Re: [opensuse] Questions for Partitioning guru's

On 2007/09/09 12:44 (GMT+0200) Carlos E. R. apparently typed:

So, you have 3 primaries, one extended, and then free space, outside of
the extended partition? Then that free space is lost.

An "extended partition" is a logical construct made up from the sum of
existing logical partitions plus any freespace existing between them. Any
partitioning tool that claims otherwise is broken. No immediately adjacent
freespace can ever be "lost". "Lost" freespace can only exist which lies
between primary partitions while the MBR table has all 4 of its entries used.

The extended partition most contain all the remaining space, later to be
assigned to logical partitions, which may or not use all that space.

It should be possible to change the extended partition size without
loosing data. Some tools are able to do it, like the commercial partition
magic, I think it is. Maybe there is another method in linux.

The size of an extended partition is the sum of the two logical partitions
farthest apart, plus all space in between. A partitioning program can choose
to say it is larger, to the extent of adjacent freespace, and to some people,
understanding use of the tool may be easier if it does.

As long as the "extended partition" chain is not in an out of order state,
which some partitioning tools are capable of creating, the extended
technically ends at the end of whatever logical is located farthest from the
MBR. It is thus because its EPBR has only one table entry, and it exists,
AIUI, only to define itself, and not the "end" of an extended partition. See
also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Boot_Record
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