Can I install multiple distros on a single box

[kkempter]

Hi List;

I would like to install multiple distros on a single box so at boot time I can select fedora vs suse vs freeBSD, etc.

I would also like to share non system filesystems like /home, /tmp, /opt...

Any thoughts, recommendations, how to links, etc. ?

Thanks in advance for your help

[josolanes]

Hi List;

I would like to install multiple distros on a single box so at boot time I can select fedora vs suse vs freeBSD, etc.

I would also like to share non system filesystems like /home, /tmp, /opt...

Any thoughts, recommendations, how to links, etc. ?

Thanks in advance for your help

yes you can do this. you can share /home and your swap partition safely. /usr, /tmp, /opt may cause problems (as both distros don't necessarily have the same programs/files or install them in the same places).

to have the option to boot either, you install a boot loader...usually grub or lilo. this bootloader looks at a configuration file to see where your different distros (OS's) are located and from there it loads them once you select it from a menu within the program. the bootloader starts before any of the OS's can. within the bootloader, you'll need to add Windows as well, if you have it installed too, so you can choose windows also.

hope this helps some!

[jpalfree]

I have about 4ish distros on my computer so I have a few tips for you.
1) when you install the second and third distros you won't have to install grub again and again. during the installation i suggest you tell it to install the boot loader to a floppy or at least the first sector of the root partition of the distro. Not the MBR. you can edit the grub menu list (grub.conf or menu.list) later to add these distros. if you don't know how to edit these files, search the forums. if you are still confused post here again.
2) concerning sharing the home partion. I am sharing my home partition, but not the actual home folders for each distro. this is on purpose since hidden configuration files are kept in the home folder and if every distro modifies these there may be complications(here are my sources). I reccomend setting that up after installation by setting your user's home folder to be different for each distro. eg: username: you. on suse home is /home/you_suse. on fedora home is /home/you_fedora...or whatever you wish.
3) /tmp and swap are fine to share, just edit the /etc/fstab after installation

that's about it. good luck.

[rameshelamathi]

I already have Mandrivia, Knoppix and Windows on my 80 GB harddrive.

when i try to install freespire, it is is not getting installed.

I have AMD sempron, Asus KM 400 chipset, via,
256 mb ram, 80 gb hdd, 2 gb swap partition, three windows FAT 32 partition, two ext 3 partition.

I tried fedora, suse, ubunutu, freespire, debian, no distro is getting installed.

I am fed up. can any one help me please!

[devils casper]

Hi !

check this thread.
a bit more discussion in this thread.




casper

[vijayroheth]

yes we can do that

suppose you have installed fedora on /dev/hda1
and redhat09 on /dev/hda5

copy the files initrd.mg, system.map,vmlinuz (note it has some exensions also)
to the boot partition of /dev/hda1(fedora)
and edit the grub.conf file
add those lines

title Red Hat Linux (2.4.20-
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-8 ro root=LABEL=/
initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.20-8.img


note (hd0,0) for hda1 (hd0,1) for hda2
and (hd1,0) for hdb1 etc
reboot
Caution if u do some thing wrong the alternate linux wont work