Booting from 2nd IDE Hard Disk

RamanaRao · 10-28-2006, 01:02 AM

Hi All,

I've 2 hard disks 1st One 80 GB IDE and 2nd 200GB IDE

System Setup :

Primary Controller : 1st 80 GB Disk + DVD Writer
Secondary Controller : 2nd 200 GB Disk [ Secondary Master ]

My Idea is to setup the following :

1st Disk : W2KPROF [ for webbrowsing etc crap ] / Fedora Core 4 + Oracle / W2KSRVR + Oracle

---> Installing the First Disk is Completed.

I'm using XOSL to boot to Fedora as Fedora is installed on the First Sector of /boot instead of MBR

2nd Disk : Read Hat Linux 8 + Oracle Apps / Solaris 10 + Oracle 9i & 10g / Windows

The dilema is
a ] To install the OSes on the 2nd disk while the first disk is connected
or
b ] Since 1st Disk is cleanly installed disconnect it completely and connect the 2nd Disk [alone ] install all OS es and then connect them both.

But will it be able to boot the OS es on the 2nd Disk !

Can you please share your experiences.

I've read some where in XOSL documentation that booting from 2n Hard Disk is not as straight forward.

Request you to please share your knowledge.

Thanks and Regards,

RamanaRao

PatrickNew · 10-28-2006, 01:54 AM

While I cannot comment on the Windows installation onto the second hard drive, I can say that most Linux distros should not have a problem installing anywhere. You should not have to remove the first drive to install RHEL onto the second.

I have heard rumor that Windows doesn't even play well with itself and that getting two Windows OSes on one machine can be a challenge. Anyways, you'll probably get better help with that part of the problem on a Windows oriented forum.

Booting the second disk Operating Systems should work with Grub, but might get hairy if you insist on keeping the Windows bootloader. Just google for a grub tutorial and you'll find all you need.