Installing but using btrfs instead of ext4

[Worzel]

Standard install creates the required /boot/efi on sda1 without requiring intervention.

If I change the format to btrfs does that affect the default installation process?

If it will then a basic how-to would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[GreyGeek]

No.

https://linuxhint.com/install_kubuntu_1804/

"If you have UEFI enabled motherboard, then create a EFI System Partition of about 512 MB of size first. If you have BIOS based motherboard, then you don’t need this partition. Just create a Root (/) partition instead and give it all the disk space you want."


Then, just create, and/or select, the partition sda1, assign "/" to its lable and browse the dropdown fs combobox to the BTRFS entry and select it. When it asks where to install the boot loader choose /dev/sda After the installation is done you will find that there are two subvolumes, @ and @home, which are set to / and /home in /etc/fstab. The info in the Miscellaneous/BTRFS forum will guide you in how you can mount the <ROOT_FS> while live, create snapshots, rollback, etc... The BTRFS Kung Fu master on this forum is oshunluver.

[mr_raider]

If you do a BTRFS install, you must create and specify the EFI as well as the swap partition. You can't create a swap file on btrfs.

[oshunluvr]

Having been jammed up by Ubiquity (the installer) too many times in the past, my habit is to pre-partition my drive prior to installation. It just is easier and ensures I get it the way I want.

When using btrfs, as has been pointed out, if you wish to use swap you will need to create a swap partition.The last install I did, Ubiquity detected the existing swap partition(s) and used it automatically.

I don't use EFI, so I defer to others for that advice.

Since btrfs will automatically set you up with two subvolumes for root and home, be sure you have a partition large enough to support both uses, and heck, leave enough room for 5 or 6 more installs. That's what I do...

[Worzel]

Have not installed on btrfs as yet due to problems with Kmymoney, Kdeconnect and self messing about installing/removing sundry packages so a clean set-up is probably sensible.

Untouched Neon installs /boot/efi to sda1 and / to sda2 - 'Mrs' wanted things working asap so /home went by the way.
Thinking back I remember I first installed, setting the system to btrfs, and left Neon to do it's own thing. The system booted and ran ok but I blamed it for Kmy£$ problems and other things hence the immediate ext4 re-installation.

Should have time this weekend so may try again and will update results here. I don't need EFI but it's not got in the way since I've had this system so I've just let it be.