[arch-releng] Wondering about the lvm/dmcrypt in the new AIF

[Dieter Plaetinck]

On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:01:42 -0400
Peter Constantinidis <peter at constantinidis.ca> wrote:

> Hi:
> 
> I have a SSD.. I was wondering if the new installer contains options
> to allow for partition alignment? Alignment is critical for SSDs..
> needs to be done 3 times..
> 
> 1st with fdisk.
we use cfdisk
> 
> 2nd for dmcrypt the option: --align-payload (with appropriate value)
> 
> 3rd for LVM: pvcreate --dataalignment (with appropriate value)

When creating filesystems, you can optionally specify additional options for the appropriate program (mkfs, pvcreate, cryptsetup, etc)

> 
> If it doesn't, then the need to do it all manually still exists if one
> has a SSD. I'm thinking a series of questions like "do you have a
> ssd?" Y -> "do you know the block size?" Y-> "512k" and then it would
> enter the appropriate values for all commands based on the hardware
> block size of the SSD.
> 

I don't want to hand-hold any more then we do now.
Maybe we should put a note in the installation guide to use those options.

> The other thing I am thinking is, if Arch is supposed to force people
> to read and do everything manually, then wouldn't this installer
> script begin to venture into pre-packaged territory?

Don't know what you mean with "pre-packaged territory" but there are definitely some sentiments that our interactive installer is trying too hard and is not KISS.
See http://mailman.archlinux.org/pipermail/arch-releng/2009-August/000721.html

Note that you can also do automated installations. 
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Official_Arch_Linux_Install_Guide#Automatic_Installation_Procedure
> 
> All the best,
> P.
> 
> Disclaimer: I have never installed Arch but I am very interested in it.

Dieter