I'm considering setting up my ThinkPad with a 512GB SSD for dual booting different Linux distributions. I've never done this before, but I'm thinking about creating four 128GB partitions. I'd like to install my main OS, Linux Mint, on one partition and use the other three for exploring and trying out various distributions. Is this a viable approach, and are there potential issues I should be aware of?
2 Answers
I highly recommend setting up an LVM (Logical Volume Manager). This makes handling multiple distros much easier since you can expand, shrink, or add new volumes without reformatting or changing partitions. Trust me, it makes managing your setups smoother in the long run.
Allocating around 40GB for your main Linux install is generally a good practice. However, if you want flexibility, consider using BTRFS. With BTRFS, you can create subvolumes that act like partitions but share space, which helps in avoiding wasted space. Just a heads up, not all distros let you install directly to a subvolume, so you might need to set up a larger BTRFS partition and copy your installation to a subvolume later.
Sounds like a solid plan! LVM does have a bit of a learning curve, but it really pays off by keeping everything organized.