[SOLVED] Dual boot and encryption
by Mantra from LinuxQuestions.org on (#5HKKJ)
Long post I know, but help welcome! Sadly my old laptop (14 years old this year) is feeling a bit sluggish thanks to all these websites running pointless javascript, so I've decided to replace it with a mini-itx desktop, but I'm not sure how to set it up. I used to think I knew what I was doing with installing a distro, but that was in the good old days of bios - none of this efi and secure boot malarkey. I wonder if I could share my use-case and get some advice?
It will basically be a single-user machine for myself. However, an elderly relative might visit from time to time - and he has his own ideas of how a machine should be set up - unfortunately, his 'improvements' are not always desirable! I'd also like my data encrypted, just in case it's stolen. I considered the options of just encrypting my home directory, but I think this arrangement might suit better:
1. an OS for my day-to-day use (probably Ubuntu), with full disk encryption, and automatic login (I'm lazy and don't like typing multiple passwords)
2. a separate OS for elderly relatives to play with, probably Mint (just because it comes with more stuff installed by default, so I'm less likely to be asked to help install things)
This way, I don't need to provide the password for my main system to any visitors. Ok maybe I could lose Ubuntu if he decides to overwrite the SSD, but I'll have backups, and a full reinstall is a more palatable way of spending an evening than arguing with him.
Is this a sensible way to do it? Would you do it differently?
It will basically be a single-user machine for myself. However, an elderly relative might visit from time to time - and he has his own ideas of how a machine should be set up - unfortunately, his 'improvements' are not always desirable! I'd also like my data encrypted, just in case it's stolen. I considered the options of just encrypting my home directory, but I think this arrangement might suit better:
1. an OS for my day-to-day use (probably Ubuntu), with full disk encryption, and automatic login (I'm lazy and don't like typing multiple passwords)
2. a separate OS for elderly relatives to play with, probably Mint (just because it comes with more stuff installed by default, so I'm less likely to be asked to help install things)
This way, I don't need to provide the password for my main system to any visitors. Ok maybe I could lose Ubuntu if he decides to overwrite the SSD, but I'll have backups, and a full reinstall is a more palatable way of spending an evening than arguing with him.
Is this a sensible way to do it? Would you do it differently?