From Fedora Project Wiki
Description
This test case ensures that the data in the /home
directory is retained and usable on a Btrfs layout after another Fedora is installed on the same partition.
Setup
- Prepare a test system with a working, supported storage device of sufficient size for a Fedora install, and a Fedora installation medium that uses the GTK-based installer. Do not use Fedora Workstation live on Fedora 41+, as that uses the webui-based installer.
- Install Fedora 41 or 42 from any Edition or Spin which uses Btrfs filesystem by default. Ensure a separate /home subvolume is created. If you are installing to at least 50 GB of free space, this will happen if you use Automatic storage configuration during disk partitioning; otherwise, you will have to use custom partitioning and ensure a separate /home subvolume is created.
- On the installed system, create some distinct files and directories in your home directory or directly in
/home
.
How to test
- Boot the GTK-based installer using any available means. Do not use Fedora Workstation live on Fedora 41+, as that uses the webui-based installer.
- Proceed to the installer's main screen, making sensible choices, and enter the Installation Destination screen.
- In Installation Destination, click Custom under Storage Configuration
- Under New mount points will use the following partitioning scheme, select Btrfs (otherwise you'll not be able to create a new subvolume for
/
mountpoint later due to some poor UI decisions (bugzilla)). - Locate the previous Fedora installation, click on it to reveal existing mount points for reuse
- If present, select
/boot/efi
orBIOS Boot
mount point; then on the right hand side at the top, find Mount Point field, type in/boot/efi
, click Update Settings button. - Select
/boot
mount point; then on the right hand side at the top, find Mount Point field, type in/boot
, check the Reformat box, click Update Settings button. - Select
/home
mount point; then on the right hand side at the top, find Mount Point field, type in/home
, click Update Settings button. - Click + button to create a new
/
mount point (NOTE: this is required to be a new subvolume. Reformat will be checked, cannot be unchecked, but the underlying Btrfs is not reformatted). Click Update Settings button.- Note: If you don't delete the previous installation's
root
subvolume, the installer creates a new subvolumeroot00
mounted at/
. If you delete the previous install'sroot
subvolume first, the installer will reuseroot
as the name for the new subvolume. Both approaches are valid, you can use whichever approach you choose. Other than consuming space, there is no disadvantage to keeping the oldroot
. It can be deleted post-install.
- Note: If you don't delete the previous installation's
- Click Done.
- Complete the installation process, making sensible selections for all other installer options.
- Boot the installed system.
- After logging in, check that your home directory or
/home
contains the files you created on your previous system (check their contents as well).
Expected Results
- The expected partition layout should be created on the target device(s).
- The install process should complete successfully and the installed system should boot as expected.
- The partitions and subvolumes which were assigned some mountpoints in the installer should be mounted. Any partitions or subvolumes which weren't assigned any mountpoints shouldn't be mounted.
- Your personal files on your
/home
partition must be intact.