Multiple Linux distros?

[Ace69]

I would like to install multiple Linux distros on my PC. Can I simply partition off my HD and make multiple Linux native and swap partitions to do this?

I just want to do this for awhile so that I can sample what all have to offer and then eventually go to one.

[demian]

Sure. No problem at all. You can share swap and /home partitions between the distros. As far a booting goes set the active flag for one of the / partitions and install lilo in the boot sector of every single / partition. This way the lilo that sits in the boot sector of the active partition will be your primary bootmanager. For every install add an entry to the lilo.conf like this
other = /dev/hdNX #the root partition of some distro
label = some_distro

This will then get you another lilo prompt for the lilo that is installed in the boot sector of /dev/hdNX. You can set the delay for this to 0 seconds so that it boots some_distro immediatly.

Ace69: Thanks for being innovative enough to not ask 'What distro is the best?' :D

[bdg1983]

Yes you can. Keep in mind that you can share the swap partition among the different distros and also create a separate /home partition to share.

There are other ways to share space on a HD between distros, but the process is beyond my knowledge. I'm sure others will post their suggestions.

[MBMarduk]

You need just one swap partition. Every distro will use the same swap. (Kernel 2.4.x strongly advises twice as much swap as the RAM you have.)

something like this:

----------------
/dev/hda1 | RH | 28%
----------------
/dev/hda5 | Mandrake | 28%
----------------
/dev/hda6 | SuSE | 28%
----------------
/dev/hda7 | Slackware | 11-14%
----------------
/dev/hda8 | Swap | 2-5%
----------------


(Distros and percentages are random. Slackware has less bloat than the others. And yes, Debian too.)

[MBMarduk]

FSCK! I reply and all of a sudden two people are before me! :rolleyes:

[demian]

Originally posted by MBMarduk:
<STRONG>FSCK! I reply and all of a sudden two people are before me! :rolleyes:</STRONG>

You should start to use those other nine fingers you have... :p

[Ace69]

Ace69: Thanks for being innovative enough to not ask 'What distro is the best? hehe, I knew I wouldn't here the end of it, if I did. :)

I think that I am going to get used to RH7 which I have now. I don't know enough about RH to even start overwhelming myself. I at least need to know how to compile source before I can even come close to determining what distro I like better.

Thanks for the intuitive replies, I will definately share swap and home directories whenever I install the other distros. I think I will probably install Mandrake, RH and Debian, when I do my multi-Linux boot.

[bdg1983]

You should start to use those other nine fingers you have...

:D :D :D