Dual-booting two Linux distros

vasudevadas · 11-25-2003, 05:23 AM

Hi all,

let's say I wanted to install Slackware in addition to the Mandrake 9.1 I already have. Clearly I'll need to create some new partitions, but which ones? Obviously I'll be wanting to use the same /home partition - wouldn't want to duplicate all my files after all. Equally obviously, I'll need a new /usr partition. What about the root and swap partitions? Can I re-use the existing ones, or do I need to create additional ones? I would want my Mandrake installation to remain useable as well.

Thanks for your time.

hazza · 11-25-2003, 06:59 AM

You will need a new root partition for Slackware. The swap partition can be used by both distros. I'm have three distros installed on one of my PCs and they all have invididual root partitions but all use the same swap partition. It's a good way to test out new distros without wrecking you current install.

porous · 11-25-2003, 10:41 AM

my suggestion is u install first , and come up with problems... rather that hypothetical wants. it wont do much good...

n'way you can do may things in linux which you thought was not possible to do .. i am learining it.. hope you will also....

and abt how to share just search LQ. i am sure may post will come up..

go ahead dude , try it and i assure you wont regret in trying...

good luck..

somedude · 11-25-2003, 12:56 PM

Dude,

You seem to have several partitions defined.
I, myself, olny have three: /, /home and swap.
You need new partitions for everything you have except swap.
I would also make a new /home, since many apps (like KDE) you will install on your Slackware may overwrite configuration files to your /home directory that could cause the other distro to mess up.

wldkos · 11-25-2003, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by somedude
Dude,

You seem to have several partitions defined.
I, myself, olny have three: /, /home and swap.
You need new partitions for everything you have except swap.
I would also make a new /home, since many apps (like KDE) you will install on your Slackware may overwrite configuration files to your /home directory that could cause the other distro to mess up.

+1, You can only share the swap file. Make a new / (root) partition for slack and a new /usr /home /bin, whatever you want, but both distro's do things differently. You can't share the config files and the root partition, but you can share the swap since it's like ram, and not in use when the other os is not *being used (redundant)

vasudevadas · 11-26-2003, 07:11 AM

Thanks all.