The Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook

Providing Shared Access to Filesystems

When it comes to exchanging and sharing data between OSs, one of the most fundamental issues is that of providing shared access to a common filesystem. Although I discuss some ways around this issue toward the end of this chapter, the most convenient way to share data is usually by providing two or more OSs with access to a single filesystem—either a filesystem native to one of the OSs or a third filesystem (often FAT) that both can access.

If providing optimal access and file sharing were as simple as using the OSs' native filesystems, this chapter wouldn't be necessary. Many OSs, however, don't ship with all the drivers necessary to access desirable foreign filesystems; or use of those foreign filesystems ...