I want to install Debian Linux from a .deb file. Ok would be either a fresh install, with this as the sole Linux instance, or an installation in which this .deb instance appears as a 2nd, completely separate Linux instance in a grub entry.

The point is to run a snapshot install, and it alone without sharing libraries with any other Debian version.

How would I achieve either the fresh install, or a 2nd install, creating a separate grub2 entry.

Incidentally, the version I wish to install is a Debian Squeeze snapshot from 2011-06-14, linux-image-2.6.32-5-xen-amd64_2.6.32-35_amd64.deb

Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

To perform a second Linux installation you only need to set aside one or more partitions to use (making room, creating partitions and labeling them using say Gparted makes identification easier) and ensure the second installations bootloader is installed in one of the new partitions. Finish installing Linux in the new partitions, then just add the entry for the new installation in the "old" GRUB configuration file. On the other hand, if you've got enough CPU power, RAM and disk space you could also use virtualization (VMware, QEmu, Virtualbox) to "play" with Linux installations.

Thank you very much for this info. I will give this a try. In fact, I am installing Debian on one of 2 nodes that will make a redundant cluster serving virtual machines. The nodes will need straight Linux installs. (but, wait a minute--maybe, at least for testing, maybe I could load a vm with the desired snapshot squeeze version on one of the nodes, and serve vms from the node vm? funky and weird-but maybe it would work. I had not thought of that).

I will to install from an added partition as you recommend.

Let us know if and where it fails, OK?


(Why is it ppl don't post complete information up front an always add crucial details that change things as they go...) No, I wouldn't do that. IMHO virtualization inside virtualization doesn't sound OK. Unless you're using something tuned to perform that task the host OS needs CPU cycles, disk I/O and RAM to run and maintain itself, the virtualization "subsystem" takes CPU cycles, disk I/O and RAM from the host to run and maintain itself and any virtualization guests ultimately take CPU cycles, disk I/O and RAM from the host too in a way I doubt it'll provide you with the level of performance you're looking for.

Right--it was just an idea. The goal remains to install the snapshot as a second Linux version onto one of the boxes. I will try it.