multiple booting two hard drives with linux distros

slim case · 07-04-2005, 06:19 AM

hello ! I'm new at this and would like some help I just build a computer and have two hard drives, I have two operating systems fedora 4 and 3 I've been trying to dual boot these two systems ,I have try everything I can think of, I even read a article about dual booting multiple linux distros and it did not help. Is there anyone out there that can help me

ps I try to edit the /boot/grub/grub.conf on the first hard drive by copying the grub conf on the second hard drive to the first and it didn't work ,I lost everything

thank you I hope I discribe everything

musicman_ace · 07-04-2005, 06:44 AM

1. You'll only need 1 grub.conf
2. do you want to share the /boot directory?

Option #1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect 1 hard drive. Install fedora core 4. Remove that hard drive.
Connect a different hard drive. Install fedora core 3. Remove that hard drive.
Connect the Core 4 hard drive as master, connect the Core 3 hard drive as slave.
Edit the grub.conf similar to this

Code:

# CORE 4
root (hd0,0)
kernel /bzImage-2.6.11 root=/dev/hda3
initrd /initrd-2.6.11

# CORE 3
root (hd1,0)
kernel /bzImage-2.6.8 root=/dev/hdb3
initrd /initrd-2.6.8

You'll need to change the names of the kernel / ramdisk images to match fedora's names. Also, I'm assuming that /dev/hda3 and /dev/hdb3 is where '/' is mounted for each installation.

Option #2 (not the best)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have both hard drives connected. Install core 4 with the mount points as follows:

CORE 4 MOUNT POINTS
/boot   200MB    Ext3    /dev/hda1    format it
swap    500MB    swap    /dev/hda2    format it
/        20GB    Ext3   &n bsp;/dev/hda3    format it

CORE 3 MOUNT POINTS
/boot    200MB    Ext3    /dev/hda1    Do NOT format it
swap    500MB    swap    /dev/hdb1    format it
/        20GB    Ext3   &n bsp;/dev/hdb2    format it

Now, you can change the filesystem and the size of those partitions, but this will have the two fedoras sharing the /boot directory.

titanium_geek · 07-04-2005, 11:17 AM

yes, this is possible. I'm not sure how friendly fedora is (re selecting where to install it) but I would reccomend cfdisk (use knoppix) to partition your drive. you need to set up two extended linux partitions that will be the root. then you can set up a shared /home /tmp (yadda yadda) directory. Write out exactly what you want to do. like this:
..:: hda ::..
swap (512 MB)
/boot (1GB?)
/ reiserFS (half of what's left) *fedora 3*
/ reiserFS (the other half) *fedora 4*
..:: hdb ::..
/home (pretty decent size)
/tmp (not that big)
yadda yadda.

then you can install grub on the mbr using your favourite distro- and set up the menu.lst or edit grub.conf.

titanium_geek

fair_is_fair · 07-04-2005, 09:02 PM

The easiest way to multiboot is to install the linux bootloaders into the superblock or root partition of the respective distro. Then use a boot manager installed to the mbr to boot those. I´m currently booting five operating systems this way with no problems. I can also remove and install distros without reconfiguring my boot manager.