I've got an FC3 system build with /boot (and grub) on hda1, swap on hda2, / (root) on hda5 (extended partition) and /var on hda6. I'd like to install a separately booted FC7 on this box and add it to my main grub menu. I'm thinking the following would work, but I'd appreciate some advice if this is a reasonable way to go. I thought I'd create new hda7 and hda8 partitions for the root of the new FC7 and /var respectively and install FC7 there, with no separate partition for /boot. I'd then copy the kernel from /boot on hda7 by hand to hda1, update the grub menu on hda1, delete the /boot dir on hda7 and edit the fstab on the FC7 system to mount hda1 as /boot.
Is there a more straightforward way to accomplish this, or is this the way to do it? Alternatively, can I make the FC7 installer to add its kernel to my existing boot (hda1 partition), not reformat that partition or erase the other kernels, and not blow away my existing grub menu? Or do I really want to create a second boot partition (maybe on hda3) for FC7?
On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:37:40 -0400 Cliff Avey makalu@ansae.com wrote:
I've got an FC3 system build with /boot (and grub) on hda1, swap on hda2, / (root) on hda5 (extended partition) and /var on hda6. I'd like to install a separately booted FC7 on this box and add it to my main grub menu.
The "chainloader" command is what I use for this. It works great because each version gets its own /boot and grub.conf so any kernel updates I apply don't mess up my master grub.conf. Looks like this:
On my "master" boot, I told linux to install grub in the MBR, and the grub.conf I have looks like this:
default=0 timeout=5 splashimage=(hd0,1)/grub/zooty.xpm.gz title F7 x86_64 rootnoverify (hd0,4) chainloader +1 title F7 i386 rootnoverify (hd0,5) chainloader +1 title FC6 x86_64 rootnoverify (hd0,2) chainloader +1 title Windows XP i386 rootnoverify (hd0,0) chainloader +1 title Fedora Core 5 x86_64 (2.6.18-1.2239.fc5) root (hd0,1) kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2239.fc5 ro root=LABEL=FC5ROOT64 rhgb quiet audit=0 selinux=0 8250.nr_uarts=9 initrd /initrd-2.6.18-1.2239.fc5.img title Fedora Core 5 x86_64 (2.6.18-1.2200.fc5) root (hd0,1) kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2200.fc5 ro root=LABEL=FC5ROOT64 rhgb quiet audit=0 selinux=0 8250.nr_uarts=9 initrd /initrd-2.6.18-1.2200.fc5.img
Those last two entries are for the actual kernel on the FC5 system that I never use anymore, but which serves as my master grub and emergency boot if f7 gets hosed for some reason.
My other systems I just install normally (had to install windows 1st or it gets all screwed up). When installing another linux, I tell it to use the advanced grub options and make it install grub in the /boot partition (NOT the MBR).
The effect of all this is that grub usually runs twice, once to boot the master, then the 2nd time to boot the chain loaded system.
This sort of evolved this way. If I was starting from scratch, I'd probably build a stand alone grub boot partition that did nothing but chainloading and didn't even have an associated copy of linux (there are some web pages I've found in google that describe how to do a stand alone grub like this).
Cliff Avey wrote:
I've got an FC3 system build with /boot (and grub) on hda1, swap on hda2, / (root) on hda5 (extended partition) and /var on hda6. I'd like to install a separately booted FC7 on this box and add it to my main grub menu. I'm thinking the following would work, but I'd appreciate some advice if this is a reasonable way to go. I thought I'd create new hda7 and hda8 partitions for the root of the new FC7 and /var respectively and install FC7 there, with no separate partition for /boot. I'd then copy the kernel from /boot on hda7 by hand to hda1, update the grub menu on hda1, delete the /boot dir on hda7 and edit the fstab on the FC7 system to mount hda1 as /boot.
Is there a more straightforward way to accomplish this, or is this the way to do it? Alternatively, can I make the FC7 installer to add its kernel to my existing boot (hda1 partition), not reformat that partition or erase the other kernels, and not blow away my existing grub menu? Or do I really want to create a second boot partition (maybe on hda3) for FC7?
I do much as Tom describes and chainload the other versions of Linux. You basically use the advanced bootloader options when installing a new Fedora version. You choose to install it in the corresponding /dev/sdx location which the GUI advanced options should offer along with the install to MBR which i the default install location. You then add an entry in the installation which is in the MBR to chainload the installation as your primary menu. Different distributions.
Jim
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Cliff Avey -
Jim Cornette -
Tom Horsley