Re: Moving a harddrive to newer machine
On Wed, Jul 16, 2003 at 09:23:40PM +0200, Kjetil Kjernsmo wrote:
> I was just given a box with a PIII processor, and I intend to use it
> to replace my main server, which currently has a Pentium PRO 180 MHz.
>
> The new box doesn't have a hard disk, but that's OK, because I can
> just take the hard disk out of the old machine and put it into the new
> one. Everything is on that disk.
>
> However, that's the scary part, because what do I do if that disk is
> damaged in the process?
Cry, shout obsenities... Usually works for me... You do have backups,
right?
> Obviously, I have backed up all unique material that is on that disk,
> everything that I've created myself is on my workstation disk too.
Good.
> But I guess there is unnecessary to back up Debian, because that can
> more easily be recovered from the Debian archives. But, if something
> goes wrong, and I need to reinstall all the stuff that I've now got
> with minimal effort, what should I back up before I move? A list of
> packages I can just feed to apt, is that possible to create? Other
> smart ways to do this?
Most configuration items should be in /etc and it's subdirectories and
user configs should be under /home.
For a list of packages:
dpkg --get-selections > package.list
> The hardware is obviously quite different on this new box, but I'm
> running a unmodified Debian kernel-image-2.4.18-686 2.4.18-5. When the
> disk will suddenly find itself in a quite different machine, is it
> something I should remember, or should the kernel boot effortlessly on
> the new hardware?
Provided the kernel on the existing drive has support for the controller
in the new machine and is connected in the same position (same /dev
device) then it should at least start up. You may need to change things
for video, networking, etc. But you should at least have a functional
console.
> There's nothing like being given new hardware, is it...? :-)
Actually, giving it away is a rather nice feeling too...
--
Jamin W. Collins
Remember, root always has a loaded gun. Don't run around with it unless
you absolutely need it. -- Vineet Kumar
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