I want to set up a multi boot configuration for my lab computer(s)

I will be doing this with multiple hard drives and it seems like I have 3
choices in how to set this up and I'm trying to sort out the pros and cons
of each method. I have a 2 x 2.5 gig and 13 gig HD spare HDs to use for
this and will be switching between W2K Pro and server installations.

1. Use a removeable hard drive rack and have 3 HDs installed in trays and
just swap out the drive trays as I want to change OS.

2. Install 3 hard drives in the machine and use the BIOS boot sequence to
control which drive the system boots from.

3. Install 3 HDs in the machine and Install W2K pro and server multiple
times letting W2K manage the boot via boot.ini.


What do you think would give the most flexibility and least trouble?
I just need to boot W2K Pro and server now, but might want to install Linux
as well in the future.

Report this post to a moderator

Why not partition the drive(s) and let the boot file be selected at startup?
Have OSs on one physical drive with multiple partitions, one for each OS.
Put data and swap files on separate physical drives. Have a drive for
downloads.
Have a spare OS drive ready to swapin in case of a crash.

"MCSEwannabe" <MCSEwannabe@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns923C877C35BA6MCSEwanna
be123@63.240.76.16...
> I want to set up a multi boot configuration for my lab computer(s)
>
> I will be doing this with multiple hard drives and it seems like I have 3
> choices in how to set this up and I'm trying to sort out the pros and cons
> of each method. I have a 2 x 2.5 gig and 13 gig HD spare HDs to use for
> this and will be switching between W2K Pro and server installations.
>
> 1. Use a removeable hard drive rack and have 3 HDs installed in trays and
> just swap out the drive trays as I want to change OS.
>
> 2. Install 3 hard drives in the machine and use the BIOS boot sequence to
> control which drive the system boots from.
>
> 3. Install 3 HDs in the machine and Install W2K pro and server multiple
> times letting W2K manage the boot via boot.ini.
>
>
> What do you think would give the most flexibility and least trouble?
> I just need to boot W2K Pro and server now, but might want to install
Linux
> as well in the future.
>
>

Report this post to a moderator

"Jim Macklin" <aandpmechanic4@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:#b3lwP8HCHA.1156@cpimsnntpa03:

> Why not partition the drive(s) and let the boot file be selected at
> startup? Have OSs on one physical drive with multiple partitions, one
> for each OS.

The scenario is for my study lab PCs. I have a bunch of smaller drives
laying around, most aren't very large. ( 2gig - 6 gig ) One of my desired
objectives (sounds like a test, eh? ) is that I can wipe an OS and re-
install without any concern over the effect on other OS partitions.

> Put data and swap files on separate physical drives.
> Have a drive for downloads.
> Have a spare OS drive ready to swapin in case of a crash.

Makes sense for a real-world scenario. My real-world PC isn't getting
mucked with (much). It's just going to be a client for these test servers.

Report this post to a moderator

2 GB is plenty for Linux, 6 GB will run any OS. You can format any
partition w/o effecting other partitions on same drive. Put data files on
separate partition/drive. I have 20 GB drive with 6 partitions. If I have
to reinstall OS, it only effects one partition.


"MCSEwannabe" <MCSEwannabe@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns923CC41BA72A9MCSEwanna
be123@204.127.68.17...
> "Jim Macklin" <aandpmechanic4@hotmail.com> wrote in
> news:#b3lwP8HCHA.1156@cpimsnntpa03:
>
> > Why not partition the drive(s) and let the boot file be selected at
> > startup? Have OSs on one physical drive with multiple partitions, one
> > for each OS.
>
> The scenario is for my study lab PCs. I have a bunch of smaller drives
> laying around, most aren't very large. ( 2gig - 6 gig ) One of my desired
> objectives (sounds like a test, eh? ) is that I can wipe an OS and re-
> install without any concern over the effect on other OS partitions.
>
> > Put data and swap files on separate physical drives.
> > Have a drive for downloads.
> > Have a spare OS drive ready to swapin in case of a crash.
>
> Makes sense for a real-world scenario. My real-world PC isn't getting
> mucked with (much). It's just going to be a client for these test servers.
>
>

Report this post to a moderator