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FreeBSD gpart

freebsd.org

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Spec score 8.4 #2 of 29 in Server Operating System

What it is

FreeBSD gpart is the operating system’s utility for managing disk partitioning through the GEOM class. It can create, add, delete, modify, resize, inspect, and attribute partitions, using schemes including APM, BSD, BSD64, LDM, GPT, and MBR. Adding a partition can request alignment for its start offset and size. Bootcode can be written into partitioning metadata or a specified partition. Dump and restore support saving a partition table and cloning it to multiple providers. Changes may remain pending until commit or be reversed with undo. Recover addresses corrupt scheme metadata, but choosing the wrong provider can damage another GEOM class’s metadata. Show reports partition details and supports libxo machine-readable output. Gpart is included in FreeBSD, which is free and offers self-hosted installation media for multiple architectures.

Spec sheet

Purpose
gpart is a utility for partitioning GEOM providers, normally disks.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Support
FreeBSD lists community support and commercial support from vendors offering products, services, or consulting.Read 8 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Founded
1993Read 28 Sep 2026 · freebsd.org
Availability
FreeBSD is available free of charge and includes its source code.Read 9 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Backup and restore
It can dump a partition table to a special format and restore a table from a backup; restoring the table does not restore partition contents.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Boot code
The bootcode command can write bootstrap code to partitioning metadata or to a specified partition.Read 8 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Boot support
gpart can embed bootstrap code in partitioning metadata or write it to a partition, subject to scheme-specific requirements.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Download formats
FreeBSD offers installer images, virtual machine images, and SD card images; installer and USB options include offline and network-dependent variants.Read 8 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
FreeBSD included
FreeBSD is available free of charge and comes with its source code.Read 8 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Inspect partitions
The show command reports partition start blocks, sizes, indexes, types, and human-readable sizes.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Installation media
FreeBSD offers DVD and USB installer images, virtual machine images, and SD card images.Read 9 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Intended environments
FreeBSD describes its supported uses as including server, desktop, appliance, and embedded environments.Read 9 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Intended use
FreeBSD describes itself as an operating system for varied platforms and highlights server, appliance, and embedded uses; gpart’s manual describes its use for partitioning providers, normally disks.Read 8 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Machine-readable output
The --libxo option can generate output in different human- and machine-readable formats.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Output formats
The show command supports libxo output in several human-readable and machine-readable formats.Read 8 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Partition alignment
When adding a partition, users can request alignment for its start offset and size.Read 8 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Partition operations
Its commands include creating, adding, deleting, modifying, resizing, recovering, and destroying partitions or partitioning schemes.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Partition schemes
Documented schemes include APM, BSD, BSD64, LDM, GPT, and MBR.Read 8 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Pending changes
Changes can be left pending and later written with commit or reverted with undo.Read 8 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Project history
The gpart utility appeared in FreeBSD 7.0.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Recovery
The recover command can recover corrupt partition scheme metadata; the manual cautions that choosing the wrong provider can damage metadata belonging to another GEOM class.Read 8 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Safety behavior
A partition cannot be deleted while it is actively used by the kernel.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org
Security process
FreeBSD directs reports about base-system security issues to its Security Team, with PGP-encrypted reporting available for higher confidentiality.Read 9 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Security updates
FreeBSD publishes security advisories and provides instructions for updating binary installations with freebsd-update.Read 8 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Supported hardware
The FreeBSD platforms page lists supported architectures including amd64, aarch64, armv7, powerpc64, powerpc64le, and riscv64.Read 8 Oct 2026 · freebsd.org
Supported schemes
The manual lists APM, BSD, BSD64, LDM, and GPT partitioning schemes, among others.Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org

Plans and prices

FreeBSD gpart Free Included in FreeBSD · requires kernel support for the partitioning scheme being used Read 9 Oct 2026 · man.freebsd.org

Every FreeBSD gpart plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Creates, resizes, and inspects partitions
  • Supports multiple partitioning schemes
  • Can align partition starts and sizes
  • Dump and restore enable table cloning
  • Human- and machine-readable output

Limits

  • Wrong recovery provider can damage metadata
  • Active kernel-use partitions cannot be deleted
  • Requires kernel support for the selected scheme
  • Self-hosted operation requires FreeBSD

Who it suits

It suits FreeBSD administrators managing disk partition providers, usually disks, on servers, desktops, appliances, or embedded systems. Users need kernel support for the partitioning scheme in use.

Verdict

gpart provides broad partition-table operations, backup, recovery, bootcode handling, and structured output within FreeBSD. It is free and included with the operating system, but recovery and deletion require care.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to FreeBSD gpartAll alternatives →