multi-boot

sde · 10-23-2002, 02:32 PM

i want to be able to play with different o/s' , so i want to install 3 systems .

rh7.2
freebsd
win2kpro

does anyone have any recomendations the best way to approach this? like what one should be installed first, .. how much hard drive i should allocate for each system , .. etc..

sde · 10-23-2002, 09:26 PM

i got a dual boot system working fine with win2k and rh7.2 , but i want to install freebsd now.

Code:

/dev/hda1         win2k
/dev/hda2         /boot
/dev/hda3         (extended)
      /dev/hda5   /
/dev/hda4         /swap

ok .. so i've used my 4 primary partitions.. so how the heck do i install another o/s now? i want to install freebsd, but i need 2 more primary partitions.

i've tried to install freebsd, .. i created the partitions in fdisk, but then i get errors when it actualy tries to install.

do i just need another hard drive?

sde · 10-23-2002, 11:53 PM

well the boot record keep screwing up .. so now i installed rh first, then bsd .. after i installed bsd, it took over the boot, and since bsd doesn't use the /dev/hda? thing, i could not figure out how to get in and toggle the boot flag back to /dev/hda1 where my rh /boot partition is.

geesh .. this place got quiet .

revolution · 10-24-2002, 12:53 PM

i think i would load W2K, then BSD, then RH last to end up with lilo or grub for bootloading. And i cant recall right, but i believe that 'nix will install in extended partions where W2K wouldnt, so you should be able to break it up that way. I can look around my notes and find out how i used to do it if need be

sde · 10-24-2002, 01:16 PM

i forgot how fun this was, .. i'm gonna try agian tonight.

revolution · 10-24-2002, 01:22 PM

i havent dual-booted in a while, so i cant remember alot. Good luck

kenshi · 10-24-2002, 04:57 PM

I would recommend installing FreeBSD last. Its bootloader is not dependant upon the presence of the operating system, whereas lilo does and will die if Linux is removed later on. And remember, if you need post-install configuration, just run /stand/sysinstall. The interface should look familiar.

sde · 10-24-2002, 07:19 PM

thanks for the advice, .. i've actually already started the process.. but i did freebsd first. i found that it does not require a primary partition for the swap.. ( unlike rh ) so now i'm installing win2k. then when i install rh, i can easily define /boot as the bootable partition with fdisk. for some reason i like redhat's fdisk better than others.

i'll post my results.

sde · 10-24-2002, 08:43 PM

i got all 3 o/s' on .. i can boot up rh and win2k.. but i don't know how to configure grub to boot freebsd ..

anyone know what exact file is the boot file?

sde · 10-24-2002, 10:05 PM

grub configuration file is tricky for freebsd.

first of all, grub identifies drives differently...

for example:

/dev/hda1 is the same as (hd0,0)

this is how you would identify any linux or windows partitions.. but for freebsd, you must add an a to the drive

(hd0,0,a)

the full config for bsd is this:
[SHELL]title FreeBSD
root (hd0,0,a)
kernel /boot/loader[/SHELL]

it works now =)

i got excited and took a picture

revolution · 10-25-2002, 12:29 PM

w00t! Congrats

Are they playing nice together?

sde · 10-25-2002, 12:56 PM

well, they played for a little while together, .. after about 2 hours of configuring and switching the different systems, .. my boot record must have corrupted because it just hung after choosing an o/s, on any o/s i chose. =/

oh well, it was fun while it lasted.. i downloaded the rh 8 iso files and i'm gonna check it out tonight. from what i've heard, they've made the gui look a lot nicer, .. including the gui for installation. i'll try to take some pictures if it is cool.

i'll start a new thread when i get it loaded up.

w00t · 10-25-2002, 08:33 PM

Dual boot has been awesome for me (Me/Redhat 7.2). I assume that RH 8.0 will be more friendly and diplomatic with your other operating systems. Be sure to get those screenshots when you get 8.0 up and running :rock: