Wizard's Nook ... Beware of the Three-Headed Dog. Tips, Tricks and a bit/byte of News.

wizardfromoz

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Quite a number of The Viewers will have read in various Threads that I run about 90 Linux.

A small number of Members have asked - What are they?

With the latest of those having asked me in the last week, I decided I might as well publish what I run, and so if you are thinking of trying a Distro that is not mainstream, and see that I have it onboard, then at least you know someone else is using it.

MY WORKING ENVIRONMENT

I have two (2) rigs in regular use.

The one in the Garage is a Dell Inspiron 5770 laptop (AMD), i7, 16 GB RAM, with a 2 TB Seagate HDD as /dev/sda and a 256 GB Micron SSD (SATA) as /dev/sdb. It has a Western Digital My Book 25EE 4 TB powered USB 3.0 external drive, and that is where I house most of my Distros, and use for storage, and Home functions. This is my primary rig.

Its predecessor, in the Laundry, is a Toshiba Satellite S70t-A laptop (Intel), i7, 8GB RAM, with a 1TB Toshiba HDD /dev/sda, nVidia graphics. This is my secondary rig.

Primary rig contents are below.


PRIMARY RIG - DELL
DISTRO NAME & VERSIONFAMILY-ROLLING-POINT RELEASEDEVICEARCHITECTURE-BIOS-UEFI &cDESKTOP ENVIRONMENT/
STATUS
Linux Lite 4.2 (18.04)​
Debian - point/dev/sda64-bit BIOS-MBRXfce
Lubuntu 18.04.2​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sda64-bit BIOS-MBRLXDE
Linux Mint 19 Tara​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Peppermint 9 Nine​
Debian - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTPeppermint - XFCE
Debian GNU/Linux 9.8​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Linux Mint 19 Tara​
Debian - point - LTS​
/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia​
Debian - point - LTS (16.04)/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Parrot 4.7​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
elementary OS 5.0 Juno​
Debian - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTPantheon
Ubuntu 18.04.2​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Ubuntu 18.04.2Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Peach OSI - Works (16.04)​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTDeepin
Calculate Linux​
Gentoo/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Peach OSI Patriot 19.4​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Antergos Linux​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTKDE
Mageia 7​
RPM - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce - bug reported
SwagArch GNU/Linux​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
ArchArch - rolling/dev/sdc VM host Swagarch64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Debian GNU/Linux 9.x​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
openSUSE Leap 15.0​
RPM - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTBroken, needs replacing
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Kali GNU/Linux Rolling​
Debian - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Peppermint 10​
Debian - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTPeppermint - Xfce
MX 18.3 Continuum​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
AnthurestaOS​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTBroken, needs replacing
Condres OS (19.06)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Condres OS (19.03)Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Fedora 30 (Workstation Edition)​
RPM - based/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Linux Mint 18.1 Serena​
Debian - point - LTS (16.04)/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Pop!_OS 18.04​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Bluestar Linux​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTKDE
Linux Lite 4.2​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Zorin OS 15​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Linux Mint Debian Edition 'Cindy'Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Zorin OS 12.4​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Deepin 15.10.1​
Debian/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTDeepin
ArcoLinux (v19.02.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
ArcoLinux (v19.02.4)Arch - rolling/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Linux Mint 19.1 TessaDebian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Ubuntu 18.04.1​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Linux Mint 19 TaraDebian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Robolinux 10.1​
Debian - point - LTS (18.04.2)/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Linux Mint 19 Tara​
Debian - point - LTS (18.04)/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
 
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The above is a work in progress, just let me finish it off my tomorrow. Sorry

EDIT - the above is completed now, some length longer than that previously submitted.
 
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Very interesting title Wiz. I had no clue what the thread would be about :). But I like it, don't get me wrong.
I noticed that you appear to have the same distro loaded a couple times, but with different desktops. Why did you do it that way, instead of loading multiple desktops on 1 distro? Also, are they VMs or are they actually installed to your hard drive and appear in Grub every time you boot?
 
