New laptop, clean install of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS on BTRFS

Framework Laptop 13
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#1

I am looking for suggested, yet specific details (such as command lines), guidelines for installing Ubuntu but using the btrfs file system instead of the defaults.
I am interested because of the ability of taking snapshots around my making changes or updates being applied.
I have seen a few videos on line. But some seem to be fairly involved considering that there is one place to choose btrfs using the default install…

#2

btrfs is complicated because it allows you to create many “sub volumes” that can be snapshotted independently from each other on the same filesystem.

I personally never did a pure Ubuntu+btrfs install because I didn’t want to bother with figuring that out. I have done arch+btrfs and nixos+btrfs though.

#3

I don’t have specific commands for you but I used info mostly from here: 🐧 Linux | mutschler.dev to install Pop! OS. He has Ubuntu guides as well and Pop is based on Ubuntu and it loos like the installation is very similar. Installing with btrfs didn’t work, with the installer not doing anything, so I wound up installing with ext4 and converted to btrfs immediately after. I hope it helps.

#4

Thanks.
I look forward to receiving my laptop in this month’s batch…

#5

I use BTRFS root FS for all my machines (laptops and my desktop/dev-box). Of course FDE is also required! FDE+btrfs isn’t well covered directly.

It’s been ~6mo since I did these steps for my 12th gen framework-13 for Ubuntu-22.04. Worked perfectly. I am not aware of any relevant changes.

You’ll need to follow two guides: don’t worry, it is pretty easy/formulaic.

  1. mainly, the quasi-official ubuntu install with FDE guide. Full_Disk_Encryption_Howto_2019 - Community Help Wiki
  2. I reference the following for replacing the ext4 root with BTRFS (including separate / and /home subvolumes for snapshotting) Significant white space — Full-disk encryption with Btrfs on Ubuntu Xenial

also, I use TimeShift & the timeshift-autosnap-apt plugin to keep regular snapshots for ~free.

#6

I installed Ubuntu 2204 LTS on BTRFS but without full disk encryption.
I love the ability to grab a complete snapshot in a blink using Timeshift!
Test restores of files have worked flawlessly.

I also wrote a bash script to backup my Home directory using rsync to the 1 TB expansion card. Another (also using rsync) backs that up occasionally to an external SSD 1 T/B drive.

I am thinking of taking my older laptop and doing a fresh install of Ubuntu 23.10 and then copying my Home from the external SSD to experience setting up on a new clean install…with minimal loss of continuity.