> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://latitudesh.manystake.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://latitudesh.manystake.com/initial-server-setup.md).
# Initial Server Setup
This is a guide for getting your server setup before installing Solana software.
Format and mount a primary disk for accounts, snapshots and logs (Optional)
This step depends on how your server is initially configured. For instance, if the first disk is where the OS is installed by default and enough space is available to contain accounts, snapshots, and logs, you can skip this step.
Find unused disk
```bash
sudo parted -l | grep Error
```
Choose partitioning Standard
```bash
sudo parted /dev/ mklabel gpt
```
Create the new Partition
```bash
sudo parted -a opt /dev/ mkpart primary ext4 0% 100%
```
Create a filesystem on the new partition
```bash
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L solana /dev/
```
Get the uuid
```bash
sudo lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID,MOUNTPOINT
```
Add mount entry in /etc/fstab
```sh
/dev/disk/by-uuid/ /mnt/solana ext4 defaults 0 2
```
Create mount point
```
sudo mkdir /mnt/solana
```
Mount device
```bash
sudo mount -a
```
Format and mount a secondary disk for the ledger (Recommended)
If you deploy your server with no RAID option in order to dedicate a disk for the ledger, you can configure your secondary disk as follow:
Find unused disk
```bash
sudo parted -l | grep Error
```
Choose partitioning Standard
```bash
sudo parted /dev/ mklabel gpt
```
Create the new Partition
```bash
sudo parted -a opt /dev/ mkpart primary ext4 0% 100%
```
Create a filesystem on the new partition
```bash
sudo mkfs.ext4 -L solana_ledger /dev/
```
Get the uuid
```bash
sudo lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID,MOUNTPOINT
```
Add mount entry in /etc/fstab
```sh
/dev/disk/by-uuid/ /mnt/solana_ledger ext4 defaults 0 2
```
Create mount point
```
sudo mkdir /mnt/solana_ledger
```
Mount device
```bash
sudo mount -a
```