Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[Greg Madden]

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On Monday 07 July 2003 02:37 am, Lukas Ruf wrote:
> Hallo Zhao YouBing <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2003-07-07 12:31]:
> > If I want to install multiple distributions on one machine, there
> > should be some parts that can be shared,
> > such as SWAP, /tmp(if u made it a separate partition), but
> > can we share /usr, /var? What should be done carefully to share them?
>
> I assume:
>  swap -- without problems
>  usr  -- I wouldn't since all distros make use of slightly different
>  configurations
>  etc  -- dito
>  home -- yes
>  var  -- with a lot of care due to "usr"-problematic
>  dev  -- depends on the various kernels, i.e. devfs <-> legacy devs
>
> In general:
>  - where OS/distro-dependend stuff is in, rather not
>  - user's data like home of course
>
> What do the other think?

I would think any file system that the system doesn't write to. This would 
also include /usr/local and /opt. Though on some distro's /opt gets 
software installed, I don't think sharing it  would affect any particular 
distro.
- -- 
Greg Madden
Debian GNU/Linux
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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[Vineet Kumar]

* Zhao YouBing ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) [030707 04:49]:
> So many distributions, it seems that the life will be easier if they can 
> unite into one,
> anyway, there is only one breed of kernel.
> 
> When u use some distributions u lost the freedom of using others.
> 
> Though they almost have almost same contents, tiny difference in /usr 
> and other directories made thost parts can't be shared, what a waste
> 
> Maybe there should be only one Linux , just like FreeBSD.

So just run one.  If you're concerned about losing freedom (?) just run
Debian!  It doesn't get any Freer than that.

good times,
Vineet
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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[David Fokkema]

On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 11:17:41AM -0400, Chris Metzler wrote:
> On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:20:25 +0200
> David Fokkema <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 12:37:18PM +0200, Lukas Ruf wrote:
> >> 
> >> I assume: 
> >>  swap -- without problems
> >>  usr  -- I wouldn't since all distros make use of slightly different
> >>  configurations
> >>  etc  -- dito
> >>  home -- yes
> >>  var  -- with a lot of care due to "usr"-problematic
> >>  dev  -- depends on the various kernels, i.e. devfs <-> legacy devs
> >> 
> >> In general: 
> >>  - where OS/distro-dependend stuff is in, rather not
> >>  - user's data like home of course
> >>  
> >> What do the other think?
> > 
> > Basically, I agree with you. /home, /tmp and swap. Nothing more. You run
> > the risk of either breaking or polluting different distros.
> 
> I might imagine that there'd be others if you were aggressive about
> sub-partitioning.  For example, if /var/mail were its own partition,
> mounted at either /var/mail or /var/spool/mail depending on what a
> particular distro did, I would think that'd work.

You'd have to be very aggressive, yes, ;-)

David


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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[Chris Metzler]

On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:20:25 +0200
David Fokkema <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 12:37:18PM +0200, Lukas Ruf wrote:
>> 
>> I assume: 
>>  swap -- without problems
>>  usr  -- I wouldn't since all distros make use of slightly different
>>  configurations
>>  etc  -- dito
>>  home -- yes
>>  var  -- with a lot of care due to "usr"-problematic
>>  dev  -- depends on the various kernels, i.e. devfs <-> legacy devs
>> 
>> In general: 
>>  - where OS/distro-dependend stuff is in, rather not
>>  - user's data like home of course
>>  
>> What do the other think?
> 
> Basically, I agree with you. /home, /tmp and swap. Nothing more. You run
> the risk of either breaking or polluting different distros.

I might imagine that there'd be others if you were aggressive about
sub-partitioning.  For example, if /var/mail were its own partition,
mounted at either /var/mail or /var/spool/mail depending on what a
particular distro did, I would think that'd work.

-c

-- 
Chris Metzler   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[Hugh Saunders]

On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 07:47:45PM +0800, Zhao YouBing wrote:
> So many distributions, it seems that the life will be easier if they can 
> unite into one,
> anyway, there is only one breed of kernel.
/me humms something about Debian GNU/hurd..

;) 

-- 
hugh


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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[David Fokkema]

On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 07:36:24PM +0800, Zhao YouBing wrote:
> So many distributions, it seems that the life will be easier if they can 
> unite into one,
> anyway, there is only one breed of kernel.
> 
> When u use some distributions u lost the freedom of using others.
> 
> Though they almost have almost same contents, tiny difference in /usr 
> and other directories made thost parts can't be shared, what a waste
> 
> Maybe there should be only one Linux , just like FreeBSD.

No, I don't think so. I like debian. Others like redhat. The nice thing
of free software is that you have the possibility of choice. If you want
only one linux, like FreeBSD, then maybe FreeBSD is the distro for you.
Or NetBSD, or OpenBSD, ;-)

David


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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[David Fokkema]

On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 12:37:18PM +0200, Lukas Ruf wrote:
> Hallo Zhao YouBing <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2003-07-07 12:31]:
> > If I want to install multiple distributions on one machine, there should 
> > be some parts that can be shared,
> > such as SWAP, /tmp(if u made it a separate partition), but
> > can we share /usr, /var? What should be done carefully to share them?
> > 
> 
> I assume: 
>  swap -- without problems
>  usr  -- I wouldn't since all distros make use of slightly different
>  configurations
>  etc  -- dito
>  home -- yes
>  var  -- with a lot of care due to "usr"-problematic
>  dev  -- depends on the various kernels, i.e. devfs <-> legacy devs
> 
> In general: 
>  - where OS/distro-dependend stuff is in, rather not
>  - user's data like home of course
>  
> What do the other think?

Basically, I agree with you. /home, /tmp and swap. Nothing more. You run
the risk of either breaking or polluting different distros.

David


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Re: What directories can be shared between multiple distributions on the same machine??

[Lukas Ruf]

Hallo Zhao YouBing <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2003-07-07 12:31]:
> If I want to install multiple distributions on one machine, there should 
> be some parts that can be shared,
> such as SWAP, /tmp(if u made it a separate partition), but
> can we share /usr, /var? What should be done carefully to share them?
> 

I assume: 
 swap -- without problems
 usr  -- I wouldn't since all distros make use of slightly different
 configurations
 etc  -- dito
 home -- yes
 var  -- with a lot of care due to "usr"-problematic
 dev  -- depends on the various kernels, i.e. devfs <-> legacy devs

In general: 
 - where OS/distro-dependend stuff is in, rather not
 - user's data like home of course
 
What do the other think?
 
wbr,
Lukas
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