2 gentoo installation

Mika Pesu · n00b Joined: 09 Jul 2002 Posts: 15

how can i install 2 gentoo linux in 1 computer without losing any data?
i have already installed gentoo 1.2 and i want to have "test bed" for other's like gentoo 1.3b.

-how can i share configure files between these two systems?
-if i have to re-partion my hard disks how can i do that so i don't lose any data?

alec · Apprentice Joined: 19 Apr 2002 Posts: 270 Location: Here

Sure, you can have multiple gentoo's. Just have two partitions (i'm no partitioning expert, still use PartitionMagic or the Mandrake install disc).

If your /boot is a seperate partition, then things are easy. Just copy your new kernels there (if you have a new one - you can probably use the same one for both, just create two grub entries pointing to it with different roots).

Sharing config files is relatively painless - just copy them. You'll probably need to edit some of them, though, especailly for optimizations.

Naan Yaar · Bodhisattva Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 1549

If you have users (you really should

), having /home as a separate partition will help you share user data between the two configurations. I use this to try out even other distributions without too much fuss. As alec suggests, copying config files may be the best option (don't have /etc as a separate partition!). I would be careful in doing this since you may be using different compiler options between the two gcc versions, etc.

For resizing partitions, a non-commercial option is GNU "parted". I have not used this recently, so I am not sure how well it works.

Mika Pesu · n00b Joined: 09 Jul 2002 Posts: 15

i have two partitions
/boot,/stuff and /root
so if i "cut down" the size of root and make another partition for 1.3b,
how can i share the programs so they won't take diskspace so much,i
dont have much free space left.

user home dirs dont contain any stuff(only config files), i have own partition for programs (/stuff).

xming · Guru Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Posts: 441

you have diffenrent choises
- dual boot: using seperate patitions
- bochs
- vmware
- user mode linux
- chroot

xming

AlterEgo · Veteran Joined: 25 Apr 2002 Posts: 1619

WARNING: be very conservative about sharing kernels and/or settings between GCC 3.1 and GCC 2.95.3 stuff. It can cause huge troubles.

Guest · Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 3:28 pm Post subject:

You may also want to consider getting a spare hard drive. A 40GB one will cost you about $75 at newegg (if you are in the US).

Mika Pesu · n00b Joined: 09 Jul 2002 Posts: 15

thanks for all the answers, i decided to buy new hard drive.
when the disk arrives i make it primary and i have to transfer all the stuff to it, is it simply cp -R * or is there a tool to transfer existing gentoo installation to new drive?

Naan Yaar · Bodhisattva Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 1549

I use "cp -ax" to make a copy of one filesystem to another. The "a" part is for "archive" - it preserves file permissions, owner, etc; it is equivalent to "-dpR". The "x" part makes sure you don't span file systems when doing recursive copies.

If you want to be ultra-safe, use the gentoo boot CD to boot. Then mount the old and new partitions at suitable mount points to do the copy. You can remove the old partition(s) once you are convinced that the new one works. This way, you have quiescent partitions when doing the copy.

xming · Guru Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Posts: 441

always use tar, cp -aRp is not reliable

cd <dest>
tar cf - /src/path | tar xvf -

be carefull if your dest is included in the /src/path then you hace to exlude it (man tar)

xming

Naan Yaar · Bodhisattva Joined: 27 Jun 2002 Posts: 1549

Hmmm... never had problems with cp -ax. However, if you do use tar, do use:

3x9 · n00b Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Posts: 34 Location: Canada

If you wish to save time, avoid problems, why setup the new drive as primary ?

Linux does not care where it is installed, primary , extended (logical), drives - 1- to as many as controllers support. Even the boot Mgr. can be placed in other than old
1024 cyl limit, w/the newer BIOS's
Boot loader does not have to go in MBR, often, that is bad choice anyway, Esp. when
WinNt or XP involved.
If unsure about how to boot, use floppy until you decide later on what the end
layout should be. As root, in directory /usr/src put floppy in, do not mount , run
"make bzdisk" command to make a bootable floppy.
No lilo or grub to worry about, boots straight into that version.
Another hard drive is wise move.

stardis · n00b Joined: 09 Jul 2002 Posts: 18

I installed the nicklock key switch for a second drive and it has worked very well for me. http://www.nicklock.com/docs/main.htm
I bought mine from http://www.kustombuiltcomputers.com/nicklockinfo.htm It made things easy for a novice like me.

strawbeard