I think we need to stop talking about containers and focus on the volume's function as an abstraction layer between physical and logical storage.
I tried many times to get the discussion to go in that direction to no avail. Please read a few posts up (
start at #95).
The article you proposed is *exactly* what I said, with an emphasis on helping "new comers" understand (I try as much as possible to make it simple and accessible, so I choose the language accordingly - which some people take it to mean that after 26 years in the field I am a "rookie"
- which is cool).
You will find that I've asked several questions for the sake of clarification. That helped me understand the other side of the debate, even though I knew what I was saying. The result of that behavior brought us to the point where several people got involved and we received input from different angles, and I learned a couple of things (which never hurts). I really tried to understand where they were coming from instead of acting like some people that think that they are smarter than everybody that does not see it "their" way. Constructive debate that relies on REASON and sustainable PROOFS is a healthy thing for all. We can all fall victim of tunnel vision due to our culture, way of doing things, work environment, experiences... No one is exempt (even those who think they are higher than others because they have followed instructions chewed out by others). While some tend to want to impose their tunnel vision and poor thinking skills, other "reasonable" people should engage in healthy discussions and debates with the attitude that they too, like any other human being, can fall victim to bias, culture, and habit.
The discussion about volumes started when
I argued against the use of the term "MBR partition", and summarized my argument at the end of the post as a logical conclusion.
In the same post, I proposed that in order to avoid the confusion that is already out, we distinguish between partitions and volumes because calling partitions volumes when they can be called partitions might create some confusion when we want to talk specifically about volumes as a logical entity, or partitions as group of sectors (not the logical structure volume).
Please reread the post, because quoting only a portion of it would loose the context and make it sound like what I did not say. Reading the history from that post to here might be helpful.
I have to say however, that I see where the other side is coming from: the genie is out of the bottle and the terminology has been used a certain way for a decade if not more (wonko don't laugh - and don't think that it means I agree with you - you're not off the hook yet! - I'm not done with you). That is probably due to the MS's "documentation" process.
What the counter argument to your proposed solution has failed to do so far (i.e. the other side of the debate), is to give a coherent and comprehensive approach to "volumes" when we need one.
A partition can be called a partition, but a volume can be called by no other name. Why not reserve the term for volumes and call a partition a partition?
In order to avoid the confusion in future writings, we need to agree on terms, especially since some of us write documentation for our applications, and others, write tutorials. This one is about the boot process. We are dealing with these items and we will need to define them properly. I have proposed several definitions so they can be torn up. I like wonko, and have to give him credit for not just tearing up, but sustaining his stance with evidence. I feel if he can complain, someone else can, and it must be rewritten. Once he can't complain, we have a starting point. It may not be perfect, but it's a good start. Wonko, thank you for a good discussion so far (that does not mean you are right). Oh! I forgot that was about wonko. I need an emoticon:
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We need to come up with something coherent about volumes.
Yes, TheK, we can "focus on the volume's function as an abstraction layer", but then help me with this: how do we *
make sure there is no confusion* about what we are referring to when people might have in their mind that a volume is a partition?
At the same time, wonko (I told you you were not off the hook!), part-ition is a word used to divide things and volume is a mass, a large quantity, or an amount of space, the word use to add things together (yeah I know, you will start about the MS people thing again, but let's forget about that for a minute, and, reason). The volume as the logical thing is the logical thing. What sayest thou?
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