I have a dozen desktop computers running Linux distros and Windows OSs.

The Windows XP computers are for engineering software / amateur radio software / Microsoft Flight Simulators, these computers never go online.

The Windows 10 computers (Sigh) are used by the wife.

I'm no longer a distro hopper, I just run a half dozen different Linux distros on a half dozen different computers and these are daily drivers.
 
Goodness gracious, I am on my 2nd coffee for my Tuesday morning and what an overwhelming response - thanks, my friends, for the interest :D. And 416 views in 14 hours - I don't know if I could beat that in telling you how to win the Lottery.

This is my first time out using @Rob 's recent addition, Tables, and the facility is very good, but I had difficulties breaking out of it to add outside text. I will ask him if I am holding my mouth the wrong way?

So expect to see #1 change today, and then I'll detail the contents of the Toshiba Satellite, which has a similar number of Distros. Following that, I will start with some tips, tricks and news, but I am happy to entertain questions on my setup at any time.

On that note, and in response:

I noticed that you appear to have the same distro loaded a couple times, but with different desktops. Why did you do it that way, instead of loading multiple desktops on 1 distro?

TJ - I tried the multiple DE route back with the Mint 17 series, had issues with it. At that time, they had 4 flavours - MATE, KDE, Xfce and their flagship, Cinnamon. With the 19 series they have dropped KDE.

I started with MATE as the base, and added on, and when I got to KDE, I found it was not a pure KDE, in that Kate was not the default GUI Text Editor. I reversed the procedure, starting with KDE and the default apps were all loaded, but there were still glitches, I have not tried it since.

Also, are they VMs or are they actually installed to your hard drive and appear in Grub every time you boot?

All but one are full installs, the entry on Arch-based Swagarch, has below it, Arch MATE and that is in a Virtualbox VM under host Swagarch.

Here is an example of one of my Grubs (I use a different background for each time a different Distro is in Primary Partition spot)


ZWKceJn.jpg


The above was taken not long after I had reformatted my drive, and the computer was still being re-populated.

Grub nowadays goes to a full 2 pages.

What, no Slackware? Nyuk, nyuk

Stay tuned, Paul - I will be picking your brains when I install some slackware :D

I have a dozen desktop computers running Linux distros and Windows OSs.

Tom, you are a better man than me, Gunga Din.

Cheers all, and back with more as soon as I can.

Wizard
 
Goodness gracious, I am on my 2nd coffee for my Tuesday morning and what an overwhelming response - thanks, my friends, for the interest :D. And 416 views in 14 hours - I don't know if I could beat that in telling you how to win the Lottery.

This is my first time out using @Rob 's recent addition, Tables, and the facility is very good, but I had difficulties breaking out of it to add outside text. I will ask him if I am holding my mouth the wrong way?

So expect to see #1 change today, and then I'll detail the contents of the Toshiba Satellite, which has a similar number of Distros. Following that, I will start with some tips, tricks and news, but I am happy to entertain questions on my setup at any time.

On that note, and in response:



TJ - I tried the multiple DE route back with the Mint 17 series, had issues with it. At that time, they had 4 flavours - MATE, KDE, Xfce and their flagship, Cinnamon. With the 19 series they have dropped KDE.

I started with MATE as the base, and added on, and when I got to KDE, I found it was not a pure KDE, in that Kate was not the default GUI Text Editor. I reversed the procedure, starting with KDE and the default apps were all loaded, but there were still glitches, I have not tried it since.



All but one are full installs, the entry on Arch-based Swagarch, has below it, Arch MATE and that is in a Virtualbox VM under host Swagarch.

Here is an example of one of my Grubs (I use a different background for each time a different Distro is in Primary Partition spot)


ZWKceJn.jpg


The above was taken not long after I had reformatted my drive, and the computer was still being re-populated.

Grub nowadays goes to a full 2 pages.



Stay tuned, Paul - I will be picking your brains when I install some slackware :D



Tom, you are a better man than me, Gunga Din.

Cheers all, and back with more as soon as I can.

