Ubuntu

Hi Linux gurus,

My boss had asked me to setup a box consisting of this 3 OS (CentOS, Fedora, RedHat) for autopatching. So, whenever there is new patches for CentOS from the internet, this box will grab it, implement it, if tested ok and approved, the patches will then be push to Production CentOS boxes. The same goes for Fedora & RedHat.

My question would be:

1. Is this possible for 3 Linux to be put in 1 box?
2. How the partitioning would be like?
3. Is there a link where i can read thru for this kind of setup?
4. Will all the OS be running simultaneously or one at a time?

Thank you in advance

~RaYbAkH~

Yes, I don't see why not. As for how the partitions would be laid out, that depends on...how you want your partitions laid out.

The bare minimum, as I see it:
grub.conf for this monster is going to look something like:

Code:

title=Centos
kernel (hd0,0)/centos/kernel-2.6.12-r10 root=/dev/hda5

title=Fedora
kernel (hd0,0)/centos/kernel-2.6.12-r10 root=/dev/hda6

title=Redhat
kernel (hd0,0)/centos/kernel-2.6.12-r10 root=/dev/hda7

Even better would be three seperate boot partitions, one for each distro, but that'd mean booting from an extended partition, and I'm not sure how much grub likes that.

Finding a guide for this is unlikely imho, as it'd have to be written by someone who's mastered the same versions of all three distros of interest. You're going to have fun getting all of them to install where you want them.

Of course, if you're going to want multiple boot partitions for each and every distro, things are going to get more complicated.

Thanx Corona688 for the info.

So, i'll be doing this --> CentOS = /dev/hda5
Fedora = /dev/hda6
Redhat = /dev/hda7

Seems like 'fun' in hell. Gonna update u guys as i go along the installation. I wonder if all distro can be up 1 at a time until all 3 are running or 2 down and 1 up? Any advice?

You can only have one Linux running at a time.
You are going to need 3 different boxes to do this.

I have to say, from the getgo, this doesn't sound like a good idea.
Are all your boxes exaclty the same, i.e., same OS version, hardware, running the exact same applications?

I think Corona688 meant that grub.conf would be something like:

Code:

title Centos
kernel (hd0,0)/centos/kernel-2.6.12-r10 root=/dev/hda5

title Fedora
kernel (hd0,0)/fedora/kernel-2.6.12-r10 root=/dev/hda6

title Redhat
kernel (hd0,0)/redhat/kernel-2.6.12-r10 root=/dev/hda7

You will need a subdirectory for each distro so that each can have its own kernel. Remember that the extended partition is broken into logical partitions. You can put anything into logical partitions. As long as grub stage1 is installed in the MBR and stage 1.5 is installed in the hidden sectors, stage 2 can be anywhere. I even created a tiny (logical) partition at the very end of a 100 GB and booted from that.

So perderabo,

A collegue of mine have Linux & Windows in his notebook (in which the 60GB are split into 2). He also are able to log into both OS by pressing certain key (in which he is reluctant to teach). Could this be done here; where CentOS, Fedora & Redhat can be access simultaneously.

Nope system shock,
Im gonna try to implement this on 1 box first. if it seems a lot of hassle and time to administer, then i'll propose to my boss to buy another 2 box. (he's trying to cut the cost low and hopefully raise my salary..haha).

So? You can still have 3 distros on one box, they just can't all run at the same time.