Re: /boot partition size
On 07/04/2025 at 09:23, Jen K wrote: I've been reading the official Debian install document, and I can't find an answer when it comes to partitioning how big the /boot should actually be. FWIW the /boot size has been raised to 768-1024 MB in Debian installer guided partitioning. Same with the EFI partition in provision for systemd-boot/BLS. While there are recommendations for /var, /tmp, /root and /home They are outdated. C.5.1. has a recommendation for /boot but it is outdated too.
Re: /boot partition size
Lennart Sorensen (2025-04-07):
> Looking at my system, I am seeing initrd sizes of 130MB. Add in another
> 10MB for the kernel, and you can not fit two kermels in 250MB. Try 500MB
> if you want to be sure to be able to fit two or three kernels at a time
> for a while yet. Of course better yet is not having a separate /boot
> if you don't actually have a specific need for one.
Indeed, I wouldn't advise anything below 500M. It's worth keeping in
mind `apt-get auto{remove,purge}` will keep 2 linux-image-* by default,
so unless you get rid of the older one manually, that means you need to
fit 3 kernels (and associated initramfses) at least in a transitory
fashion (until the next auto{remove,purge} call happens).
Cheers,
--
Cyril Brulebois ([email protected])
Re: /boot partition size
On Mon, Apr 07, 2025 at 06:08:22PM +0700, Andika Triwidada wrote: > Not sure if this is the correct list to ask that question. > But anyway, you need space for at least three sets of unpacked kernel images > including generated initrd. For current x86 kernels, one set is roughly 75 > MB. > So 250 MB should be safe for /boot size. But you need to ensure only 2 > latest > kernels left, for instance, by executing 'sudo apt autoremove --purge' after > installing the latest kernel and reboot. That way, you will have needed > space for > next kernel installation if needed. Looking at my system, I am seeing initrd sizes of 130MB. Add in another 10MB for the kernel, and you can not fit two kermels in 250MB. Try 500MB if you want to be sure to be able to fit two or three kernels at a time for a while yet. Of course better yet is not having a separate /boot if you don't actually have a specific need for one. -- Len Sorensen
Re: /boot partition size
On Mon, Apr 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM Jen K wrote: > I've been reading the official Debian install document, and I can't find > an answer when it comes to partitioning how big the /boot should actually > be. While there are recommendations for /var, /tmp, /root and /home > Hi Jen, Not sure if this is the correct list to ask that question. But anyway, you need space for at least three sets of unpacked kernel images including generated initrd. For current x86 kernels, one set is roughly 75 MB. So 250 MB should be safe for /boot size. But you need to ensure only 2 latest kernels left, for instance, by executing 'sudo apt autoremove --purge' after installing the latest kernel and reboot. That way, you will have needed space for next kernel installation if needed. Regards, Andika
