For new users just starting out with Ubuntu who have some knowledge of Microsoft Windows, one question keeps coming up in most Ubuntu forums online. One of our readers asked us the same questions few days ago.
What is Windows Disk Management Equivalent in Ubuntu?
For those who don’t know about Disk Management, here’s a brief summary.
Disk Management is a tool that comes with Windows by default beginning with Windows XP. It performs disk-related task such as creating and formatting volumes, initializing disks, resizing partitions, assigning drive letters and deleting partitions.
It uses the DiskPart command along with related command-line tools to perform disk management task from the command-line in Windows. It is a very powerful tool in Windows.
The question is, is there a Ubuntu equivalent? The answer is Yes.
Ubuntu comes with similar tool called GNOME Disk Utility. It’s a tool to view / manage disk drives, modify partitions, create and restore disk images and more. You can also use it to format and create partitions, mount and unmount volumes, and other disk related tasks.
Although it similar to Disk Management in Windows, it doesn’t allow you to resize partitions and volumes. Since Ubuntu doesn’t support drive letters, it doesn’t do that as well.
So, for disk management equivalent in Ubuntu, look at GNOME Disk Utility.
To access it, open Unity Dash and search for Disks. When it opens, it should automatically recognize external drives or additional hard drives that are attached to your machine.
Once the drive is selected, you can then perform disk-related tasks such as formatting, creating partitions and managing your drives. Other settings you can configure is standby mode for your disk where it puts the drive in standby mode after timeouts.
Something to remember is when you’re formatting a drive to use on both Ubuntu and Windows, use NTFS file system.
So, use Disks to configure you drives in Ubuntu.
Enjoy! And Happy New Year!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu and how does it compare to Windows Disk Management?
GNOME Disk Utility is a tool in Ubuntu that allows users to view, manage disk drives, modify partitions, create and restore disk images. While it is similar to Windows Disk Management, it does not support resizing partitions and volumes.
How can I access GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu?
You can access GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu by opening Unity Dash and searching for 'Disks'. It should automatically recognize external drives or additional hard drives attached to your machine.
Can GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu format and create partitions?
Yes, GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu can format and create partitions, as well as mount and unmount volumes, and perform other disk-related tasks.
Does GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu support assigning drive letters like Windows Disk Management?
No, GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu does not support assigning drive letters, as Ubuntu does not use drive letters in its file system.
What tasks can I perform using GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu?
You can perform tasks such as formatting drives, creating partitions, managing disk drives, modifying partitions, creating and restoring disk images, and configuring standby mode for your disk.
Is there a command-line tool equivalent to Disk Management in Ubuntu?
Yes, Ubuntu has command-line tools such as 'fdisk' and 'parted' that can be used for disk management tasks similar to Disk Management in Windows.
Can GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu recognize external drives and additional hard drives?
Yes, GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu can automatically recognize external drives and additional hard drives that are attached to your machine.
What are the limitations of GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu compared to Windows Disk Management?
One limitation of GNOME Disk Utility in Ubuntu is that it does not support resizing partitions and volumes, which is a feature available in Windows Disk Management.