install 2 linux on the same hard disk?

tb-guru · 04-10-2002, 08:54 AM

I want to install red hat linux and chinese version linux on the same hard disk, can this be done? Please teach me how to do it.
Thanks a lot to all of you "linux experts"!!!

hanzerik · 04-10-2002, 10:09 AM

Yes it can be done:
install english version, during install create:

/ a root partition probably hda1
<swap> probably hda5

When it asks you if you want to format these write down the drive designation ie: hda1 and hda5, you will need this later. continue on with install

leave enough room(freespace) for the chinese install say 2gig. I use lilo so I will be using lilo to boot these systems in these instructions. When done installing, boot the system and make sure everything is good to go.

shutdown and start the chinese install:
Start the chinese install, when you partition the drive select the freespace you left, and label that as:
/ a root directory, probably going to be hda2

the swap drive can be shared
DONT FORMAT THE / "ROOT" PARTITON FROM YOUR FIRST INSTALL!! You can select it to be mounted but dont format it.

When it asks you if you want to format these write down the drive designation ie: hda2, you will need this later. continue on with install. DONT INSTALL LILO OR GRUB TO DISK. Create a boot disk at end of install.

When done you will boot up into the english version.
mount your chinese versions root directory:

mount -t ext2 or ext3 /dev/hda2 /mnt

cp /mnt/boot/vmlinux-2.4.7-10 /boot/vmlinux-2.4.7-10-chin

mv /boot/vmlinux-2.4.7-10 /boot/vmlinux-2.4.7-10-eng

so now you have 2 kernels in /boot on your english version:
vmlinux-2.4.7-10-eng
vmlinux-2.4.7-10-chin

Your going to edit /etc/lilo.conf (yours may not be exactlly the same)

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
linear
default=linux

Image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.7-10-eng #your english kernel
Label = linux
Root = /dev/hda1 #whatever partition eng / is on
Read-Only

#ADD:
Image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.7-10-chin #your chinese kernel
Label = chinese
Root = /dev/hda2 #whatever partition chin / is on
Read-Only

After you are done editing lilo.conf run /sbin/lilo -v to make the changes to the boot loader.

Now when your computer boots up you will have the choice to select:
linux
chinese

I took the liberty to guess you are using redhat7.2. The partition identifiers may be different make sure to write them down during the install. Any probs, dont be afraid to post.

If someone sees somthing wrong with what I said plz correct me.

neo77777 · 04-10-2002, 10:11 AM

Of course it is doable, install first OS install lilo, then install second OS and don't install lilo, just boot to first OS, and edit /etc/lilo.conf
to have an entry for the second OS; you'll need mount your second OS partitions though (at least /), and edit /etc/fstab accordingly. Need more help, just come back here and ask.
Regards, Neo.

TeRG · 04-10-2002, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by neo77777
Of course it is doable, install first OS install lilo, then install second OS and don't install lilo, just boot to first OS, and edit /etc/lilo.conf
to have an entry for the second OS; you'll need mount your second OS partitions though (at least /), and edit /etc/fstab accordingly. Need more help, just come back here and ask.
Regards, Neo.

i did it the other way around when i was running drake and slack...first i installed mandrake on hda2 (hda1 being windows), and i skipped the boot managers step. swap for that was hda3 i belive. and then i installed slack on hda4 and did not skip the lilo step. i gave it a seperate swap file from drake's but i dont think it is required.