</mountby>
                <partition_nr config:type="integer">2</partition_nr>
                <partition_type>primary</partition_type>
                <size>64G</size>
            </partition>
        </partitions>
    </drive>
	   
.. END_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_Standard_Partitions_for_X86_64

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_LVM_for_ppc64

The following is an example of a partition definition file for a SLES LVM Partition on Power Server:  ::

	<drive>
	  <device>/dev/sda</device>
	  <initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>
	  <partitions config:type="list">
		<partition>
		  <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
		  <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
		  <filesystem config:type="symbol">ext3</filesystem>
		  <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
		  <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
		  <mountby config:type="symbol">device</mountby>
		  <partition_id config:type="integer">65</partition_id>
		  <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr>
		  <pool config:type="boolean">false</pool>
		  <raid_options/>
		  <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
		  <size>8M</size>
		  <stripes config:type="integer">1</stripes>
		  <stripesize config:type="integer">4</stripesize>
		  <subvolumes config:type="list"/>
		</partition>
		<partition>
		  <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
		  <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
		  <filesystem config:type="symbol">ext3</filesystem>
		  <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
		  <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
		  <mount>/boot</mount>
		  <mountby config:type="symbol">device</mountby>
		  <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id>
		  <partition_nr config:type="integer">2</partition_nr>
		  <pool config:type="boolean">false</pool>
		  <raid_options/>
		  <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
		  <size>256M</size>
		  <stripes config:type="integer">1</stripes>
		  <stripesize config:type="integer">4</stripesize>
		  <subvolumes config:type="list"/>
		</partition>
		<partition>
		  <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
		  <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
		  <format config:type="boolean">false</format>
		  <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
		  <lvm_group>vg0</lvm_group>
		  <mountby config:type="symbol">device</mountby>
		  <partition_id config:type="integer">142</partition_id>
		  <partition_nr config:type="integer">3</partition_nr>
		  <pool config:type="boolean">false</pool>
		  <raid_options/>
		  <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
		  <size>max</size>
		  <stripes config:type="integer">1</stripes>
		  <stripesize config:type="integer">4</stripesize>
		  <subvolumes config:type="list"/>
		</partition>
	  </partitions>
	  <pesize></pesize>
	  <type config:type="symbol">CT_DISK</type>
	  <use>all</use>
	</drive>
	<drive>
	  <device>/dev/vg0</device>
	  <initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>
	  <partitions config:type="list">
		<partition>
		  <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
		  <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
		  <filesystem config:type="symbol">swap</filesystem>
		  <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
		  <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
		  <lv_name>swap</lv_name>
		  <mount>swap</mount>
		  <mountby config:type="symbol">device</mountby>
		  <partition_id config:type="integer">130</partition_id>
		  <partition_nr config:type="integer">5</partition_nr>
		  <pool config:type="boolean">false</pool>
		  <raid_options/>
		  <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
		  <size>auto</size>
		  <stripes config:type="integer">1</stripes>
		  <stripesize config:type="integer">4</stripesize>
		  <subvolumes config:type="list"/>
		</partition>
		<partition>
		  <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
		  <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
		  <filesystem config:type="symbol">ext3</filesystem>
		  <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
		  <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
		  <lv_name>root</lv_name>
		  <mount>/</mount>
		  <mountby config:type="symbol">device</mountby>
		  <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id>
		  <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr>
		  <pool config:type="boolean">false</pool>
		  <raid_options/>
		  <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
		  <size>max</size>
		  <stripes config:type="integer">1</stripes>
		  <stripesize config:type="integer">4</stripesize>
		  <subvolumes config:type="list"/>
		</partition>
	  </partitions>
	  <pesize></pesize>
	  <type config:type="symbol">CT_LVM</type>
	  <use>all</use>
	</drive>
	   
.. END_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_LVM_for_ppc64

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_Standard_partition_for_ppc64

Here is partition definition file example for SLES standard partition in ppc64 machines

