2 distros on one drive? - Overclock.net

mariogreymist · 06-01-07

I have an empty linux partition...can I install another distro on it without screwing up Slackware? Will they be able to use the same swap drive, since only one can use it at a time?

OverclockedUndervolted · 06-01-07

I have only tried this once but yes it worked successfully for me. grub or lilo whichever you use usually does pretty good about dual-booting. Linux swap partitions can be shared you just have to select that in your installation. good luck

**Chipp** · 06-01-07

You can. At one time, I think I had 4 linux distro's plus Windows floating around on my assorted drives.

mariogreymist · 06-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipp

You can. At one time, I think I had 4 linux distro's plus Windows floating around on my assorted drives.

Thanks. Wouldn't the limit be 3? (3 linux + 1 linuxswap partition)

**Chipp** · 06-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariogreymist

Thanks. Wouldn't the limit be 3? (3 linux + 1 linuxswap partition)

How so?

Theoretically, you could use all of Grubs 290-whatever entries so long as you have enough space.

mariogreymist · 06-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipp

How so?

Theoretically, you could use all of Grubs 290-whatever entries so long as you have enough space.

So you can pile distros into the same partition? Nice.

How exactly does that work - do other distros set up different boot files...I have 'vmlinuz' and 'vmlinuz-2.4.33.3' now. Would it be somthing lilke, 'vmlinuz-sabayon'? And, do the installation modules know not to take over the existing boot files?

**Chipp** · 06-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariogreymist

So you can pile distros into the same partition? Nice.

How exactly does that work - do other distros set up different boot files...I have 'vmlinuz' and 'vmlinuz-2.4.33.3' now. Would it be somthing lilke, 'vmlinuz-sabayon'? And, do the installation modules know not to take over the existing boot files?

No, not same partition, on the same drive. Each distro needs it's own / partition, but they can share a swap partition.

mariogreymist · 06-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipp

No, not same partition, on the same drive. Each distro needs it's own / partition, but they can share a swap partition.

Okay, so for setting up the partitions I could set up my swap as sda1, usr as sda2, main slackware sda3, then as many extended partitions as I like to load other distros? I was thinking they had to be primary, but that doesn't make sense, does it?

**Chipp** · 06-01-07

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariogreymist

Okay, so for setting up the partitions I could set up my swap as sda1, usr as sda2, main slackware sda3, then as many extended partitions as I like to load other distros? I was thinking they had to be primary, but that doesn't make sense, does it?

They're still primary partitions. I kinda suck at explaining this I guess.

Slackware:
sda1 = Swap
sda2 = /usr
sda3 = /

Other Distro:
sda4 = /
sda5 = /usr
Swap is set to sda1

Other Other Distro:
sda6 = /
sda7 = /boot
Swap is set to sda1

etc, etc, etc

Each distro still requires it's full "normal" partition layout, just without swap. All you need is a single swap partition, and every other distro can use it.

mariogreymist · 06-01-07

Okay, got it. I might be buying another 250gb, just so I can screw around with other installs while keeping a safe one. I'm sure I can get away with 3 or so on a 250. After all, document files can rest in one place. 4g swap, 30+30 for main leaves enough roop for 3 more 60 gig slots.

And thanks again for the help.

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2 distros on one drive?

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