Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:45:07 -0700 From: Michael David Crawford <mdc@prgmr.com> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Partitioning for multiple systems Message-ID: <49F4ABB3.6000808@prgmr.com>
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I have a machine I plan to use solely for testing. I have FreeBSD
8.0-CURRENT on it right now, and would like to add FreeBSD 7.2-RC2 as
well as CentOS 5.3 Linux.
Presently I have three Master Boot Record primary partitions - "slices"
in the FreeBSD parlance, if I understand correctly:
- A Linux slice to be used for CentOS' /boot
- A BSD slice subdivided into partitions that hold 8.0-CURRENT
- A big FAT slice (so to speak) meant to be split up for 7.2 and CentOS
A PC-style Master Boot Record can hold a maximum of four primary
partitions, or it can hold three primaries and a single extended
partition that is subdivided into logical partitions.
The geometries of the logical partitions aren't given in the MBR, but
exist as a linked list.
I *should* be able to split that FAT slice up into a primary for 7.2 and
an extended partition that will hold CentOS' other partitions; however:
In Googling about this, I have read some dire warnings about FreeBSD
being unable to understand logical partitions; apparently installing
FreeBSD *before* an extended partition will result in all your logicals
getting trashed. One is advised to put all the FreeBSD MBR partitions
*after* the extended partition.
Is that the case? Have you any advice for me?
One more thing: if it's possible, I'd like for the /home directory to be
shared between both of my FreeBSD installations. In a normal
installation, there is a real /usr/home directory, with /home being a
symbolic link.
If I'm running FreeBSD out of one MBR partition (or slice), can I mount
a directory that's in a different one?
Thanks for your help!
Mike
--
Michael David Crawford
mdc@prgmr.com
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