.. code-block:: xml

    <drive>
        <device>/dev/sda</device>
        <initialize config:type="boolean">true</initialize>
        <partitions config:type="list">
            <partition>
                <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
                <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
                <filesystem config:type="symbol">ext3</filesystem>
                <format config:type="boolean">false</format>
                <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
                <mountby config:type="symbol">device</mountby>
                <partition_id config:type="integer">65</partition_id>
                <partition_nr config:type="integer">1</partition_nr>
                <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
                <size>auto</size>
            </partition>
            <partition>
                <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
                <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
                <filesystem config:type="symbol">swap</filesystem>
                <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
                <fstopt>defaults</fstopt>
                <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
                <mount>swap</mount>
                <mountby config:type="symbol">id</mountby>
                <partition_id config:type="integer">130</partition_id>
                <partition_nr config:type="integer">2</partition_nr>
                <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
                <size>auto</size>
            </partition>
            <partition>
                <create config:type="boolean">true</create>
                <crypt_fs config:type="boolean">false</crypt_fs>
                <filesystem config:type="symbol">ext3</filesystem>
                <format config:type="boolean">true</format>
                <fstopt>acl,user_xattr</fstopt>
                <loop_fs config:type="boolean">false</loop_fs>
                <mount>/</mount>
                <mountby config:type="symbol">id</mountby>
                <partition_id config:type="integer">131</partition_id>
                <partition_nr config:type="integer">3</partition_nr>
                <resize config:type="boolean">false</resize>
                <size>max</size>
            </partition>
        </partitions>
        <pesize></pesize>
        <type config:type="symbol">CT_DISK</type>
        <use>all</use>
    </drive>
	
.. END_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_Standard_partition_for_ppc64

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_RAID1

Partition definition file example for SLES RAID1 please refer to `Configure RAID before Deploy OS <http://xcat-docs.readthedocs.org/en/latest/guides/admin-guides/manage_clusters/ppc64le/diskful/customize_image/raid_cfg.html>`_ 

.. END_partition_definition_file_example_SLES_RAID1

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_Ubuntu_Standard_partition_for_PPC64le

Here is partition definition file example for Ubuntu standard partition in ppc64le machines ::

	ubuntu-boot ::
	8 1 1 prep
		$primary{ } $bootable{ } method{ prep }
		.
	500 10000 1000000000 ext4
		method{ format } format{ } use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext4 } mountpoint{ / }
		.
	2048 512 300% linux-swap
		method{ swap } format{ }
		.
		
.. END_partition_definition_file_example_Ubuntu_Standard_partition_for_PPC64le

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_example_Ubuntu_Standard_partition_for_x86_64

Here is partition definition file example for Ubuntu standard partition in x86_64 machines: ::

	256 256 512 vfat
			$primary{ }
			method{ format }
			format{ }
			use_filesystem{ }
			filesystem{ vfat }
			mountpoint{ /boot/efi } .

	256 256 512 ext3
			$primary{ }
			method{ format }
			format{ }
			use_filesystem{ }
			filesystem{ ext3 }
			mountpoint{ /boot } .

	64 512 300% linux-swap
			method{ swap }
			format{ } .

	512 1024 4096 ext3
			$primary{ }
			method{ format }
			format{ }
			use_filesystem{ }
			filesystem{ ext4 }
			mountpoint{ / } .

	100 10000 1000000000 ext3
			method{ format }
			format{ }
			use_filesystem{ }
			filesystem{ ext4 }
			mountpoint{ /home } .
			
.. END_partition_definition_file_example_Ubuntu_Standard_partition_for_x86_64

.. BEGIN_partition_definition_file_Associate_partition_file_with_osimage_common

Run the following commands to associate the partition with the osimage: ::

      chdef -t osimage <osimagename> partitionfile=/install/custom/my-partitions
      nodeset <nodename> osimage=<osimage>

- For RedHat, when nodeset runs and generates the /install/autoinst file for a node, it will replace the #XCAT_PARTITION_START#...#XCAT_PARTITION_END# directives from your osimage template with the contents of your custom partitionfile.

- For Ubuntu, when nodeset runs and generates the /install/autoinst file for a node, it will generate a script to write the partition configuration to /tmp/partitionfile, this script will replace the #XCA_PARTMAN_RECIPE_SCRIPT# directive in /install/autoinst/<node>.pre. 

.. END_partition_definition_file_Associate_partition_file_with_osimage_common


.. BEGIN_Partition_Definition_Script_overview

Create a shell script that will be run on the node during the install process to dynamically create the disk partitioning definition. This script will be run during the OS installer %pre script on RedHat or preseed/early_command on Unbuntu execution and must write the correct partitioning definition into the file /tmp/partitionfile on the node 

.. END_Partition_Definition_Script_overview

.. BEGIN_Partition_Definition_Script_Create_partition_script_content

The purpose of the partition script is to create the /tmp/partionfile that will be inserted into the kickstart/autoyast/preseed template, the script could include complex logic like select which disk to install and even configure RAID, etc

**Note**: the partition script feature is not thoroughly tested on SLES, there might be problems, use this feature on SLES at your own risk.

