How to edit partition labels?

[C. Linus Hicks]

On Thu, 2004-08-05 at 19:51, netmask wrote:
> >> Also, you must use initrd to use labels in fstab
> >
> > This is not true. An initrd is only _required_ if you have not compiled
> > into the kernel a module necessary for boot.
> 
> I'm sorry, but that's just not the case.
> 
> You /must/ have a ram disk to use a label on your boot partition. Think about 
> it for a second, it makes perfect sense.
> 
> http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/RHEL-3-Manual/sysadmin-guide/s1-kernel-initrd.html
> 
> If the system uses the ext3 file system, a SCSI controller, or uses labels to 
> reference partitions in /etc/fstab, an initial RAM disk is needed. The initial 
> RAM disk allows a modular kernel to have access to modules that it might need 
> to boot from before the kernel has access to the device where the modules 
> normally reside.

Please note that part of what I said was "not compiled into the kernel a
module necessary for boot." Then you said "allows a modular kernel to
have access to modules that it might need to boot".

Compiling those modules into the kernel obviates the need for loading a
module. I regularly build custom kernels and never use an initrd with
them. I have never tried specifying a partition label for the boot, but
I know I have mounted partitions via labels with no initrd.
-- 
C. Linus Hicks <lhicks at nc.rr.com>