configure lilo to use two different /boot partitions
 

i have 2 linux installs, both on separate disks (hda and hdb)

i have a /boot partition on each disk as the first partition which contains the compressed kernel images for its respective linux install

how do i configure lilo to use a kernel from hda1 when booting root=/dev/hda5 and hdb1 when booting root=/dev/hdb5?

I don't think you can do that. Instead, have the two installations share the /boot partition. You can have different kernels for the two installations. Of course, the root= entry in /etc/lilo.conf have to point to /dev/hda5 and /dev/hdb5 respectively.

hmm, i honestly thought it was very much possible, since not all installs use isolated /boot partitions

it doesn't really make any difference, it was just more of a convenience if i had got it going using the two /boot's, but one will suit

i'll search some other time and post back here if i find anything else out

actually, try something like this.

If the one boot partiton is /dev/hda1 and the other /dev/hda2, mount the two partitons under /boot1 and /boot2, and then use entries like:
image=/boot1/vmlinuz-1
label=linux1
root=/dev/hda6
etc.

and then run lilo.

Notice that the entries point to the files in /boot1 and /boot2. I think this works - I know it works if I don't have separate boot partitions but have different /root partitions with /boot as subdirectories.

I've done this a few times. The easiest way to do it is to create a mount point in one OS: perhaps /mnt/boot2. Have your second OS's boot partition aded to your /etc/fstab. Something likeReboot so to be sure it gets mounted at boot time. Now edit your /etc/lilo.conf to reflect the second OS. Something likeOf course you will want to put in your own values, but this is the method I have used to mount 4 linuxes and windows over 2 drives, all selectable from lilo.

Good luck