How to dual boot Slackware 12.2 with FreeBSD 7.2

hitest · 06-28-2009, 11:40 AM

Lilo very effectively boots FreeBSD. I'm currently running a dual boot with Slackware 12.2 and FreeBSD 7.2-amd64.

To set-up a dual boot with Slackware and FreeBSD:
1. Install Slackware first and leave a partition of un-allocated space for FreeBSD. I recommend at least 10 GB for FreeBSD.
2. Install FreeBSD onto the free partition. Do not install the FreeBSD boot loader. Lilo will boot FreeBSD for you.
3. Boot into Slackware and edit /etc/lilo.conf. This is my lilo.conf. I have a home partition mounted as sda3. FreeBSD is installed on sda4. Adjust your lilo.conf to your specifications, partition scheme.

Code:

# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
  root = /dev/sda2
  label = Linux
  read-only
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# FreeBSD
other = /dev/sda4
table = /dev/sda
label = FreeBSD

4. Run # lilo to update lilo.conf.
5. Now when you boot-up your computer you will have the option to select Slackware or FreeBSD as your OS.
6. Read the FreeBSD handbook for detailed FreeBSD installation instructions. FreeBSD Handbook

botnet · 06-28-2009, 06:01 PM

im doing the same with grub.

for the sake of posterity, here is the grub entry:

title FreeBSD
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

hitest · 06-28-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by botnet

im doing the same with grub.

for the sake of posterity, here is the grub entry:

title FreeBSD
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

Cool.

I haven't tried dual booting FreeBSD using grub.

MannyNix · 06-28-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitest

6. Read the FreeBSD handbook for detailed FreeBSD installation instructions. FreeBSD Handbook

Great info, just adding the FAQ: 9.11. How do I boot FreeBSD and Linux® from LILO?
Grub is 9.12 on the FAQ

For #1 remember FreeBSD uses primary partitions (unless that has changed)

Cheers

hitest · 06-28-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MannyNix

Great info, just adding the FAQ: 9.11. How do I boot FreeBSD and Linux® from LILO?
Grub is 9.12 on the FAQ

For #1 remember FreeBSD uses primary partitions (unless that has changed)

Cheers

Thank you for the kind words and the additions to my post.

I am assuming that the user will read the FreeBSD Handbook and follow the described procedure when they use FDisk to set-up their partitions and install FreeBSD.

Installing FreeBSD

dissociative · 06-29-2009, 10:20 PM

shame, I have installed FreeBSD-7.2-RELEASE but I still dont have too much time and resources to play with it, I only have one PC and I have to share it with a family member that comes from the windows world. I hope that in the future thing will look better.

hitest · 06-29-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissociative

shame, I have installed FreeBSD-7.2-RELEASE but I still dont have too much time and resources to play with it, I only have one PC and I have to share it with a family member that comes from the windows world. I hope that in the future thing will look better.

I understand, man.

I hope you can share some well-built software with your family member windows user. The windows user will come to appreciate an OS like Slackware or FreeBSD, that is, having a stable OS that always works.