Install Multiple Linux distributions and Fedora 21 on the same hard disk

Install Multiple Linux distributions and Fedora 21 on the same hard disk

In the past, the major challenges for multiple Linux distributions were completed on virtual machines. My desktop computer has powerful performance, so I have no problem playing with virtual machines, but my laptop won't work. If you want to toss multiple versions of Linux on my laptop, you have to consider installing different Linux distributions on the same hard disk. Coexistence of Windows and Linux on the same hard disk is relatively simple. You only need to install Windows first and then install Linux. During Linux installation, everything will be done for you. What if multiple Linux versions of Different releases are installed at the same time? Will they conflict?

After my experience, I can draw a conclusion: Installing multiple Linux instances on the same hard disk is also very simple, and the powerful Grub will help you with everything. However, you must first design the hard disk partitioning scheme.

I designed it like this: the hard disk is directly divided into four partitions, four of which are primary partitions. One Linux is installed in each of the first three partitions, And the last partition is used as the swap partition. As for the/boot partition and/home partition, nothing is required. The advantage of this partitioning scheme is that it is simple. Someone may say: Are you afraid of data loss when upgrading, backing up, or anything. What I want to say is: this is not a problem on my PC. I used a USB flash drive or a mobile hard drive to back up data. It must also be USB 3.0. I usually directly covered the upgrade, when the system is used improperly, You can reinstall it if you want to reinstall it. Don't hesitate, just do it. I tried to install the Linux system on a USB flash drive. This is okay, but it cannot be started from the USB 3.0 interface. It can only be started from the USB 2.0 interface, thus losing the speed advantage, I don't want to play with the USB flash drive.

Note:

1. Only MBR partition tables can be used, and GPT partition tables cannot be used. Because GPT partition tables are used, the first partition must be mounted to/boot/efi, resulting in conflicts. For more information about MBR partition tables and GPT partition tables, and whether to use LVM, see my other article hard disk partition traps and countermeasures.

2. only the last Linux instance can specify swap partitions during installation. Only the partitions in the root directory can be specified for the Linux instance installed earlier. After all the systems are installed, modify the/etc/fstab file in the system to add swap partitions.

I decided to first install CentOS 7, then install Fedora 21, and finally install Ubuntu 14.10, all in the desktop version. The process is as follows:

Step 1. Install CentOS 7. After Entering the installation interface, you must configure your own partitions, such:

Step 2: divide the first partition of the hard disk and mount it to the root directory of the system, for example:

Then continue to install the system. At this time, the installer will receive a warning saying that there is no swap partition, which may affect the performance. You don't need to worry about it. Just continue to install it. There is no doubt about a system.

Step 3: Install Fedora 21, select whether to configure the partition by yourself, or if a partition is mounted to the root directory, such:

As you can see, the installer has automatically detected that the first partition is CentOS 7. After clicking the "update settings" button, the effect is as follows:

Continue to install the system and ignore the warning that no partition is exchanged.

For more details, please continue to read the highlights on the next page:

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