How do I list disk partitions with fdisk?

Use 'sudo fdisk -l' to list the partition tables for the specified devices. For example: sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda.

Can fdisk create new partitions?

Yes, you can enter interactive mode by running 'sudo fdisk /dev/sdX' (replace X with your disk identifier) and use the 'n' command to create a new partition.

fdisk Command

Q: What does the fdisk command do in Linux?

The fdisk command is a powerful, menu-driven utility for creating, deleting, and modifying disk partitions on Linux systems. It works with MBR and GPT partition tables.

The fdisk command is a powerful, menu-driven command-line utility for creating, deleting, and modifying disk partitions on Linux systems. It is commonly used for managing hard disk partitions, including creating new partitions, deleting existing ones, and changing partition types.

Syntax

fdisk [options] device

Description

fdisk works with partition tables, primarily supporting MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) formats. It provides an interactive interface where you can issue commands to manipulate the disk's partitioning scheme. Due to its direct interaction with disk structures, caution is advised when using fdisk.

Common uses include:

Viewing existing disk partitions
Creating new primary or logical partitions
Deleting partitions
Changing a partition's system ID
Setting a partition as bootable

Common Options

Option	Description
`-l`	List the partition tables for the specified devices
`-s <partition>`	Print the size of a partition in blocks
`-v`	Display version information
`-u`	When listing partitions, give sizes in sectors instead of cylinders

Interactive Commands (within fdisk)

Command	Description
`m`	Print this menu (help)
`p`	Print the partition table
`n`	Add a new partition
`d`	Delete a partition
`t`	Change a partition's system ID
`w`	Write table to disk and exit
`q`	Quit without saving changes

Examples

List all disk partitions

sudo fdisk -l

Lists the partition tables for all available disk devices (e.g., /dev/sda, /dev/sdb).

Enter interactive mode for a specific disk

sudo fdisk /dev/sda

Starts the interactive fdisk utility for the /dev/sda disk. You will then use commands like p, n, d, w, q.

Create a new primary partition (interactive steps)

                        sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
                        

                        # Command (m for help): n
                        # Select (p)rimary or (e)xtended: p
                        # Partition number (1-4): 1
                        # First sector (2048-..., default 2048): [Press Enter]
                        # Last sector or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK: +10G
                        # Command (m for help): w
                    

Example steps to create a new 10GB primary partition on /dev/sdb.

Delete a partition (interactive steps)

                        sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
                        
                        # Command (m for help): d
                        # Partition number (1-4): 1
                        # Command (m for help): w

Example steps to delete partition 1 on /dev/sdb.

⚠️ Important Notes

Using fdisk incorrectly can lead to data loss. Always back up important data before making changes to disk partitions.
Changes made in interactive mode are not written to disk until you use the w command.
You typically need root privileges (sudo) to run fdisk.
For GPT partition tables, gdisk is often preferred over fdisk.