Turning an existing box into dual linux box
by jeffry7 from LinuxQuestions.org on (#4TNAB)
I have this Debian machine I run headless. It is nominally a server although I don't do anything heavy with it. It is backup for my scanned film archive and I sometimes use it for long running image processing. (hours or days)
I messed up the package management by mixing stable with a more experimental repo. Now aptitude can't do anything because it can't resolve the dependencies. (This is not my question. I have the dependency issue posted elsewhere.) The best advice I have gotten on this is to start over.
This server has a number of custom configurations that are naturally poorly documented. It has a working VPN setup. It has working hibernate. There are other things as well.
So what I was thinking was to set up a dual boot. One with the existing server, and another with a fresh Debian install. As I configure the fresh install, I can refer to the old server. Also if I need something that isn't set up on the new server, I can boot the old one, do the task, then boot back.
Most dual boot tuts assume you want to dual with Windows or Mac, not two Linuxes.
My plan is to move the existing image to a bigger HD and then set up the dual. It is this latter step I don't know how to do. Can anyone point to a guide that talks about setting up a 2nd OS next to an existing Linux? Is it as simple as setting up the partitions and pointing the installer at the right place?
I messed up the package management by mixing stable with a more experimental repo. Now aptitude can't do anything because it can't resolve the dependencies. (This is not my question. I have the dependency issue posted elsewhere.) The best advice I have gotten on this is to start over.
This server has a number of custom configurations that are naturally poorly documented. It has a working VPN setup. It has working hibernate. There are other things as well.
So what I was thinking was to set up a dual boot. One with the existing server, and another with a fresh Debian install. As I configure the fresh install, I can refer to the old server. Also if I need something that isn't set up on the new server, I can boot the old one, do the task, then boot back.
Most dual boot tuts assume you want to dual with Windows or Mac, not two Linuxes.
My plan is to move the existing image to a bigger HD and then set up the dual. It is this latter step I don't know how to do. Can anyone point to a guide that talks about setting up a 2nd OS next to an existing Linux? Is it as simple as setting up the partitions and pointing the installer at the right place?