---
title: How to configure custom disk partitioning on Scaleway Elastic Metal servers
description: Learn how to configure custom disk partitions on Scaleway Elastic Metal servers
tags: attach detach flexible-ip elastic-metal
dates:
validation: 2026-07-31
posted: 2024-10-01
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'
Scaleway Elastic Metal servers come with a default partition layout designed for most users, optimizing installation speed and ease of use.
However, if you have specific requirements, you can define a custom partition layout. Partitioning can be configured using either a simplified visual interface or an advanced JSON configuration during server installation.
You can change the partitioning of your server only during installation or reinstallation.
Be aware that all data will be deleted if you reinstall your server.
- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
- An [SSH key](/organizations-and-projects/how-to/create-ssh-key/)
- An [Elastic Metal server](/elastic-metal/quickstart/#how-to-create-an-elastic-metal-server) compatible with custom partitioning
Custom partitioning of an Elastic Metal server is only possible if:
- The server configuration includes faster installation and custom partitioning.
- It is done during the first installation or a reinstallation.
- Once installed, partitioning cannot be changed without a reinstallation.
## Offers supporting custom disk partitioning
Below is a comparison of Elastic Metal server offers and their compatibility with custom disk partitioning across specific datacenters.
Offers compatibility
| Offer | Global | PAR-1 | PAR-2 | AMS-1 | AMS-2 | WAW-2 | WAW-3 |
|-------------------------|--------------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| A110X / A111X / A115X / A116X | Partly available | Available | Unavailable | Unavailable | Available | Available | Available |
| A210R / A215R | Available | N/A | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| A315X | Partly available | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | Available | Available |
| A410X | Partly available | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | Available | N/A |
| A510X | Unavailable | N/A | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| A610R | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| B111X | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B112X | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B211X | Unavailable | N/A | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B212X | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B220E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | Available | Available |
| B311X | Unavailable | N/A | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B312X | Unavailable | N/A | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| B320E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | Available | Available |
| B420E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | Available | Available |
| B520E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | Available | Available |
| I210E | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| I215E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| I120E | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| I220E / I226E | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| I320E | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| I420E | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| I520E | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| I620E | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| L101X | Partly available | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | Available | Available |
| L105X | Partly available | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | Available | Available |
| L110X | Partly available | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | N/A | N/A | Available |
| L220E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| L420E | Available | Available | Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| T220E | Available | N/A | Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| T620E | Available | N/A | Available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*N/A*: This offer is not available in the specified datacenter.
*Partly available*: Custom disk partitioning is supported only in select datacenters for this offer.
Scaleway is currently working on enabling custom partitioning in more datacenters. Check this page regularly for updates to the table.
## Simplified partitioning (visual interface)
Simplified partitioning is temporarily unavailable. Use [advanced JSON partitioning](#advanced-json-partitioning) while maintenance is underway.
During [server installation](/elastic-metal/how-to/install-server/), navigate to step 5 of the creation wizard and click **Custom Configuration** > **Simplified Partitioning**.
- Enable or disable partitions for SWAP and the secondary `/data` partition by selecting or deselecting checkboxes.
- Define the mount point for the secondary `/data` partition as needed.
This method is ideal for users who prefer a simplified setup without manually specifying partition details.
## Advanced JSON partitioning
For users requiring granular control, Scaleway offers an advanced partitioning method using JSON.
1. During [server installation](/elastic-metal/how-to/install-server/), navigate to step 5 and click **Custom Configuration** > **Advanced JSON**.
2. Edit the partition schema directly in the browser-based editor.
3. Use JSON to define disk partitions, RAID arrays, and file systems.
- Disk Type Naming: HDD/SSD devices use `/dev/sdXXX`, while NVMe devices use `/dev/nvmeXXX`.
- UEFI Partition: The EFI partition should only exist if the server uses UEFI. Omit this partition if UEFI is not used.
- ZFS and LVM: ZFS is optional, but LVM should not be used due to functionality issues.
### Example JSON configuration
Refer to the [Elastic Metal API documentation](https://www.scaleway.com/en/developers/api/elastic-metal/#path-partitioning-schemas-get-default-partitioning-schema) for valid file system types, RAID configurations, and partitioning parameters.
