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

Thanks.

AG