Partitioning a hard drive with two different Linux OS's sharing a common file system?

Question

Partitioning a hard drive with two different Linux OS's sharing a common file system?

Answer 1

(Disclaimer: I am not Linux "expert" here, though I do use and mess with multiple distros)



Not sure of the question ... The same File System? ... each partition is able to use it's own File System... do you mean two Linuxes with a shared "third partition" ? ...(That is not really need by the way... Most Linuxes can see each other anyway ... if even if's a partition for another distro)



I have two Linuxes (Ubuntu 11.04 and Slackware 12.2) running the same Swap Partition (though due to the fact its dual boot, they never use it at the same time) ...



I honestly am just confused by the question



-Xmetalfanx

Answer 2

idk

Answer 3

2 different linux distros cannot share all their common files. They can only share the files that reside in the /home directory.

For 2 linux distros to use the same /home directory you have to use the same user name for both distros and create 2 /home directories. During the install you will use one /home for one distro and during the install of the second distro use the other /home.

This will require 4 partitions (2 /home and 2 /root). If you want a swap partition or windows partition you will have to use extended/logical partitions for some of those partitions. Linux has no problem running from a logical partition unlike windows.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Just about ever file in Linux is common to different distributions. One may have 2 to 4 files not in another Linux and this is generally because they got the source file from another distribution, converted it to the file type their Linux uses and then installed it as part of the operating system. Now partition wise if you have one ext3 and the other ext4, the ext3 will not see the ext4 partitions. Then you have the concerns if the partitions have been locked, the other Linux can not access it. It's not all that simple as it would seem and it is totally illogical to run two different Linux Operating systems, there is not enough difference to make it worth the time, except when you run one desktop environment in one Linux and a different desktop environment in the other, than another issue becomes involved with what will and will not run in the two different desktops. OK, this didn't explain any thing you asked about. I don't know how you would separate and split the system of to where they would only use one file system. I can only guess that would be done with some kind of configuration type of file. The closest thing I could find for what you are talking about is the using a Cluster File System and nodes. Way beyond what I know..

Answer 5

First, contrary to what jerry said, two /home/ directories may not be safely shared. There are two many config files, you you may end up with name and version conflicts.



/temp may be safely shared



the swap may be safely shared (but wierd thing can happen on resume from hibernate)



also /boot/ may be safely shared so long as you only configure from one system or the other, and there are no filename collisions (unlikely so no really safe in practice)



To just share media file, I would just create a partition and mount it at /share by editing the fstab of both systems. Then you can make your /home/user/Music a soft link that point to /share/Music. Repeat for Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and whatever else you care to share.