Going to make a non-boot system (9 OS Multi-boot!!!)

[Panarchy]

Hello

I'm going to make a 10 boot system (by the end of the year, first I'm going to buy 2 500GB SATA Hard-Drives and put them in RAID0, and I don't think I can buy that till the Christmas sales).

The following OS's I'm going to install (includes 5 or 6 open source OSs);

1. Linux (Ubuntu 64-bit)

2. Linux (Kubuntu 64-bit)

3. Linux (SuSE 64-bit)

4. Solaris

5. OpenSolaris

6. FreeBSD

7. Mac OSX Leopard

8. Windows XP 64-bit

9. Windows Vista 64-bit

Which will mean I will need the following file systems (correct me if I'm wrong);

1. Ext3

2. Ext3

3. Ext3

4. ZFS

5. ZFS

6. ZFS

7. HSF+

8. NTFS

9. NTFS

10. Swap

So now that I've layed this out, please tell me the following;

1. Will any of these OSs (and/or filesystems) be adversely effectly by having them in RAID 0?

2. Which of the OSs need to be installed on a primary partition?

3. Will they all be able to (except the microsoft & apple ones) use the one swap partition?

Please answer my questions... also interested in comments about this 'project'.

Thanks in advance,

Panarchy

PS: Didn't include any Server OSs as for the Server ones, I am going to use VMWare. (please don't suggest VMWare for these other OSs unless for some important reason e.g. without using this OS in VMWare, you won't be able to hear audio or use the internet)

PPS: Hehehe, what do you think of my title? Well let's hope that I'll be able to boot! Hehehe... (non=9, as in the geometric shape, not as in non=not/no!)

[-pops-]

The correct prefix for 9 is nona not non.

[andsome]

Mad, more money than sense. :lol:

[Panarchy]

The correct prefix for 9 is nona not non.

Aww... but then the joke wouldn't work

:lol:

Anyways, back on topic!

Panarchy

[Hb_Kai]

XP and Vista might not work out as fine as you're hoping... But you've planned it out kind of well. :P

Good luck wasting your money. ;)

[Panarchy]

Wasting my money

Anyways... not to get overlooped with all these custom emoticons!!!

So let's get back on topic!!!

Please answer the following questions;

So now that I've layed this out, please tell me the following;

1. Will any of these OSs (and/or filesystems) be adversely effectly by having them in RAID 0?

2. Which of the OSs need to be installed on a primary partition?

3. Will they all be able to (except the microsoft & apple ones) use the one swap partition?

Panarchy

[-pops-]

I doubt if many have even contemplated having so many operating systems on one machine so I don't think you will get a definitive answer from anywhere.

Whenever I've had a multi-boot system, admittedly only two O/S installed, I've found that only one is used and the other just sits there consuming space on the hard drive.

If I wanted a truly multi-boot setup I would install the operating systems on their own hard drives and use a caddy for swapping one to the other.

I appreciate you don't want to do this but, you will end up with a much more reliable computer and be able to use it for what it is intended - a tool to make other jobs easier rather than as an item in its own right.

[Boris]

1. Will any of these OSs (and/or filesystems) be adversely effectly by having them in RAID 0?

2. Which of the OSs need to be installed on a primary partition?

3. Will they all be able to (except the microsoft & apple ones) use the one swap partition?

Very interesting question !

I personally have absolutely no idea, so I think you will have to google your own answers ! :D

[Hb_Kai]

It should be shared if anything.

Half them

One Partition Two Partition

.5 large requirements .5 smallest requirements

.5 small requirements .5 large requirements

If you get me. But that's only an idea. I don't think it would be the right choice, just a silly little idea. :D

Not that many people have tried it to get the answer you are looking for I reckon, to be honest with you.

But I hope it works for you. :D

[Alan2273]

You could run into trouble having more than four OS,s on one drive, plus have you figured out which order to install them and what bootloader are you going to use.

[Panarchy]

^Yes, I was thinking either GRUB or BCD. Probably start with GRUB (so that I learn how to use GRUB), and then when I install Vista, I'll use EasyBCD and take the easy-way out... ;)

And I haven't figured out the order yet. Thinking to install all the linuxes at the same time, then the BSD, Solaris & Open Solaris, Coming next would be mac. And finally the windows ones.

Of course, before I start doing all this I will make a definite plan and use Acronis to partition the drive the way I want.

Panarchy

PS: If you have any ideas to answer my questions with, please don't hesitate!

[Panarchy]

Hello

Here is an idea for my partitioning schema (without partition sizes, I will decide that later);

__________________________

| Solaris Logical (for GRUB)

|_________________________

| XP Primary

|_________________________

| Mac Primary

|_________________________

| Vista Primary

|_________________________

| Linux Logical

|_________________________

| Linux Logical

|_________________________

| Linux Logical

|_________________________

| FreeBSD Logical

|_________________________

| OpenSolaris Logical

|_________________________

| Swap Partition

|_________________________

What do you think?

Did I make any mistakes?

Do any of the logicals have to be primaries?

Please reply with comments &/or answers to my questions.

Thanks in advance,

Panarchy

EDIT: Forgot to add the swap partition!

[Alan2273]

Do you know anything about chainloaders panarchy.?.

[Panarchy]

A little bit...

[Boris]

Well, you'll soon know a lot more :) ..............

[Alan2273]

Well, you'll soon know a lot more :) ..............

:lol: :lol: :lol:

RAID 0 is risky as if one hard drive goes belly up you will lose everything.

Also I think you are going to run into problems installing so many operating systems on to what is technically one drive.

The best of luck, if you do suceed can you post a copy of the GRUB boot menu, it will be interesting to have a look at it.

[Panarchy]

^Of course! Once I've worked it all out, I'll post it for sure! :D

Hahaha, but be prepared for my mistakes (and maybe pre-topics that will ask on how to do it!!!).

But once it is all working, I'll write a short guide including all help I have received that has been helpful.

Example Title: TUTORIAL: Install 9+ OS's on the one Hard-Drive

It will include a how-to (duh!) and the menu.lst. It will also include a screenshot of a partitioning program (eg Acronis Disk Director).

Hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am!

Panarchy

Well, you'll soon know a lot more :) ..............

Awesome! B)

[Panarchy]

Hello

I thought it may be a good idea to better represent my previous idea for a partitioning schema.

So, I have!!! (see below);

Please tell me if I've left anything out. And please also tell me if there is anything wrong with the above partitioning scheme.

Thanks in advance,

Panarchy