can i install more than one distro on one partition....or do need to repartition all over again.....


i already have Ubuntu...ne suggestions of what distro ((or distros)) to add....as you can tell i know nothing of linux....so please consider that when offering suggestions....thank you all

If you 'know nothing about Linux', then it might be best if you didn't ram about installing new distributions but spent some time with Ubuntu (which is a good choice) and learned to use Linux with it's help. After you get more comfortable, learn things and know what you like and what not, then go about trying other distributions. I don't know too many people who had found their 'perfect distribution' by testing three distributions a day for their whole life. I guess you get the best out of it by picking up one and configuring it to your needs.

For every distribution you probably need to have a separate root partition, or be a genuine guru. You can share /home partition between the distributions, which is a good idea anyway, and probably /tmp and the SWAP partition, but root partition can't probably be easily shared.

The short answer is "no." You can share certain partitions amongst distros. I use the same /boot, /home, /usr/src, /var/lib/mysql, /usr/local/SVN, and swap space between Gentoo, a Pure 64-bit CLFS, and a multilib CLFS. Sharing the /home partition isn't hard, but there are some gotchas that will getcha if you don't set things up correctly. From your current situation, you'd have to shrink your existing and create a new one in the resulting free space.

Add all of them until you run out of room. Seriously, I suggest you stick with Ubuntu until you know you're way around *nix a little. Meanwhile, browse the (almost) inifinite number of threads here at LQ asking which distro is the best. That'll give you some idea what other distros offer. Then I highly recommend you start trying some other distros that interest you for one reason or another. That being said, I suggest Gentoo and (C)LFS.

1. Search here at LQ for "Saikee" and look at his tutorial on running MANY Linuces.

2. Until you get up on the curve with Linux, think twice about "distro-hopping"