Hard Disk Preparation for MkLinux: One of the most common questions about an MkLinux installation how to setup the HD prior to installation. I will describe my favorite way, using AppleÕs Drive Setup and LinuxDisks (SCSI HD only), and an alternative way using the utility pdisk for those that cannot use LinuxDisks or Drive Setup. AppleÕs Drive Setup and LinuxDisks Method: First of all, this method assumes you are using a HD that is compatible with AppleÕs Drive Setup utility. I use version 1.4 which came with the Mac OS 8.1 upgrade and it supports every HD I have tested it with. First, backup all data that you want to save! When you repartition your drive, everything is lost. Then, depending on the type of MkLinux system you desire, set up the partition info (if youÕre new to MkLinux, 2 partitions will suffice for the time being, advanced users will know what they want): Rough guidelines for partition sizes: 2 Partition Setup: root = 300+MB swap = 1-4X your machineÕs RAM - the less RAM you have, the more swap you should have. 3 Partition Setup: root = 150+MB swap = 1-4X your machineÕs RAM - the less RAM you have, the more swap you should have. usr = 200+MB Open AppleÕs Drive Setup and select the HD you wish to use for MkLinux: Ê Ê Ê Ê After Drive Setup is done with the Initialization, you should have some new untitled HDs on your desktop, rename them like this (NOTE: untitled HD should be root, untitled HD 2 should be swap, etc): Ê Now itÕs time for LinuxDisks! You can get this great little utility from: Be sure to get the newest version! After you have LinuxDisks, open it up to see your HDs: Ê Note that your HD partitions will be untitiled in this view, just remember the proper sequence is: root, swap, usr - starting at the first partition after the Apple_Patches. Select the first Apple_HFS partition and click the Infos button to get the following dialog: Ê Type in the proper name, and select Apple_UNIX_SVR2 as Type. Then click the Write! button and a warning will appear of the dire consequences of this act. Click on the Do it DUDE! button, and you will now see your Apple_HFS partition has been transformed into an Apple_UNIX_SVR2: Ê Do the same operation with the other partitions you wish to use for MkLinux. Note that you can still have an Apple_HFS partition AFTER the Apple_UNIX_SVR2 partitions for use with MacOS or even BeOS. An example of this: Ê You will need to use the utility pdisk to get the MkLinux name of all devices on your system, it is available at: Here is an example of pdisk (in this example, the HD is identified as /dev/sdc, with the root partition being /dev/sdc5): Ê This information is needed for the install of MkLinux, so it is a good idea to print out a copy to have on hand during installation. Now your HD is ready to receive MkLinux. Read install directions that are available at: Alternate Method Using pdisk: This method is for people that for some reason or another cannot use the above method, or just prefer command line utilities ;) - Note pdisk has a nice feature which cannot be duplicated by the above method - namely the ability to reorder partitions! First, get the pdisk utility from: and the docs: Then open pdisk up and use the ÔLÕ command to list your devices: Ê Select the proper device that you want to edit: Ê You will now be able to delete, rename or reorder the partitions on that drive. The pdisk html documentation describes the available commands quite well, so use that as your guide. Good luck!