```json
{
"partitioning_schema": {
"disks": [
{
"device": "/dev/nvme0n1",
"partitions": [
{
"label": "uefi",
"number": 1,
"size": 536870912
},
{
"label": "swap",
"number": 2,
"size": 4294967296
},
{
"label": "boot",
"number": 3,
"size": 536870912
},
{
"label": "root",
"number": 4,
"size": 64424509440
},
{
"label": "data",
"number": 5,
"size": 1850588790784
}
]
},
{
"device": "/dev/nvme1n1",
"partitions": [
{
"label": "swap",
"number": 1,
"size": 4294967296
},
{
"label": "boot",
"number": 2,
"size": 536870912
},
{
"label": "root",
"number": 3,
"size": 64424509440
},
{
"label": "data",
"number": 4,
"size": 1850588790784
}
]
}
],
"raids": [
{
"name": "/dev/md0",
"level": "raid_level_1",
"devices": [
"/dev/nvme0n1p3",
"/dev/nvme1n1p2"
]
},
{
"name": "/dev/md1",
"level": "raid_level_1",
"devices": [
"/dev/nvme0n1p4",
"/dev/nvme1n1p3"
]
}
],
"filesystems": [
{
"device": "/dev/nvme0n1p1",
"format": "fat32",
"mountpoint": "/boot/efi"
},
{
"device": "/dev/md0",
"format": "ext4",
"mountpoint": "/boot"
},
{
"device": "/dev/md1",
"format": "ext4",
"mountpoint": "/"
}
],
"lvm": null,
"zfs": {
"pools": [
{
"name": "zpve",
"type": "mirror",
"devices": [
"/dev/nvme0n1p5",
"/dev/nvme1n1p4"
],
"options": [
"ashift=12"
],
"filesystem_options": []
}
]
}
}
}
```
## Explanation of key sections
- Disks:
- Each disk is specified with its device path (e.g., `/dev/nvme0n1` or `/dev/nvme1n1`).
- Partitions are defined with labels. The default value is `unknown_partition_label`, and possible values are: `uefi`, `legacy`, `root`, `boot`, `swap`, `data`, `home`, `raid`. Refer to the [API documentation](https://www.scaleway.com/en/developers/api/elastic-metal/#path-servers-install-an-elastic-metal-server) for full details.
- Each partition has a `number` and `size` in bytes.
- RAID (Optional):
- If RAID is required, declare the disks and the desired RAID level. In this example, we are configuring two RAID-1 arrays, one for the boot partition and one for the root partition.
- Devices participating in each RAID array are specified by their partition paths (e.g., `/dev/nvme0n1p3` for partition 3 of the first NVMe disk).
- File systems:
- Each partition is assigned a file system type and a mount point.
- For example, the `/boot/efi` partition is formatted with `fat32`, while `/boot` and `/` are formatted with `ext4`.
- ZFS (Optional):
- ZFS can be configured if wished. In this example, a ZFS mirror is created using partitions from two NVMe devices.
- ZFS options such as `ashift=12` can be included for performance tuning, but they are optional.
### Simple configuration (No RAID or ZFS)
If you prefer a simpler configuration without RAID or ZFS, you can remove the `raids` and `zfs` sections. For example, if you only need a single disk setup with Unavailable RAID, declare just one disk with the partitions and file systems as shown below:
```json
{
"partitioning_schema": {
"disks": [
{
"device": "/dev/nvme0n1",
"partitions": [
{
"label": "swap",
"number": 1,
"size": 4294967296
},
{
"label": "boot",
"number": 2,
"size": 536870912
},
{
"label": "root",
"number": 3,
"size": 64424509440
}
]
}
],
"filesystems": [
{
"device": "/dev/nvme0n1p2",
"format": "ext4",
"mountpoint": "/boot"
},
{
"device": "/dev/nvme0n1p3",
"format": "ext4",
"mountpoint": "/"
}
],
"raids": [],
"zfs": null,
"lvm": null
}
}
```