Neil Bothwick wrote:
On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:02:50 +0100, AG wrote:
(1) Looking through the background docs, it occurs to me that if I
wanted to install Gentoo on my system, I would need access to a second
machine that is running all of the on-line docs that guide one through
the installation process. Is this correct? If not, how does one refer
to the (seemingly quite comprehensive) guidelines whilst in the middle
of an installation?
Look at the alternate install docs. Although these relate to using a live
CD like Knoppix, you can also use an already installed system for this.
So you can install Gentoo from a chroot in your existing Debian system
(you will may a live CD to repartition). That way you can not only read
the docs, you can read your email, browse the web or play games while the
installation proceeds.
Hmm ... it looks like I need to beef up my chroot know-how. My /home
partition is large enough to partition a dedicated area without problems
I'd imagine. That sounds a reasonably painless way forward, but not for
now.
(2) When Gentoo installs its libraries, does this duplicate the
libraries already on my machine? For instance - if I have OOo and KDE
and Xfce4 loaded as part of my Debian Squeeze system, will Gentoo also
install its own version of OOo, KDE and Xfce4 alongside the Deb files?
I was thinking that this would have a number of implications in terms
of space and (potentially) in how the drive is partitioned for the
Gentoo installation ... unless I'm missing the point?
Your Gentoo and Debian systems would, and should, be totally separate,
apart from shared user data.
So ... changes to user documents, etc. in Gentoo would be reflected at
the next Debian login? Is this what you mean?
(3) What differences would I likely experience between running my
Debian installation and the Gentoo installation? After all, up to a
certain point GNU/Linux is GNU/Linux, and if I configured all the bells
and whistles the same way as I have currently got them set up (i.e.
preferred WM, desktop settings, applications, email and Net
preferences, etc.), I'm not sure there would be any ostensible
distinction between the two.
From a user perspective, you are right, Linux is Linux and different
distros tend to be different ways of arriving at a similar point. The
main difference is in the system administration.
Well put.
Any installation commitment will have to wait for a couple of weeks yet
though: I'm in the process of completing my MSc thesis and need to keep
a stable environment for the time being, so will look at taking this on
in a few weeks. This is thus background research - a bit of a
reconnaissance mission, so to speak. Any thoughts/ shared experiences
would be welcome ... unless there is another, more appropriate forum
for these kinds of experiences to be shared/ discussed.
Installing from within your existing system means you can fit the Gentoo
installation process in around your other computer usage.
This sounds all the more doable. Clearly more reading is required, so
this will be parked for a while longer until time permits. Then with
back-ups and good docs, it sounds like it might be an interesting winter
project to take on.
Thanks.
AG
