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Following a default minimal installation of 18.04, I now want to move my /home directory to an EXT4 formatted USB flash drive.

By default in 18.04 the /home directory is mounted as part of the / partition.

Is there a clean and safe way to move/reconfigure my /home directory to the USB flash drive, or would it be cleaner/safer to reinstall Ubuntu and configure the /home directory on USB during the install process? Or, is having your /home folder on a separate USB drive ill-advised?

I've looked at many similar questions/answers, but can't find a contemporary clean and clear solution.

Broadsworde
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1 Answers1

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Copy home to Portable USB drive

Format flash drive to ext4.

As root use Grsync to copy home/{username} from internal drive to the flash drive. Preserving owner, permissions and group works for me.

enter image description here

Copy or write down UUID of the new partition.

Edit /etc/fstab on the internal drive to add the /home UUID:

UUID={UUID from above} /home   ext4    defaults        0       0

It might be a good idea to use an encrypted home when traveling.

Thanks to ubfan1 for hint

C.S.Cameron
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