How to install and boot 145 operating systems in a PC

[ha14]

Hi
JustLinux member saikee has posted details of his system that boots 145 operating systems.

http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showt...hreadid=147959

How to install and boot 145 operating systems in a PC

This is the "howto" I promised to write after this thread.

The 145 systems are:-

3 Dos
5 Windows
137 Linux

I have also installed most of the PC-based BSD and Solaris together with a Darwin x86 too but these systems dislike to co-exist with a large number of other systems so I have to keep them off in another PC until I find a way to tackle the technical issues. (edited : latest arrangement in Post #32, #33 and #34)

There are only 3 steps in this howto.


He created 152 partitions on 4 hard drives to get his system up and running. And he probably has the longest GRUB menu you've ever seen.


The slowest part was the choice of the system to boot!




--- Updated 8 Apr 09, Good news! kernel 2.6.28 and newer have finally decided to support large partitions. A report is here. I have managed to run a Ubuntu from sda130! Currently I am trying a 1.5 TB hard disk with 60 partitions and will report the progress later. The new kernel 2.6.28 is not universally available in every Linux and many teething troubles will have to overcome before a user can install a large number of operating systems into a hard disk but it is coming this way.

--- Updated 17 Sep 07, A warning added in Post #21 on 63 partitions in a Pata hard disk is no longer supported by Linux kernel newer than 2.6.20-------------------

--- Updated 20 Sep 07, a new nested Grub menu system + added Solaris and BSD systems showned in Post #32, #33 and #34 ----------------


I believe he didnt find trouble to get hired easily.

I added here since if someone new to the forum can inspire to instal multibooting system in his pc.

[hellnoire]

.... and I'll say my two cents of I didn't think GRUB or LILO could support so many OSes.

[Raymond]

LOL I chuckled when I read this because I was thinking that some people are actually so free to do this.

[muaan]

wow....
they need a new life lol

[ha14]

This should be challenged to go up then 145 os system. A spare pc with multiple hard drives is needed.

[rnbv424140]

well if one os takes hours i wonder how he had the time to install those. he must be so bored.

[QE_LiTHiUm]

I've tried 4 OS's on one PC, but 145 OS's .........

I averagely spend 30 mins on installing a windows XP + drivers.....

And about 45 for linux.....

If I manage to install all 145 OS = 30*5 + 137*45 = 6315 mins = 105 hours = 4½ Days without even drinking coffee .......... Have I gone Crazy ?

As you see it's not impossible, but time and Hard Drive wasting....

Imagine if the 67th linux got a serious problem ? How should I reinstall it ? ( all the 145 OS again ? )

And one last question ........ Who Can Work With All The 145 OS ? I Have AN XP + 7 , Most Of The Time I Use My 7.... I rarely Use My Xp ......

[hellnoire]

He never said he used all of them, he just said he installed them. (OP, not HA14).

[luffy]

Will the hard disk break down?

[hellnoire]

I doubt. It takes serious strain to kill a hard disk and you can't use all those OSes at once.