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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Follow-up to my first Gentoo install. (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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TL;DR: Do. Not. Share. Boot. Partitions. Across. Linux. Installs.

------------~~~++~~~------------<

So a couple days ago I posted a screenshot of my first Gentoo install in a VM. I mentioned that I planned on putting it on my hardware in a triple boot setup (Arch - Main, BillyG-O$ - VR games, Gentoo - Pain). This is a follow-up on my adventures doing that.

Everything went well initially, I followed almost the exact same steps as the VM and things went by much faster (as it had access to all my resources). However I made 1 respectfully sized blunder, for some stupid reason, I tried to share boot partitions between my Arch and this Gentoo. DO NOT DO THAT, I can speak from ~this~ experience.

Because of sharing boot partitions, GRUB got absolutely buggered 6 ways from Sunday resulting in GRUB unable to find my Arch initramfs. Not good at all. So for about 2 days my system was unbootable (I took a break from the computer, I'd just about had it).

Thanfully though it turns out my previous Arch-only GRUB install still existed so with a quick boot override I was finally able to get back into Arch. I then proceeded to totally destroy every last trace of Gentoo from my boot drive and reinstall the kernel, thereby remaking my initramfs. My system is restored 🥹.

So, in conclusion, I feel that Gentoo is definitely good fun and worth doing, however if you're installing it on the same drive as a pre-existing OS be. Hyper. Vigilant. I'm not sure how or why my old Arch-GRUB still existed but by golly am I thankful it did.

This did not scare me off Gentoo at all because it was my error. So I'm probably going to reattempt it soon. I also jusy wanted to say thanks for the engagement and tips on my previous post, I love the Linux community and our little corner of the internet. I await the day where our pride and joy is mainstream, along with so many others I'm sure. I hope you have a great day/night :).

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like GRUB, it's what I've always used and it's never failed me. I don't like messing around with bootloader stuff for reasons like this. If I was only using 1 OS then yeah I'd probably use efibootmgr or something and just have it jump straight in.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

it's never failed me

Are you sure that it's never failed you? Because that's not what this sounds like; you may have Stockholm syndrome.

There's a whole specification for sharing /boot and /efi partitions across multiple distributions. GRIB doesn't implement it. Give systemd-boot a go, the transition is painless.