Why does fstab use partition UUIDs vice partition labels in F9 beta?

[Bryn M. Reeves]

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Clyde E. Kunkel wrote:
> OK, tell me more...if, on my test system I set up several small boot
> partitions and label them with the distro I am testing and make sure
> each name is unique, where would a global conflict occur?  Aren't the
> names used in context?  If this were a mumps (M) system, I can see where
> you would have to be very careful, but, thank heavens, its linux.

It's the "if" in your first sentence - *IF* you set up several small
boot systems and are careful with the labeling, it's fine. If you're not
it isn't. You obviously understand the need for labels to be unique but
unfortunately many users don't and even those who do sometimes make
mistakes.

What happens when a less knowledgeable user plugs in a USB drive that
happens to have a file system labeled "/usr" or "/" or something else
important and then tries to boot up? How can the system cope with that
automatically?

Using UUIDs this is no problem, with labels it's a big problem - I've
seen people (even professional sysadmins in large enterprises) blow
their own feet off with both barrels using file system labels so many
times - UUIDs really are a step forward, even if they are a bit more
cumbersome to work with initially.

Cheers,
Bryn.

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