[clue-tech] Dual booting between linux.

[Angelo Bertolli]

David L. Anselmi wrote:
> So dual booting Linux and Windows has been solved for years.  It's
> easiest to put a Linux boot loader in the MBR and let it run either
> linux or chain load windows.
> 
> What about dual booting 2 linux distros?  Each distro handles its
> kernels, initramfs, grub config, etc just fine.  But since they don't
> know about each other it seems likely they may step on each other.
> 
> Even making each grub config aware of the other partition seems error
> prone if each distro wants to update whats there.
> 
> So how about putting grub on both the MBR and on each partition's boot
> sector?  Let each distro own its partition and then the MBR only has to
> chain load one of those.
> 
> Anyone done this and been happy with it?  Anyone have a better way?  The
> goal something that each distro manages itself so the user doesn't have
> to fiddle with anything during upgrades.


The other thing you can do, is just let your second Linux install manage
grub, and remove the grub package from the first one.  In this case, you
will want to load the "symlink version" of linux on the first install,
and you wouldn't get as many options regarding choosing kernels.

Your idea of installing into the partitions is probably the best way to
keep full functionality and upgradability of both systems with grub.

I guess most people wouldn't want two Linux distros ;)  I mean, you're
probably going to prefer one and never boot to the other.

Angelo