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Neil Bothwick wrote: |
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> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:02:50 +0100, AG wrote: |
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> |
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> |
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>> (1) Looking through the background docs, it occurs to me that if I |
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>> wanted to install Gentoo on my system, I would need access to a second |
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>> machine that is running all of the on-line docs that guide one through |
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>> the installation process. Is this correct? If not, how does one refer |
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>> to the (seemingly quite comprehensive) guidelines whilst in the middle |
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>> of an installation? |
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>> |
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> |
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> Look at the alternate install docs. Although these relate to using a live |
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> CD like Knoppix, you can also use an already installed system for this. |
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> So you can install Gentoo from a chroot in your existing Debian system |
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> (you will may a live CD to repartition). That way you can not only read |
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> the docs, you can read your email, browse the web or play games while the |
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> installation proceeds. |
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> |
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> |
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Hmm ... it looks like I need to beef up my chroot know-how. My /home |
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partition is large enough to partition a dedicated area without problems |
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I'd imagine. That sounds a reasonably painless way forward, but not for |
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now. |
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>> (2) When Gentoo installs its libraries, does this duplicate the |
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>> libraries already on my machine? For instance - if I have OOo and KDE |
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>> and Xfce4 loaded as part of my Debian Squeeze system, will Gentoo also |
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>> install its own version of OOo, KDE and Xfce4 alongside the Deb files? |
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>> I was thinking that this would have a number of implications in terms |
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>> of space and (potentially) in how the drive is partitioned for the |
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>> Gentoo installation ... unless I'm missing the point? |
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>> |
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> |
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> Your Gentoo and Debian systems would, and should, be totally separate, |
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> apart from shared user data. |
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> |
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> |
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So ... changes to user documents, etc. in Gentoo would be reflected at |
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the next Debian login? Is this what you mean? |
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>> (3) What differences would I likely experience between running my |
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>> Debian installation and the Gentoo installation? After all, up to a |
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>> certain point GNU/Linux is GNU/Linux, and if I configured all the bells |
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>> and whistles the same way as I have currently got them set up (i.e. |
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>> preferred WM, desktop settings, applications, email and Net |
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>> preferences, etc.), I'm not sure there would be any ostensible |
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>> distinction between the two. |
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>> |
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> |
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> From a user perspective, you are right, Linux is Linux and different |
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> distros tend to be different ways of arriving at a similar point. The |
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> main difference is in the system administration. |
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> |
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> |
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Well put. |
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>> Any installation commitment will have to wait for a couple of weeks yet |
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>> though: I'm in the process of completing my MSc thesis and need to keep |
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>> a stable environment for the time being, so will look at taking this on |
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>> in a few weeks. This is thus background research - a bit of a |
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>> reconnaissance mission, so to speak. Any thoughts/ shared experiences |
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>> would be welcome ... unless there is another, more appropriate forum |
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>> for these kinds of experiences to be shared/ discussed. |
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>> |
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> |
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> Installing from within your existing system means you can fit the Gentoo |
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> installation process in around your other computer usage. |
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> |
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> |
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> |
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This sounds all the more doable. Clearly more reading is required, so |
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this will be parked for a while longer until time permits. Then with |
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back-ups and good docs, it sounds like it might be an interesting winter |
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project to take on. |
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Thanks. |
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AG |
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