Wizard
I only have one brain cell left, but you're welcome to it.;):p
 
I have a dozen desktop computers running Linux distros and Windows OSs.
I've pared it down to 4. I use a 4 port KVMA switch. Keeps the clutter down on the operating table, leaving more room for my straight key and log book. (and that stack of drive caddies in the corner:).)
 
My Apologies Wizard as I'm off topic.

Indeed? What is your call?:cool:
I haven't been on any amateur bands in 10 years.
I kinda lost interest as it just ain't the same as it was in the old days.

Hell there giving a license to anyone who can pass a multiple choice test.
I have considered dusting off the amateur radios and powering them on again.
 
Tom, no need to apologise, this is General LInux, and so I have undeleted your Post in order to answer Paul's question. Hope it is no intrusion :)

I have noted a few ham fans over the last 2 years I have been here.

Perhaps you can start up a Thread at Off Topic?

https://www.linux.org/forums/off-topic.203/

Cheers all

Wiz
 
In the Spoiler below is a list of the Distros that are currently on the Toshiba Satellite laptop, my secondary rig.

There are some duplicated between the 2 rigs and I will weed those out and generate another Table to show what is unique to the Toshiba.

There are also some old point releases no longer supported, eg

Ubuntu 17.10 'Artful Aardvark' GNOME edition and MATE edition. I will be replacing these soon.

Problem with the Toshiba is that it has a lot of sticky keys (too many coffee spills, beer spills, nicotine stains) so it is a nightmare to type with as it stands.

Once I pop off all 100 + keys and clean them and replace, I will reformat the HDD - likely :)

It is at partition /dev/sda50 at the moment, and with 8 GB RAM getting sluggish, so I will trim it down a lot.

Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya (18.2) on /dev/sda10
Zorin OS 12.3 (12) on /dev/sda11
Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS (16.04) on /dev/sda12
Pearl Linux 6.0 (artful) (6.0) on /dev/sda13
openSUSE Tumbleweed on /dev/sda14
MX-16.1 Metamorphosis (16.1) on /dev/sda15
Peppermint 8 Eight (8) on /dev/sda16
Sabayon/Linux on /dev/sda17
Manjaro Linux (18.0.0) on /dev/sda18
Linux Lite 3.8 (16.04) on /dev/sda19
Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia (18.3) on /dev/sda2
Vinux 5.1 LTS (14.04) on /dev/sda20
Arch Linux on /dev/sda21
Ubuntu 17.10 (17.10) on /dev/sda22
Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS (16.04) on /dev/sda23
MX 17 Horizon (17) on /dev/sda24
SwagArch GNU/Linux (rolling) on /dev/sda25
Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia (18.3) on /dev/sda26
Ubuntu 17.10 (17.10) on /dev/sda27
Freespire 3.0.1 (16.04) on /dev/sda28
Netrunner 17.10 (17.10) on /dev/sda29
Netrunner Rolling (2018.01) on /dev/sda30
Linux Mint 19 Tara (19) on /dev/sda31
Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS (18.04) on /dev/sda33
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (18.04) on /dev/sda34
Antergos Linux on /dev/sda35
Anarchy Linux (rolling) on /dev/sda36
Manjaro Linux (18.0.0) on /dev/sda39
Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia (18.3) on /dev/sda4
Peppermint 9 Nine (9) on /dev/sda41
Chakra (2017.10) on /dev/sda43
Kali GNU/Linux Rolling (kali-rolling) on /dev/sda44
elementary OS 0.4.1 Loki (0.4.1) on /dev/sda46
Manjaro Linux (18.0.0) on /dev/sda48
Fedora 28 (Workstation Edition) on /dev/sda49
Linux Lite 4.2 (18.04) on /dev/sda5
Manjaro Linux (17.1.12) on /dev/sda50
Debian GNU/Linux 9 (stretch) on /dev/sda6
Pearl Cinnamon 7.0 (Rolltide) (7.0) on /dev/sda7
Linux Mint 18.1 Serena (18.1) on /dev/sda8
Neptune (5) on /dev/sda9

Out for my evening, enjoy your Linux

Wizard
 
Quite a number of The Viewers will have read in various Threads that I run about 90 Linux.

