Re: [PLUG] Best tool to image a dynamic disk?

[PaulNM <plug@paulscrap.com>]

On 03/09/2017 12:55 PM, Christopher Barry wrote:
> Personally, I like to use the raw disk with LVM. There really is no
> need to partition it at all, and it simply adds an unneeded layer and
> constraint. Installers often make you think it's required, but it is
> not.

The main reason installers create a partition table is it makes it 
unlikely some other software will mess around with the data. Anything 
that doesn't recognize the LVM metadata will think the disk is 
uninitialized/unused.

It may also be a holdover as Grub1 wasn't able to boot lvm devices, you 
needed a separate non-lvm /boot partition. (Same for raid, if I recall 
correctly.) Also, there are some buggy bios out there that can't boot 
without a recognized mbr or partition layout. I believe there are 
further complications on uefi-only systems. All in all, it's simpler and 
safer for installers to push for partition tables and let anyone who 
wants differently do it themselves.

Just to clarify, are you saying it's currently possible to use the 
entire disks for lvm and still install grub2 so you can boot, even 
without an mbr? I know some filesystems reserve a partition boot sector, 
is LVM one of them?

-- PaulNM
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