Migrating to Ubuntu whilst not rebooting # was Re: [Gloucs] Migrating to Ubuntu whilst retaining old files/drives

[Simon Lewis]

Hey Andrew,

I think you should use the following "real man" approach:

1) back up ypur files if you are feeling scared...
2) boot from a ubuntu live cd
3) copy all your important data and config files to somewhere safe
4) delete all your files on the software raid drives that are part of  
red hat install.
5) debootstrap ubuntu onto your drives.
6) install grub
7) set up grub to use your software raid drives
8) copy your config files, chroot and set up crontab etc
9) Reboot into your new OS with all your files still there.
10) Tell me at the GLUG meeting how you got on.

;)



On 15 Feb 2007, at 12:02, Andrew Oakley wrote:

>
> I wish to migrate my home Linux server from Fedora Core 2 (commandline
> only install, no GUI) to the latest LTS Ubuntu (with GUI), and need  
> some
> advice.
>
> The server is used as a Samba fileserver using two pairs of software
> RAID1 mirrors, a Samba printer server, an Apache web server for test
> projects only, an iptables-based NAT router/firewall and Sendmail SMTP
> server which acts as a backup MX for a number of domains.
>
> By "migrate" what I mean is completely destroy and re-install from
> scratch, but I wish to retain the files on the Samba share, which are
> spread across /dev/md0 and /dev/md1 . There are only four drives and I
> don't have a spare.
>
> / is mounted on /dev/md0 together with half of the shared files.
>
> So far, the best way I can think is:
>
> * Take a backup of /dev/md0 onto DVDs
> * Take one drive out of the /dev/md0 pair, giving me Spare#1
> * Install Ubuntu on Spare#1 using ext3 filesystem (so as to retain
> compatibility with software RAID)
> * Boot from Spare #1
> * Copy all the files over from /dev/md0 to Spare#1
> * Destroy /dev/md0, giving me Spare#2
> * Create a new /dev/md0 based on Spare#1, then hotadd Spare#2 to that.
>
> Will this work? Any better suggestions?
>
> What about the users and permissions on the old filesystem? Will I be
> able to access all the files on the old /dev/md* devices (ex-Fedora)
> from the new Ubuntu OS? Will I need to ensure I re-create all the  
> users
> and passwords identical to the Fedora OS, or can I copy vast  
> swathes out
> of /etc/passwd and just pray?
>
> ps. Bear in mind that the Fedora Core OS is a commandline-only  
> install,
> and I have NEVER used a Linux GUI. If the whole thing can be done via
> the terminal, I'm a much happier chap.
> ___________________________
>
> Andrew Oakley
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