[2.6,UI] First partition gets created as part2 on large disks

[Björn Tillenius]

This is with MAAS master as 086c3912d72026e59d7793a7080671dfb2a4c493.

I commissioned a machine with 6 disks and removed the / mount point and the first partition of sda.

Now, when I go and create a partition for another disk, it says that the created partition will be part1, as expected. But when I go ahead and create the partition, it's shown as part2.

The underlying issue is that for disks using GPT, we reserve one
partition for the BIOS partition. But hiding that, and simply
show that the first partition is part2 is very confusing.

See attached screenshots.

[Blake Rouse (blake-rouse)]

This is actually a UI error, it should show as it will be creating part2 not part1. That is because a disk that uses a GPT partition always reserves part1 for a bios_boot partition. That partition is not modifiable by the user or useful in anyway so its not presented in the UI or the API.

All partitions created on a GPT partition table start at part2 and go from there.

[Björn Tillenius (bjornt)]

Oh. Well, I don't think the solution is to change the UI to show that part2 will be created. It's still very confusing that there's no part1. Even though the BIOS/EFI partitions can't be modified, it should be shown, so that it's clear what's happening.

And actually, do we really create a BIOS partition for non-boot disks?

[Blake Rouse (blake-rouse)]

Yes it is always created even if the disk is not a boot disk. Because based on the RAID configuration other disks can still end up with GRUB installed to allow for failure of a RAID disk, and keeping the system still bootable.

I disagree that the partition should be shown. A simple info message saying why it starts at part2 should be enough. Its unusable and completely out of control of the user.

[Adam Collard (adam-collard)]

This bug has not seen any activity in the last 6 months, so it is being automatically closed.

If you are still experiencing this issue, please feel free to re-open.

MAAS Team