Block devices & partitions.
A disk is a long strip of bytes. The partition table divides it into named regions you can format and mount. Watch a fresh disk grow partitions one at a time, learn MBR vs GPT, and the difference between lsblk, blkid, and /proc/partitions.
Block devices and partitions animated tutorial. lsblk and /proc/partitions, MBR vs GPT partition tables, parted interactive and script modes, partition alignment, partprobe, blkid for UUIDs. RHCSA EX200 ready.A disk is a strip of bytes. A partition table divides it into named regions. Watch a fresh disk grow partitions one at a time.
- ·Know that /dev/sda etc. are disks
- ·Helpful: the filesystems lesson (next)
- ·Comfortable as root
Read lsblk/blkid, pick MBR vs GPT, create properly aligned partitions with parted, and make the kernel notice them.
pace: 9 minutes
lsblk — what disks does Linux see?
`lsblk` prints the tree of block devices: physical disks (sda, nvme0n1, vda) and their partitions, sizes, mount points, and types. It reads from sysfs (no root needed). Add -f to also show filesystem type and UUID. /proc/partitions is the raw equivalent. Always start with lsblk to know what you're working on — it's the cheapest way to avoid `parted /dev/sda` (your boot disk) when you meant `/dev/sdb`.
$lsblk$lsblk -f$lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,MOUNTPOINT$cat /proc/partitionsThree tools, three jobs: lsblk for layout (what disks/partitions exist), blkid for identity (UUID + fs type), findmnt for mounts (what's mounted where). Master those before reaching for parted, and you'll never accidentally repartition the wrong disk.
$lsblk / lsblk -f$/proc/partitions$blkid [DEV]$findmnt /path$parted /dev/sdX print$parted /dev/sdX mklabel gpt$parted /dev/sdX mklabel msdos$parted /dev/sdX mkpart primary ext4 1MiB 1025MiB$parted /dev/sdX rm 1$parted /dev/sdX print free$partprobe /dev/sdX$partx -u /dev/sdX$fdisk -l$wipefs -a /dev/sdXn$dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=1M count=10$smartctl -a /dev/sdXYou're about to repartition a disk. Which command do you run FIRST to be sure you're working on the right one?
Difference between MBR and GPT partition tables?
You ran parted to create a new partition; lsblk still doesn't show it. What's the missing step?
Why reference partitions by UUID in /etc/fstab instead of /dev/sdXn?
These aren't graded — they're just for active recall, which is what actually makes the lesson stick.
File systems & mounts
A partition is just bytes until you mkfs and mount it. See how XFS, ext4, mount, and /etc/fstab fit together.
keep going — these pair well with what you just learned.
SELinux contexts
Why Apache can't read your file. Watch the policy engine decide — and learn the workflow for fixing denials. RHCSA-ready.
Linux boot process
From power button to login prompt. Every stage in the chain — UEFI, GRUB, kernel, initramfs, systemd — with the rescue moves that save you. RHCSA-ready.
LVM stacking
Layer-by-layer build of an LVM stack: disks → PVs → VG → LVs → filesystem. Then extend live and snapshot. RHCSA-ready.