Using many OSs with a single /home

dor_13 · Oct 31, 2013

Assume you're having 4 different OSs:

and you have only a single /home partition.

Each OS:

■ is installed in a different partition
■ is using that single /home partition

Would it be error-free?
Would the different OSs conflict with each other?

I'm just interested in using all kinds of distributions, so I want to have a quad-boot setup.

13thmonkey · Oct 31, 2013

consider VM's vmware player is free and would allow a fully non conflicting system

Ijack · Oct 31, 2013

The home directory uses hidden files to store session information, desktop settings, etc., so there is quite a potential for conflicts here. As far as normal user data is concerned there is no problem with a shared home directory. To be really safe I would set up separate home directories for each OS. If you want to share files you could have a separate directory that was used by each of the OSs mapped into the separate home directories via a link.

stillblue · Oct 31, 2013

You could also consider installing your different versions in an extended volume in different partitions with one partition as a data partition. You can use vmware like suggested above and link to a shared folder on the main system as well.

Personally I'd go with 13thmonkey on this. Then you can have dozens of versions to test with no hassles.

Spac3nerd · Oct 31, 2013

Sharing /home can potentially create problems. I wouldn't even attempt sharing anything other than a swap between OSs.
Also, if you're a beginner, I would stay away from Gentoo at all costs. Trust me when I say that everything breaks if you don't update it daily(maybe not daily but very often nonetheless). Installing Gentoo is a great learning experience, but using it can be a pain.
You won't be missing out on much by using only one distro.

dor_13 · Oct 31, 2013

OK thank you guys.

I guess eventually I'll be having many OSs on different partitions (as initially intended), but each will have their own /home directory.
Then, I'll add a directory (in "/home" of each OS) that will link to a 'data' partition.

Spac3nerd: thx for the warning

Personally I don't like any type of virtual machine, it just annoys me :s

talktoarnab · Nov 5, 2013

The shortest and the simplest solution would have been using different usernames for the distros!!!!

Ijack · Nov 5, 2013

Well I guess the whole point of the question is that the OP wants to share files between different installations. This "simplest" solution wouldn't achieve that.

talktoarnab · Nov 6, 2013

Ijack :

Ijack · Nov 6, 2013

The choice of "Best solution" would appear to indicate that your assumption is incorrect. It would make little sense.

dor_13 · Nov 6, 2013

Ijack :

Indeed

I wanted to share my data files among OSs distributions (which are installed on different partitions)

stillblue · Nov 6, 2013

dor_13 :

If that is all you want to do then simply create a data partition in NTFS. It will show up and be read by any system you should install, Windows, Mac or Linux.

I thought you had wanted to share config files as well.

talktoarnab · Nov 6, 2013

Its not an assumption for my solution also I do this myself. When u access the othwr home folder from ur current os u surely can read the files. I admit u dont have the write access but u can surely read access. To ur current current os its just a directory its not associated to any of the user that it currently known to it.

Ijack · Nov 6, 2013

talktoarnab :

Of course it's an assumption, just as my answer made an assumption. You cannot possibly know exactly what the OP's requirement was. As it happens, from the solution selected, it looks like your assumption was wrong and mine was correct.

No point in continuing to flog a dead horse.

talktoarnab · Nov 6, 2013

Ijack :

Ok fine bro calm down ... I was just suggesting something. These threads are read by other users and visitors also and not only the person who is asking.. no hard feelings..

talktoarnab · Nov 6, 2013

Ijack :

Ok fine bro calm down ... I was just suggesting something. These threads are read by other users and visitors also and not only the person who is asking.. no hard feelings..

Ijack · Nov 6, 2013

I'm perfectly calm.

You have, of course, taken account of the fact that permissions are stored as UIDs and GIDs rather than usernames? The suggestion that you suggest is totally insecure and depends upon the UIDs assigned to different users by the different OSs.

By all means answer questions that other posters may ask, but I think it is less confusing to answer the question asked by the OP.

Using many OSs with a single /home

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