Features/PartitionResizing

= Enable Partition Resizing in Anaconda =

Summary
Enable partition resizing in anaconda.

Owner

 * JeremyKatz

Current status

 * Targeted release:  Fedora 9
 * Last updated: 2008-04-07
 * Percentage of completion: 100%

As of rawhide-20071130, the initial support for resizing has landed in anaconda. This includes backend code for resizing partitions and logical volumes, support for resizing ext[23] and ntfs filesystems and some UI in the partition editor. We also have support when auto-partitioning to set up and do partition resizing.

The only thing really remaining is continuing to test, test, test, test, test. And then make sure we clean up any failure cases that need improvement.

Detailed Description
Without support for resizing FAT, ext2/3/4, and NTFS partitions, Fedora is significantly limiting its userbase to power users (who either only wish to install Fedora, or are able to independently prepare the hard drives for Fedora's installation). Executables exist in the Fedora packageset to resize NTFS and ext2/3. Anaconda needs to enable resizing as an option for the user

Benefit to Fedora
Lower the barrier to entry for new users who only have Windows installed on their PC.

Scope
Requires fair amount of new code and UI changes. New tools need to be pulled into the anaconda environment (ntfsprogs)

Test Plan
1. Test partition resizing against ext*, and NTFS partitions (created by Windows and Linux). 1. Work with Fedora QA to ensure that we have sufficient coverage

User Experience
1. Users should not see a significantly different anaconda UI as a result. 1. Users should not be able to destroy existing partitions (shrink them to the point where they're destroying data).

Dependencies

 * ntfs-3g (already in Fedora)

Contingency Plan

 * Don't add new code.

Documentation
We'll want to update the installation guide to include screenshots with resizing in the partition editing dialogs (in custom/review mode). And also provide guidance for people that want to do so. There are some screencasts of the UI in my blog (http://katzj.livejournal.com)

Release Notes
Anaconda now supports resizing Linux (ext2/ext3) and NTFS partitions.