.. END_Partition_Definition_Script_Create_partition_script_content

.. BEGIN_Partition_Definition_Script_Create_partition_script_example_redhat_sles

Here is an example of the partition script on RedHat and SLES, the partitioning script is ``/install/custom/my-partitions.sh``: ::

    instdisk="/dev/sda"

    modprobe ext4 >& /dev/null
    modprobe ext4dev >& /dev/null
    if grep ext4dev /proc/filesystems > /dev/null; then
        FSTYPE=ext3
    elif grep ext4 /proc/filesystems > /dev/null; then
        FSTYPE=ext4
    else
        FSTYPE=ext3
    fi
    BOOTFSTYPE=ext3
    EFIFSTYPE=vfat
    if uname -r|grep ^3.*el7 > /dev/null; then
        FSTYPE=xfs
        BOOTFSTYPE=xfs
        EFIFSTYPE=efi
    fi

    if [ `uname -m` = "ppc64" ]; then
        echo 'part None --fstype "PPC PReP Boot" --ondisk '$instdisk' --size 8' >> /tmp/partitionfile
    fi
    if [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ]; then
        echo 'bootloader --driveorder='$instdisk >> /tmp/partitionfile
        echo 'part /boot/efi --size 50 --ondisk '$instdisk' --fstype $EFIFSTYPE' >> /tmp/partitionfile
    else
        echo 'bootloader' >> /tmp/partitionfile
    fi

    echo "part /boot --size 512 --fstype $BOOTFSTYPE --ondisk $instdisk" >> /tmp/partitionfile
    echo "part swap --recommended --ondisk $instdisk" >> /tmp/partitionfile
    echo "part / --size 1 --grow --ondisk $instdisk --fstype $FSTYPE" >> /tmp/partitionfile

.. END_Partition_Definition_Script_Create_partition_script_example_redhat_sles

.. BEGIN_Partition_Definition_Script_Create_partition_script_example_ubuntu

The following is an example of the partition script on Ubuntu, the partitioning script is /install/custom/my-partitions.sh: ::

	if [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ]; then
		echo "ubuntu-efi ::" > /tmp/partitionfile
		echo "    512 512 1024 fat16" >> /tmp/partitionfile
		echo '    $iflabel{ gpt } $reusemethod{ } method{ efi } format{ }' >> /tmp/partitionfile
		echo "    ." >> /tmp/partitionfile
	else
		echo "ubuntu-boot ::" > /tmp/partitionfile
		echo "100 50 100 ext3" >> /tmp/partitionfile
		echo '    $primary{ } $bootable{ } method{ format } format{ } use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } mountpoint{ /boot }' >> /tmp/partitionfile
		echo "    ." >> /tmp/partitionfile
	fi
	echo "500 10000 1000000000 ext3" >> /tmp/partitionfile
	echo "    method{ format } format{ } use_filesystem{ } filesystem{ ext3 } mountpoint{ / }" >> /tmp/partitionfile
	echo "    ." >> /tmp/partitionfile
	echo "2048 512 300% linux-swap" >> /tmp/partitionfile
	echo "    method{ swap } format{ }" >> /tmp/partitionfile
	echo "    ." >> /tmp/partitionfile

.. END_Partition_Definition_Script_Create_partition_script_example_ubuntu

.. BEGIN_Partition_Definition_Script_Associate_partition_script_with_osimage_common

Run below commands to associate partition script with osimage: ::

        chdef -t osimage <osimagename> partitionfile='s:/install/custom/my-partitions.sh'
        nodeset <nodename> osimage=<osimage>

    - The "s:" preceding the filename tells nodeset that this is a script.
    - For RedHat, when nodeset runs and generates the /install/autoinst file for a node, it will add the execution of the contents of this script to the %pre section of that file. The nodeset command will then replace the #XCAT_PARTITION_START#...#XCAT_PARTITION_END# directives from the osimage template file with "%include /tmp/partitionfile" to dynamically include the tmp definition file your script created.
    - For Ubuntu, when nodeset runs and generates the /install/autoinst file for a node, it will replace the "#XCA_PARTMAN_RECIPE_SCRIPT#" directive and add the execution of the contents of this script to the /install/autoinst/<node>.pre, the /install/autoinst/<node>.pre script will be run in the preseed/early_command.

