> > First of all, you have a machine that is running a very old version of > > OpenBSD. You have a lot of upgrades to do, and since you have other > > issues (partitioning), you probably just want to reinstall and start > > over using your current knowledge of your disk layout needs. > > Well that's kind of the thing. > The machine is mainly used for messing around and testing stuff, so it > has a bunch of random things installed that will be a pain to move over. > Additionally, we occasionally use it to verify things against older > OpenBSD specifically (like, 4.9 was still using Apache for example). > Upgrading is certainly possible, it's just a question of which will > cause more pain in the end- that or repartitioning.
So, partitioning originally was not up to your current usage, and you're stuck with it over years. Probably you have other constraints to keep it this way, so redoing partitioning may not solve it for you at all. Simplest approach is usually better than inventing complications for not doing anything to solve current issues. You could also just sit another test box next to the old one, install a fresh snapshot (or your historic preferred one) and gradually move things over, if you find a way around your other constraints and decide to do so. You can also copy your data out, re-partition the old system and move back the copy. Note, while dealing with historic software (unless you're on a dead platform), you will keep replicating and rippling out the problem in various other places over time. And another idea, you could just add another (and then another) drive from your old spares to the same system and just add the partitions there. So, there are no more than two simple choices, do anything, or nothing at all, and most probably partitioning is the least of your issues. If you're so inclined to redo partitioning, just follow Nick's advice.
