[LBo] How to make a bunch of flavours of unix

[Jisao]

Billy Pollifrone wrote:
> Stefan Waidele wrote:
>   
>> Billy Pollifrone schrieb:
>>     
>>> Stefan Waidele wrote:
>>>       
>> Each distro configures their application a little bit different. It
>> might be good to be able to examine these differences (shell-prompt,...).
>>
>> If /home is shared, new newer install will simply overwrite the old
>> configs, thus "resetting" any customizations already made.
>>     
>
> I'm not sure they do unless they create a new directory for that user
> that did not exist before.
>
> Lets say for instance, I'm installing and /home/billy is where I tell
> the installer to put my home dir. If that exists, the default skeleton
> files wouldn't be copied. What customizations I've done will be
> retained. What implications would happen by overwriting a ~/.kde
> directory for instance. If I chose a directory that doesn't exist, a
> default set of configuration files is written.
>
> Granted I've used primarily Debian derivatives, but I've not seen my
> configurations obliterated when I've tried another distro. I backup
> what's there first, of course.
>
> Having differing versions of installed software would be a problem
> though as configuration formats may have changed over time. Backwards
> compatibility and/or ignoring unknown configuration directives would
> help with this, but may or may not be in place and couldn't be
> completely relied on.
>
> If I'm incorrect on how installing a distro happens, like an example of
> a distro installer that does, I'd like to know about it.
>   

As an average Linux user with many OSes on my computer (I have 4 
altogether right now), I'd say that dealing with multiple OSes depends 
on your level of proficiency in Linux.  Somebody more at ease with Linux 
can refine his installs into more complex and customized schemes.  In 
the case of Ali, who seem to be beginning with Linux, I would recommend 
the following:

Pick the distribution he wishes to have as his "main" one.  We  could 
call it "the default distribution".  Install it, with the bootloader in 
the MBR.  MAKE A BOOT FLOPPY for that distro (read this twice, and then 
DO IT).  He will save himself a lot of hassles later.  Install each of 
the Linux distributions on one partition only.  No separate boot. Also 
install those distros with the /home in the same partition as the rest.

As a very convenient extra, he can create 2 partitions for some special 
purpose:  1 rather large, to copy his various /home on later, once he 
has a good feel for Linux.   1 vfat to share data between Linux and 
Windows.  Picking ext2 or ext3 as filsystems will also allow him to 
install the driver in Windows and read/write on them, as a 
non-negligeable bonus.

Any subsequent distribution is also installed in one single partition, 
with grub installed in that partition, and chainloaded (like Anita 
recommended).  This allow for constant reinstalls of distros without too 
many hassles.

Once familiar with Linux, users can try having /home on a separate 
partition, by copying it (respecting the permissions) and then mounting 
that as home.  But an explanation for that can be quite involved, 
considering the ifs and buts.  The easiest is to google >permanent 
/home< in the various distributions involved, and start from there.

My experience with trying to share a single /home has been rather 
quirky, especially between Debian stable, testing and unstable.  They 
don't share a /home gracefully.

If other people have had different experiences, I'd be interested to 
hear about it. Things can be done in so many different ways in Linux, 
it's mind boggling.

Jisao




Do indeed create a partition for hom