LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions
User Name
Password
Linux - Distributions This forum is for Distribution specific questions.
Red Hat, Slackware, Debian, Novell, LFS, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Fedora - the list goes on and on... Note: An (*) indicates there is no official participation from that distribution here at LQ.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 05-27-2007, 07:35 AM   #1
norf
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: May 2007
Location: east england
Distribution: suse 10
Posts: 2

Rep: Reputation: 0
two distros on same machine


Running SuSE 10 on an 80 GB desktop PC, and wish to add Ubuntu to see why it's apparently most popular distro. Install instructions on my disk (from LFX) allow for single OS or dual boot with Windows, but don't seem to refer to allowing two linux systems to co-exist, unless I am exceptionally stupid. I need a clear guide to partitioning and any other advice so as to avoid wiping data, email details etc, etc. Any help much appreciated.

norf
 
Old 05-27-2007, 08:03 AM   #2
Okie
Senior Member
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,154

Rep: Reputation: 187Reputation: 187
unless you let ubuntu (7.04) install grub to your MBR you will have problems booting, or add the UUIDs to suse's grub along with the rest of ubuntu info...

UUID = annoying feature
 
Old 05-27-2007, 09:10 AM   #3
fatenabu
Member
 
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 131

Rep: Reputation: 15
It is quite possible and very easy to multiple boot distros. I at one point in time had Windows XP, Xandros Deluxe, Mandrivia, and Fedora (this was back when I had a huge hard drive) all on one machine with different partitions set up. I would recommend using GRUB or LILO for your boot manager and as the guy just said make sure you have it installed to the MBR. Distros usually come with some sort of boot manager, I find GRUB to be the easiest.


God Bless
 
Old 05-27-2007, 11:28 AM   #4
norf
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: May 2007
Location: east england
Distribution: suse 10
Posts: 2

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Thanks for the immediate replies. I realize that I have not given much info about the issue so here is more.
At present the hard drive data is:
Type mount point
/dev/sda1 - 12.2 GB linux native /
/dev/sda2 - 62.2 GB extended
/dev/sda5 - 12.2 GB linux native /home
/dev/sda6 - 784.3 MB linux swap swap

When I run the first few steps of the Ubuntu installer I get to a screen titled 'Prepare disk space' with 4 options:
1 Guided - resize sda5 and use free space; then a scroll bar set to 52% (5.2 GB)
2 Guided - use entire disk; (which I do not want to do)
3 Guided - use largest continuous free space;
4 Manual; selecting this option takes me to the next screen with the above HD data presented in almost the same way:
type mount point size
/dev/sda1 - ext 3 /media/sda1 13168 MB
/dev/sda5 - ext 3 /media/sda5 13160 MB
/dev/sda6 - swap 822 MB
free space 52872 MB and the option to make changes to any entry in the table.
At this point I realise the depth of my ignorance, lose my nerve and press 'Cancel'.
How should I proceed from here?

norf
 
Old 05-27-2007, 12:10 PM   #5
Okie
Senior Member
 
Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,154

Rep: Reputation: 187Reputation: 187
/dev/sda1 - 12.2 GB linux native /

sda1 is a little larger than it needs to be for your average Linux install, i use a / partition of about half that, one danger of resizing your / would be dataloss to suse,

/dev/sda2 - 62.2 GB extended

sda2 is an extended partition @ 62 gigs, i see 12.2 for /home & 784.3 for swap, what are you doing with the rest besides home & swap?

/dev/sda5 - 12.2 GB linux native /home
/dev/sda6 - 784.3 MB linux swap swap

- - - - -

what i have is hda1 @ 6 gigs for distro #1, and hda2 @ 6 gigs for distro #2, and hda3 @6 gigs for distro #3, and a large /home at the end of the disk, swap is on another harddrive hdb

as you learn Linux better and want to have more than one distro installed i think you will also need to learn to use your disk space more ergonomically...
 
Old 05-27-2007, 01:27 PM   #6
pixellany
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Annapolis, MD
Distribution: Mint
Posts: 17,809

Rep: Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743Reputation: 743
Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie
unless you let ubuntu (7.04) install grub to your MBR you will have problems booting, or add the UUIDs to suse's grub along with the rest of ubuntu info...

UUID = annoying feature
So---let Ubuntu have the mbr--nothing to lose. (If paranoid, first put the SUSE bootloader on a floppy--then you can easily get back to what you had

You can also have Ubuntu put the bootloader on a floppy.

The booting article at my site may be helpful
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
multiple distros on one machine smgregory Linux - Newbie 9 03-31-2006 07:56 PM
Two distros on same machine NS-Dol Linux - Software 1 02-05-2006 11:28 AM
Dual boot of linux distros on 1HD machine brisde Debian 3 09-10-2005 02:00 AM
Want to use two linux distros in the same machine anindyanuri Linux - Software 6 04-28-2005 07:54 AM
Can you run 2 distros AND Windows XP on one machine? Daniel56 Linux - Software 7 05-15-2004 10:32 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:21 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration