this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2024
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Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Hi all,

I'm currently using Zorin OS, but I'd like to perhaps explore other Linux distributions. Is it possible to dual-boot another distro, and then if I'm satisfied and after having installed all the apps I need, to erase my Zorin OS partition and only use the other, new distro?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

You can always slap LVM or btrfs or ZFS on top to get more. But even with something more basic like ext4 you can still install multiple distros as long as they're in their own folder, and when you pivot root you pivot to a folder of it, it doesn't have to be the root of any filesystem. If you have a BIOS system technically you don't even need a partition table as syslinux fits the ext4 header and can boot from ext4.

I'd probably just do btrfs subvolumes or ZFS datasets though, more reliable and more manageable. And you don't waste space with individual partitions either.