8.5. Partition Labels

Labels are a feature of newer versions of Linux that allow a partition to be identified in the /etc/fstab file by a short name rather than its IDE or SCSI device file, such as /dev/hdb3. Device files can change if you change an IDE drive from one controller to another, change the ID of a SCSI drive, or even add a new SCSI drive with an ID lower than an existing drive. Any of these changes could cause a partition to fail to mount at boot time—possibly making your system unbootable. Partitions with labels can be referred to be label name, however, which does not change even if the device file does.

Some newer Linux distributions use labels by default for filesystems that you create at install time. If you use the Disk and Network Filesystems module on such a system, the Location column for these filesystems will be something like Partition labeled /home.

Only partitions with ext2, ext3 or xfs filesystems on them can be labeled, as the label is stored in the filesystem rather than the partition table. To label an existing filesystem, follow these steps:

1.
On the main page of the module, click on the number of the partition that you want to label. This will take you to the partition editing form, as shown in Figure 8.3.

2.
Assuming the partition is not currently in use, you will be able to enter the new label into the Partition label field. It must be at most 16 characters long—for example /home or root.

3.
After you have entered the label, click the Save button. It will be stored in the filesystem, and the browser will return to the module's main page.

4.
At this point, the Disk and Network Filesystems module can be used to mount the labeled filesystem by label name, as explained in Chapter 5.

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