Multiple system configs on same Ubuntu install

[Thiers Botelho]

Hi all,

Short question #1:
If I want to have an Ubuntu instance with no X-server, AND another instance
with an X-server + LXDE, is it possible to achieve this with a SINGLE
install instead of a dual-boot ? I'd be using either one OR the other setup
at a time.

Long question:
I'm more or less of a noob regarding Linux and a total noob as to Ubuntu.
I'm planning to build an Ubuntu box just for hosting VirtualBox VMs, and
just learned that I can use a Linux instance without an x-server to achieve
that with VBoxHeadless (while hopefully learning quite a lot in the
process).
OTOH, I'd welcome being able to use the full VBox Gui to ease my learning
curve while setting up and tweaking the host and its VMs, and be able to
reboot at will when done with tweaking under the GUI and switching to a
X-less environment just to run VMs.
So my initial thought was of a dual-boot setup - one Ubuntu instance with an
X-server + LXDE, and another instance with no X-server - but then it
occurred to me that Ubuntu might allow me to achieve the same results with a
SINGLE install, where I might use GRUB entries, or maybe init scripts, or
maybe another toolset to toggle at will between both system layouts.
Is this at all possible ?

Short question #2:
If the answer to #1 could be YES, what would be the best tools to perform
this ?

I expect to do a lot of studying & experimenting in order to achieve this,
however I need some pointers on where to look first and on what alternatives
I might consider (or else ending up with a dual-boot Ubuntu 1 + Ubuntu 2
setup, which might be faster to get done initially but a greater hassle to
maintain over time).

Thx a lot for any input, ANY kind of comment will be much welcome.

Cheers

Thiers
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