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Setting up Linux Mint with Custom LVM and Luks

Linux Mint with Custom LVM on LUKS

Overview

The current Linux Mint installer doesn't support custom partitions when setting up a new machine with LUKS encryption using LVM. I prefer having a separate partition for my home directory and a backup partition for Timeshift, so that reinstalling or fixing issues won't overwrite my home directory.

I found several approaches to achieve this. One method involves setting up partitions first and then using the installer to select them, but this requires extensive post-installation configuration to get boot working with the encrypted drive.

I discovered this blog which explains how to repartition your drive after installation. Combined with my guide on setting up hibernation, I created this documentation to help remember how to install a fresh copy of Linux Mint with LVM and LUKS.

Tested on: Linux Mint 22 Cinnamon

Partition Layout

For this guide, I'm working with a 1TB drive that will be split into the following logical volumes:

• Root - 100GB (system files and applications)


• Swap - 32GB (for hibernation support)


• Home - 700GB (user files and documents)


• Backup - 100GB (Timeshift snapshots)


• Unallocated - ~68GB (reserved for future expansion)

This setup ensures that system snapshots and user data remain separate, making system recovery much easier.

Installation Guide

Step 1: Initial Linux Mint Installation

Start the Linux Mint installation process as normal:

1. Boot from your Linux Mint installation media


2. Follow the installation wizard (language, keyboard layout, etc.)


3. When you reach the Installation type screen:
   
   
   • Select "Erase disk and install Linux Mint"
   
   
   • Click "Advanced features"
   
   
   • Enable both options:
     
     
     • ✓ Use LVM with the new Linux Mint installation
     
     
     • ✓ Encrypt the new Linux Mint installation for security
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Click Continue
   
   
   
   


4. Enter a strong encryption password when prompted


5. Complete the rest of the installation (timezone, user account, etc.)


6. When installation finishes, do NOT click "Restart Now" - we'll repartition first

Important: Do NOT reboot after installation completes. We need to repartition before the first boot.

Step 2: Access Root Terminal

After installation finishes, open a terminal and switch to root:

sudo -i

This gives you administrative privileges needed for disk operations.

Step 3: Check Current Disk Layout

View your current partition structure:

lsblk -f

This displays your filesystem layout. You should see your encrypted volume group (typically vgmint) with a large root partition consuming most of the space.

Step 4: Resize Root Partition

Shrink the root partition from its default size (nearly full disk) to 100GB:

lvresize -L 100G --resizefs vgmint/root

What this does:

• -L 100G sets the logical volume size to exactly 100GB


• --resizefs automatically resizes the filesystem to match


• This frees up ~900GB for our other partitions

Step 5: Resize Swap Partition

The default swap is usually small (a few GB). We need to increase it to 32GB for hibernation:

lvresize --verbose -L +32G /dev/mapper/vgmint-swap_1

What this does:

• -L +32G adds 32GB to the current swap size


• --verbose shows detailed progress information


• This ensures enough swap space for RAM contents during hibernation

Note: For hibernation to work, swap should be at least equal to your RAM size. Adjust accordingly.

Step 6: Create Home Partition

Create a new logical volume for your home directory:

lvcreate -L 700G vgmint -n home

What this does:

• -L 700G creates a 700GB logical volume


• vgmint is the volume group name


• -n home names the new volume "home"

Step 7: Create Backup Partition

Create a logical volume for Timeshift backups:

lvcreate -L 100G vgmint -n backup

What this does:

• Creates a dedicated 100GB space for system snapshots


• Keeps backups separate from user data


• Prevents backups from filling up your home partition

Step 8: Format New Partitions

Format both new partitions with the ext4 filesystem:

mkfs.ext4 /dev/vgmint/backup
mkfs.ext4 /dev/vgmint/home

What this does:

• Creates ext4 filesystems on both logical volumes


• ext4 is the standard Linux filesystem with good performance and reliability

Step 9: Mount Partitions

Create mount points and mount your partitions:

mkdir /mnt/{root,home}
mount /dev/vgmint/root /mnt/root/
mount /dev/vgmint/home /mnt/home/

What this does:

• Creates temporary directories to access the filesystems


• Mounts root and home so we can configure them

Step 10: Move Home Directory Contents

Move the existing home directory contents from the root partition to the new home partition:

mv /mnt/root/home/* /mnt/home/

What this does:

• Transfers all user files and directories from the old location to the new home partition


• Preserves your user account settings and any files created during installation


• Without this step, your home directory would be empty on first boot

Step 11: Update fstab

Add the home partition to the system's fstab file so it mounts automatically at boot:

echo "/dev/mapper/vgmint-home /home           ext4    defaults        0 2" >> /mnt/root/etc/fstab

What this does:

• Appends a mount entry to /etc/fstab


• Ensures /home partition mounts automatically at startup


• The 0 2 values enable filesystem checks during boot

Step 12: Clean Up and Prepare for Reboot

Unmount the partitions and deactivate the volume group:

umount /mnt/root
umount /mnt/home
swapoff -a
lvchange -an vgmint

What this does:

• Safely unmounts all mounted filesystems


• Turns off swap


• Deactivates the volume group to prevent conflicts


• Ensures everything is properly closed before reboot

Step 13: Reboot

Now you can safely reboot into your new system:

reboot

Enter your LUKS encryption password at boot, then log in normally.

Verification

After rebooting, verify your partition setup:

lsblk -f
df -h

You should see:

• Root (/) mounted with ~100GB


• Home (/home) mounted with ~700GB


• Swap available with 32GB


• Backup partition ready for Timeshift configuration

Setting Up Timeshift

To complete your backup solution:

1. Install Timeshift (if not already installed): <c