[parted-devel] [PATCH] GPT & BIOS Boot partition

[Robert Millan]

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 01:35:33PM -0800, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> 
> Spinning on about protocol design:
> 
> The boot flag (not *bootable* flag - the boot flag indicates not just 
> bootability, but selection) really should be orthogonal to partition 
> type, for obvious reasons.

Please, don't interpret this as a sign that I object to your proposed design,
but I think it is departing too much from what GRUB uses to be considered the
same thing.

You make a valid point about orthogonality IMHO;  in our "standarized" scheme,
a partition could have the type for data or some filesystem and be bootable at
the same time.  OTOH, when it comes to GRUB, what its installer wants is a
dedicated partition where it can embed its stuff.  And it is likely that other
bootloaders (specially those that used to rely on the 63-sector gap) will want
the same thing.

I admit it may have been a mistake in my part to hint that we could standarize
based on this partition type -- perhaps the desired standarization requires
something completely different.

So, what I propose is: let's not mix them up.  I have a tight schedule to make
GRUB have proper support for GPT in next Debian release;  I do also have a
desire (which I think is shared) to standarize on an MBR implementation for GPT.

With this assumption in mind, may I suggest we split the discussion?  I.e. in a
separate thread or so; although at this point it isn't that related to Parted,
I think.  We could even go as far as setting up a mailing list for this.

Thoughts?

-- 
Robert Millan

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