Re: Request for enhancement [Re: Question about /etc/fstab in Squeeze]

On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:44:35 -0500 (EST), Rick Thomas wrote:
On Dec 19, 2010, at 8:09 AM, Stephen Powell wrote:
Caution: reformatting a swap partition with mkswap will change the
uuid unless the existing one is explicitly re-specified during
formatting.

Which raises a question that has been on my mind for a while...

The Debian Installer insists on reformatting any swap partitions it
finds, even though that partition, specified by UUID, is probably in
use in the /etc/fstab for some other instantiation of Linux -- thus
breaking the other Linux, leaving it without a usable swap partition.

Would it be possible to either:

1) have the option (default) of *not* reformatting a swap partition
or
2) if reformatting is necessary or desired, have the option (default)
of preserving the UUID.
or
3) using "LABEL=" instead of "UUID=" in fstab for swap partitions, if
it turns out to be easier to preserve a LABEL than a UUID.

From what I've heard, the Ubuntu installer has the same problem,
and it can ruin a functioning Debian system too. Of course, that's
not something the Debian installer team can do anything about.
That's outside of their jurisdiction. But many Ubuntu people, both
users and developers, are known to monitor Debian's lists. Let's
hope that some of the right people are listening.

--
.''`. Stephen Powell
: :' :
`. `'`
`-


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Relevant Pages

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