[NTLUG:Discuss] Recommended partitioning scenario?

[Robert Citek]

On Sat, Aug 2, 2008 at 8:29 PM, Dennis Daupert <ddaupert at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> I'd like to do a dual boot setup, perhaps openSUSE
> 11.0 and Kubuntu 8.04.1. Does anyone have a
> recommendation for a sane, simple partitioning
> scenario?

I boot several different distros off a single drive using something
similar to this setup:

/dev/sda1 = vfat (with a /boot/grub folder)
/dev/sda2 = linux distro1
/dev/sda3 = linux distro2
/dev/sda4 = extended
/dev/sda5 = linux distro3
...

Each distro uses only one partition and each has its own /swapfile
(instead of swap partition).  Grub is installed to /dev/sda with its
main menu.lst on (hd0,0)/boot/grub/menu.lst, which looks something
like this:

default		saved
timeout		4
title		Ubuntu 7.04
    savedefault
    configfile	(hd0,1)/boot/grub/menu.lst

title		Ubuntu 8.04 desktop
    savedefault
    configfile	(hd0,2)/boot/grub/menu.lst

title		Knoppix 5.1.1
    savedefault
    configfile	(hd0,4)/boot/grub/menu.lst
...

I could create and share a swap partition, but don't because I'm not
sure if that would mess up hybernation/suspension.  I could also
create and share a /home partition, but don't.  Again, I'm not sure
how well the apps in different distros play with each other.

Regards,
- Robert