On 2018-07-17 23:08, Felix Miata wrote:
Carlos E. R. composed on 2018-07-17 22:13 (UTC+0200):
I almost always create an extra system; it can be a small partition only for testing, like 8 GB. 15 is much better.
Maximum size of my test /s is 10, but the vast majority are less than 7200M, mostly 5600M. When multibooting for the primary purpose of testing a beta that is expected to become a replacement main installation, then size of test / is best identical. That allows the test to become the operational via a rather simple cloning operation followed by distribution upgrade when upgrade rather than fresh is desired, without disturbing the existing normal.
My test partitions share a single /home/ and single /usr/local/ partition, are installed with recommends disabled, and have installed only one DE besides the default IceWM, so have modest space requirements.
My strategy is a main system, big, home plus root, and a small extra test/rescue system (single partition), 9..15 GB. Once done testing, I upgrade the main system, not switch.
I didn't on my last install, a small laptop with a small SSD. However, there is an alternative on modern laptops: an external hard disk via USB3.
USB is/are a(re) different bus(es), which is/are subject to different device enumeration order and thus different device name assignment. Thus, I never do USB HD boot.
Just use labels or uuids.
I use eSATA when I need to boot from an external HD. That way, the BIOS is able to assist when necessary with the problems variable device names can cause during rescue operations.
No such problems - there are no variable names if you choose the correct ones ;-) -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 42.3 x86_64 "Malachite" at Telcontar)