Title: Understanding Disks
Course: CIS 121: Linux/UNIX I: Fundamentals ~ For IGNITE Review > Section: Learning Modules

Disk Interfaces

The main types of disk interfaces are:

- PATA (also called IDE or Enhanced IDE)
  - Parallel.
  - Was very common, but now losing popularity. Up to three connectors per cable.
- SATA
  - Serial.
  - Developed in 2003. It is a serial version of ATA. One connector per cable.
- SCSI
  - Small Computer Interface.
  - Used on servers, becoming less common.
- USB
  - Externally, connecting hard drives.
  - Lower performance but very convenient.

Disk Partitioning

Disks are partitioned to separate different types of data and use into different areas. There are two main methods to partition disks, MBR and GPT. Linux can use either type, but be careful with Windows.

Master Boot Record (MBR)

- Primary Partitions - 0 to 4.
- Extended - 0 to 1.
- Logical - 0 to many.
- Limited to disks 2 TiB (tebibytes) in size.

Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) Partition Table (GPT)

- Can handle up to 8 ZiB (zebibytes) - 4 billion times greater and 128 partitions.

Partitioning Tools

- fdisk, cfdisk, sfdisk - are text-based and for MBR only.
- lipbarted - GUI-based and works with both MBR and GPT.
- gdisk, cgdisk, sgdisk - are text-based and for GPT only.

Removable and Optical Disks

- Should mount automatically but need to be unmounted before being removed.
- Now under /media.
- Previously under /mnt.