A small number of Members have asked - What are they?

With the latest of those having asked me in the last week, I decided I might as well publish what I run, and so if you are thinking of trying a Distro that is not mainstream, and see that I have it onboard, then at least you know someone else is using it.

MY WORKING ENVIRONMENT

I have two (2) rigs in regular use.

The one in the Garage is a Dell Inspiron 5770 laptop (AMD), i7, 16 GB RAM, with a 2 TB Seagate HDD as /dev/sda and a 256 GB Micron SSD (SATA) as /dev/sdb. It has a Western Digital My Book 25EE 4 TB powered USB 3.0 external drive, and that is where I house most of my Distros, and use for storage, and Home functions. This is my primary rig.

Its predecessor, in the Laundry, is a Toshiba Satellite S70t-A laptop (Intel), i7, 8GB RAM, with a 1TB Toshiba HDD /dev/sda, nVidia graphics. This is my secondary rig.

Primary rig contents are below.


PRIMARY RIG - DELL
DISTRO NAME & VERSIONFAMILY-ROLLING-POINT RELEASEDEVICEARCHITECTURE-BIOS-UEFI &cDESKTOP ENVIRONMENT/
STATUS
Linux Lite 4.2 (18.04)​
Debian - point/dev/sda64-bit BIOS-MBRXfce
Lubuntu 18.04.2​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sda64-bit BIOS-MBRLXDE
Linux Mint 19 Tara​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Peppermint 9 Nine​
Debian - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTPeppermint - XFCE
Debian GNU/Linux 9.8​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Linux Mint 19 Tara​
Debian - point - LTS​
/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia​
Debian - point - LTS (16.04)/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Parrot 4.7​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
elementary OS 5.0 Juno​
Debian - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTPantheon
Ubuntu 18.04.2​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Ubuntu 18.04.2Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Peach OSI - Works (16.04)​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTDeepin
Calculate Linux​
Gentoo/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Peach OSI Patriot 19.4​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Antergos Linux​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTKDE
Mageia 7​
RPM - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce - bug reported
SwagArch GNU/Linux​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
ArchArch - rolling/dev/sdc VM host Swagarch64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Debian GNU/Linux 9.x​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
openSUSE Leap 15.0​
RPM - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTBroken, needs replacing
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Kali GNU/Linux Rolling​
Debian - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Peppermint 10​
Debian - point/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTPeppermint - Xfce
MX 18.3 Continuum​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
AnthurestaOS​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTBroken, needs replacing
Condres OS (19.06)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Condres OS (19.03)Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Fedora 30 (Workstation Edition)​
RPM - based/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Linux Mint 18.1 Serena​
Debian - point - LTS (16.04)/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Pop!_OS 18.04​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Bluestar Linux​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTKDE
Linux Lite 4.2​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Zorin OS 15​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Linux Mint Debian Edition 'Cindy'Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Zorin OS 12.4​
Debian - semi-rolling/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTGNOME
Deepin 15.10.1​
Debian/dev/sdc64-bit UEFI-GPTDeepin
ArcoLinux (v19.02.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
ArcoLinux (v19.02.4)Arch - rolling/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Linux Mint 19.1 TessaDebian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Ubuntu 18.04.1​
Debian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Linux Mint 19 TaraDebian - point - LTS/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Robolinux 10.1​
Debian - point - LTS (18.04.2)/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTMATE
Linux Mint 19 Tara​
Debian - point - LTS (18.04)/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTCinnamon
Manjaro Linux (18.0.4)​
Arch - rolling/dev/sdb64-bit UEFI-GPTXfce
Looks ike an "all you can eat Buffet", but methinks there is something missing:rolleyes:.
 
Chris, That is one mighty impressive GRUB image. I am glad to see that you are still up to your old ways. The most Linux distros that I have ever run at once is 11, but even that was confusing to my old brain cells, HA! HA! HA!

I'll be watching this thread for sure to pick up some tips.

