Installing multiple Linux distros

[tech291083]

Dear Friends,

I am interested in installing multiple Linux distros on the same hard drive. Please tell me how I can do so. I have the following distros with me. Also let me know which one I should install from the list below. To be honest, I want to install all of them if possible. Which one I should install first, second etc. Thanks.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Fedora 16
Debian 6
Gentoo 11
OpenSuse 12.1
Knoppix 6.4.4
Damn Small Linux 4.4.10
Mint Linux 12
Arch 2011.8.19
Puppy Linux 5.3.1
Sabayon 8


Dear Admin,

Please forgive me if this is not the right forum for my thread, thanks.

I have been searching the internet for a proper set of guidelines to installing multiple Linux distros to the same hard drive (I have one with 500 GB), but I have not been able to find one that can used by someone like me who is self-taught and not that technically sound. But i am sure that this is possible to accomplish and some people on other forums have done it successfully. Some have arrogantly discouraged me to do so. Please help me so that we can help others on this forum with the whole concept.

Experienced Linux users on this forum can really help me and others by giving us some tips/guidelines. It will be really nice if someone tries this successfullly and makes us aware of the steps involved in reasonable detail. Thanks.

[zombifier25]

Most Linux distros when installing should give you the option to repartition your hard drive. Install each OS on each separate partition, just don't choose override the bootloader (grub) if it's already installed. The actual process varies from distro to distro however.

Also, why do you want to do this?

[holycow131415]

ive never done it, but i think this is correct...

On the ubuntu liveCD installer, you can "choose to do something else" to partition from there. basically youll need 1 swap partition that is double your ram size, probably 1 home partition, and 11 root partitions of about 20 gb depending on your home partition size and swap size.

Also through most of them use grub2, so each will install grub and update the grub for you. arch linux uses grub 1 by default, so be careful with that.

[MadmanRB]

Eh I dont think you will be able to do that many.
You see by default a hard disk can only take up to 4 logical partitions even on the the largest hard disk drives.
At max I say do two or three linuxes unless you have more then one hard drive this will not really work

[wilee-nilee]

Dear Friends,

I am interested in installing multiple Linux distros on the same hard drive. Please tell me how I can do so. I have the following distros with me. Also let me know which one I should install from the list below. To be honest, I want to install all of them if possible. Which one I should install first, second etc. Thanks.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Fedora 16
Debian 6
Gentoo 11
OpenSuse 12.1
Knoppix 6.4.4
Damn Small Linux 4.4.10
Mint Linux 12
Arch 2011.8.19
Puppy Linux 5.3.1
Sabayon 8


Dear Admin,

Please forgive me if this is not the right forum for my thread, thanks.

Most of these will boot using grub 2 as the main bootloader.

Have you every loaded the mbr and are you familiar with grub 2

[tech291083]

Install each OS on each separate partition, just don't choose override the bootloader (grub) if it's already installed. The actual process varies from distro to distro however.?

I have GParted Live tool with me on a CD and I am quite familiar with it when it comes to partitioning a hard drive, but even if I create the required number of partitions for the various Linux distros listed above, I am not sure as to how I should install each of them to a separate partition. I also do not know how to configure the boot menu after installed the last distro so that it lists all the distros (from which i can choose one to boot into) when to pc boots.

Also, why do you want to do this?

Want to learn a few things about Linux and teach my friends and family and not to forget the community center kids, most of them from very poor background. My objective is noble and need your help my friend, so please guide me.

[MadmanRB]

why dont you just use virtualbox or something?
Its a nice tool to test out other os's

[carl4926]

It's not difficult

Use gparted to create a swap
Then put everything else in side an extended as logicals

I would use one /home
It's better to have one for each or don't use separate /home's at all

You might want to add a label to each or make a written note

[tech291083]

Basically youll need 1 swap partition that is double your ram size, probably 1 home partition, and 11 root partitions of about 20 gb depending on your home partition size and swap size.

Also through most of them use grub2, so each will install grub and update the grub for you. arch linux uses grub 1 by default, so be careful with that.

Your suggestions seem interesting to me. so if I am correct then, all I need to do is create 1 swap partition, 1 home partition and 11 root partitions (one each for distro, 11 in all). I think i can use GParted Live tool/CD to do so, what do you say to this? Thanks.

why dont you just use virtualbox or something?
Its a nice tool to test out other os's

Thanks but tools like Virtualbox never really give the real feel or experience. I want to use a pc that I often use to do something interesting. I have enough hard drive 500 GB and 4 GB DDR3 RAM to go ahead if I am correct.

[holycow131415]

Your suggestions seem interesting to me. so if I am correct then, all I need to do is create 1 swap partition, 1 home partition and 11 root partitions (one each for distro, 11 in all). I think i can use GParted Live tool/CD to do so, what do you say to this? Thanks.

Yep gparted would do the job!