Multiple distros on same box?

[claude renaud]

Hi:
Just wondering if I could try out different distros of linux on the same machine, and without having to backup data each time.
Could I install a multiple boot of , say Redhat, Mandrake (& even others) and have my data on a separate partition which would be unaffected by such an arrangement?
One of the gurus in this group says that if linux does not have the right answer, I have the wrong question. I hope my question is right!
Thanks for any input.
CR

[sajchurchey]

It's all in the partitoning and the bootloader config. When you install your first distro, I suggest installing GRUB and making a boot disk for future use.

When u partition, you should share your SWAP and /home mount points and create seperate /boot and regular root (/) partitions. I would suggest using extended partitions and third party partitioning software (Partition Magic) to do this.

after each installaton of a new Distro, pop in yoru boot disk that you made, modify the grub.conf and reinstall grub on the MBR, and you should be ready to boot.

if you need help w/ bootloader config or partitioning let me know. I need some more traffic at computertechnology2k.com ;-)

[claude renaud]

Tks for your help Justin,
I willl try that and keep you posted.
I do have a problem wiith which distro is best for me and the only one I have excluded from my list is M$, or should we now call it M¢.
I'm amazed to find someone 10 years younger than my sons helping me out on Linux, while I have never seen any living soul trying to understand why Windows needs any friends.
I'm very much looking forward to trying Redhat 9.0, Mandrake 9.1, Suse and Debian, and others...
Claude

[sajchurchey]

I've been doing various forms of IT since I was 17. My favorites are computer networking, web development and of course Linux; I've been doing Linux about a year now on the user level, moving my way slowly up to sys admin. Basic installtion (partitioning/bootloader) are my forte right now so post on computertechnology2k w/ any questions.

It's not very uncommon to find teenage hackers nowadays so dont be that surprised :-D