Rocky Bennett
 
Can't you just use an external keyboard with it?

Small desk, very space-starved. It's where I bottle my beer (gotta look after the important things).

Wiz
 
I'm up to about 41 of 50 partitions on the Toshiba Satellite in order to present it to you, should have that completed next 24.

In the meantime, with the Title, I promised some Tips, so here's my first, and it involves a "Spot the Difference" question, see how you go.

TIP 1 COMING

The following two screenshots are of my partitioning on the Toshiba Satellite as seen from the GNOME Partition Editor aka GParted. I had to take it as two shots, because I can't fit it all in one shot due to the size (unless I changed my resolution to a difficult to read level).


xqoRBRj.png


SCREENSHOT 1 - MUCH OF /DEV/SDA


dkiE66B.png


SCREENSHOT 2 - THE REST OF /DEV/SDA

Continuing from the first shot, we pick up in the second shot where my cursor is placed, that is, at Linux Mint 19 'Tara' MATE.

The size of the Toshiba's single HDD is 1 TB, that is, 931.51 GiB, as shown top-right corner.

So my question for you is this

Q. What can you see about this partitioning layout that is exceptionally different to what you might expect, or have, yourself, if you are using UEFI-GPT ? (apart obviously, from the large number of partitions).

I can think of 3 - 5 differences, but it is one in particular, on which this Tip will focus.

See how you go, and I'll keep beavering away on that list of Distros and their DEs.

Enjoy your Linux and

Avagudweegend

Wizard
 
Watching what you do with multi-multi booting always amazes me, Wizard! o_O:D

So, I'll throw out my attempt to answer your riddle. The thing that struck me the most was that your ESP (EFI System Partiton) is at the END of the drive, rather than the beginning.

Cheers
 
I can think of 3 - 5 differences

Nice call, Stan, and that is one of them, but the one around which the Tip focuses.

That being said, the placement of the ESP is worth a tip in itself.

TIP 2 - ESP PLACEMENT

There are a lot of acronyms in Linux, ... and other Operating Systems, I might add :D

ESP is an acronym built on an acronym, namely that it means

EFI System Partition

where EFI means

Extensible Firmware Interface.

So where you install a GNU-Linux distro on a U(Unified)EFI computer (as opposed to just BIOS), an ESP will be created, or you will create it yourself if taking manual control over the partitioning.

It will be formatted to FAT32, and The Pundits (they whom seemingly know everything) will tell us it should be 300 MB in size, or at least 100 MB.

The Pundits do not do a lot of multi-multi-booting. :p

If you look at my 2nd screenshot in #18, you can see that, even with 42 Distros on my /dev/sda there, I am only consuming 47.07 MiB, of a 549 MiB - sized partition. Understand that all my UEFI-based Distros on the one drive share the same UEFI. 100 MiB would have been heaps for me.

The reason, knowing this, that I have 549 MiB is a legacy from when I installed Solus, which at that time insisted on a 550 MB ESP. A story for another time.

But, as with Solus, there can be occasions where you might need to grow your ESP to accommodate another Distro. Or indeed, adding Windows 8 or higher, which typically require UEFI, they will assign about 500 MB or more (still overkill).

TIP 2 IS

If you are planning to multiboot on a fresh drive, we'll call it /dev/sda - install your first Linux on /dev/sda1, and then your ESP on /dev/sda2. Initially, you can have it flanking /dev/sda1, but when you are preparing to install your 2nd Distro, use GParted to move /dev/sda2, the ESP, to the end of your drive. There, it can't get hemmed in by other Distros, and there is always room to grow it, if need be.


Place your new Distro at /dev/sda3 that you have created alongside /dev/sda1, and you are good to go.

WARNING


Do not move or "grow" your ESP unless you have
  1. Taken a full snapshot with Timeshift
  2. Have a Live USB stick or DVD holding Linux Mint 18 or newer (features Timeshift installed) or
  3. A Live USB of your fave Distro, with Persistence, and Timeshift installed on it.


Cheers

Wizard
 
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