.. END_Partition_Definition_Script_Associate_partition_script_with_osimage_common

.. BEGIN_Partition_Disk_File_ubuntu_only

The disk file contains the name of the disks to partition in traditional, non-devfs format and delimited with space " ", for example : ::

    /dev/sda /dev/sdb

If not specified, the default value will be used.

**Associate partition disk file with osimage** ::

    chdef -t osimage <osimagename> -p partitionfile='d:/install/custom/partitiondisk'
    nodeset <nodename> osimage=<osimage>

- the 'd:' preceding the filename tells nodeset that this is a partition disk file.
- For Ubuntu, when nodeset runs and generates the /install/autoinst file for a node, it will generate a script to write the content of the partition disk file to /tmp/install_disk, this context to run the script will replace the #XCA_PARTMAN_DISK_SCRIPT# directive in /install/autoinst/<node>.pre. 

.. END_Partition_Disk_File_ubuntu_only

.. BEGIN_Partition_Disk_Script_ubuntu_only

The disk script contains a script to generate a partitioning disk file named "/tmp/install_disk". for example: ::

    rm /tmp/devs-with-boot 2>/dev/null || true; 
    for d in $(list-devices partition); do 
        mkdir -p /tmp/mymount; 
        rc=0; 
        mount $d /tmp/mymount || rc=$?; 
        if [[ $rc -eq 0 ]]; then 
            [[ -d /tmp/mymount/boot ]] && echo $d >>/tmp/devs-with-boot; 
            umount /tmp/mymount; 
        fi 
    done; 
    if [[ -e /tmp/devs-with-boot ]]; then 
        head -n1 /tmp/devs-with-boot | egrep  -o '\S+[^0-9]' > /tmp/install_disk; 
        rm /tmp/devs-with-boot 2>/dev/null || true; 
    else 
        DEV=`ls /dev/disk/by-path/* -l | egrep -o '/dev.*[s|h|v]d[^0-9]$' | sort -t : -k 1 -k 2 -k 3 -k 4 -k 5 -k 6 -k 7 -k 8 -g | head -n1 | egrep -o '[s|h|v]d.*$'`; 
        if [[ "$DEV" == "" ]]; then DEV="sda"; fi; 
        echo "/dev/$DEV" > /tmp/install_disk; 
    fi;

If not specified, the default value will be used.

**Associate partition disk script with osimage** ::

    chdef -t osimage <osimagename> -p partitionfile='s:d:/install/custom/partitiondiskscript'
    nodeset <nodename> osimage=<osimage>

- the 's:' prefix tells nodeset that is a script, the 's:d:' preceding the filename tells nodeset that this is a script to generate the partition disk file.
- For Ubuntu, when nodeset runs and generates the /install/autoinst file for a node, this context to run the script will replace the #XCA_PARTMAN_DISK_SCRIPT# directive in /install/autoinst/<node>.pre. 

.. END_Partition_Disk_Script_ubuntu_only


.. BEGIN_Additional_preseed_configuration_file_ubuntu_only

To support other specific partition methods such as RAID or LVM in Ubuntu, some additional preseed configuration entries should be specified.

If using file way, 'c:<the absolute path of the additional preseed config file>', the additional preseed config file contains the additional preseed entries in "d-i ..." syntax. When "nodeset", the #XCA_PARTMAN_ADDITIONAL_CFG# directive in /install/autoinst/<node> will be replaced with content of the config file.  For example: ::

    d-i partman-auto/method string raid
    d-i partman-md/confirm boolean true
	
If not specified, the default value will be used.
.. END_Additional_preseed_configuration_file_ubuntu_only

.. BEGIN_Additional_preseed_configuration_script_ubuntu_only

To support other specific partition methods such as RAID or LVM in Ubuntu, some additional preseed configuration entries should be specified.

If using script way, 's:c:<the absolute path of the additional preseed config script>',  the additional preseed config script is a script to set the preseed values with "debconf-set". When "nodeset", the #XCA_PARTMAN_ADDITIONAL_CONFIG_SCRIPT# directive in /install/autoinst/<node>.pre will be replaced with the content of the script.  For example: ::

    debconf-set partman-auto/method string raid
    debconf-set partman-md/confirm boolean true
	
If not specified, the default value will be used.
.. END_Additional_preseed_configuration_script_ubuntu_only
