FreeBSD gpart
FreeBSD gpart is a utility for managing disk partitioning through FreeBSD’s GEOM class.
What FreeBSD gpart is
FreeBSD gpart is a utility for managing disk partitioning through FreeBSD’s GEOM class. It works with partition providers, usually disks, and can create, add, delete, modify, resize, and inspect partitions, as well as set or clear partition attributes. Its documented partition schemes include APM, BSD, BSD64, LDM, GPT, and MBR. When adding a partition, users can request alignment for its start offset and size. The show command reports partition indexes, types, starting blocks, sizes, and readable size values; libxo can produce human-readable and machine-readable output. The dump and restore actions can save and reproduce a partition table, including copying it to multiple providers. Changes may be held pending, then applied with commit or reversed with undo. The recover action can address corrupt scheme metadata, but choosing the wrong provider can damage metadata associated with another GEOM class. A partition in active kernel use cannot be deleted. gpart is included in FreeBSD, which is available free of charge with its source code.
Good
- Can create, resize, and inspect partitions.
- Supports several documented partition schemes.
- Can save and restore partition tables.
- Supports pending changes with commit or undo.
Watch out
- A partition in active kernel use cannot be deleted.
- Wrong-provider recovery can damage other GEOM metadata.
- Requires FreeBSD and kernel support for the scheme.
Who it suits
gpart is for FreeBSD users who need to manage partition tables on supported providers, usually disks. Its recovery and pending-change operations are relevant to administrators handling partition metadata, but the provider warning matters.
Verdict
gpart provides partition management, table backup and restoration, and controls for committing or undoing pending changes. Recovery requires care because selecting the wrong provider can affect metadata belonging to another GEOM class.
Plans and prices
From FreeBSD gpart's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| FreeBSD gpart | Free | Included in FreeBSD · requires kernel support for the partitioning scheme being used |
The facts
Each one read from FreeBSD gpart's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Availability
- FreeBSD is available free of charge and includes its source code.checked 9 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Boot code
- The bootcode command can write bootstrap code to partitioning metadata or to a specified partition.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Boot support
- gpart can embed bootstrap code in partitioning metadata or write it to a partition, subject to scheme-specific requirements.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Download formats
- FreeBSD offers installer images, virtual machine images, and SD card images; installer and USB options include offline and network-dependent variants.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Inspect partitions
- The show command reports partition start blocks, sizes, indexes, types, and human-readable sizes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Installation media
- FreeBSD offers DVD and USB installer images, virtual machine images, and SD card images.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended environments
- FreeBSD describes its supported uses as including server, desktop, appliance, and embedded environments.checked 9 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Output formats
- The show command supports libxo output in several human-readable and machine-readable formats.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Partition alignment
- When adding a partition, users can request alignment for its start offset and size.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Partition operations
- Its commands include creating, adding, deleting, modifying, resizing, recovering, and destroying partitions or partitioning schemes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Partition schemes
- Documented schemes include APM, BSD, BSD64, LDM, GPT, and MBR.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Pending changes
- Changes can be left pending and later written with commit or reverted with undo.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Project history
- The gpart utility appeared in FreeBSD 7.0.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- gpart is a utility for partitioning GEOM providers, normally disks.checked 9 Oct 2026
- 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.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Safety behavior
- A partition cannot be deleted while it is actively used by the kernel.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security process
- FreeBSD directs reports about base-system security issues to its Security Team, with PGP-encrypted reporting available for higher confidentiality.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- FreeBSD publishes security advisories and provides instructions for updating binary installations with freebsd-update.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- FreeBSD lists community support and commercial support from vendors offering products, services, or consulting.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1993checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- FreeBSD included
- FreeBSD is available free of charge and comes with its source code.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Machine-readable output
- The --libxo option can generate output in different human- and machine-readable formats.checked 9 Oct 2026
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