"Ghosting" Linux

[SimpleSi]

I set up one my primaries a year ago with a Ubuntu (Breezy adger) server to replace a Win98 "server"

 

Is there any easy way to clone it onto new hardware?

 

regards

 

Simon

[Geoff]

use partimage

 

http://www.partimage.org/Main_Page

 

If you want a prebuilt LiveCD with partimage on. Use SystemRescueCD.

 

http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

[NetworkGeezer]

Couldn't you just use Tar and Gzip/B2z as there no sid issues?

[Geoff]

be careful with /dev doing that.

[NetworkGeezer]

Wouldn't it be OK so long as did it from a LiveCD or swing partition?

[Geoff]

Overkill, you can do it on the live system. Just tell tar not to traverse file system boundries. That'll keep you out of trouble most of the time.

 

tar  -lcpsjf backup.tar.bzip2 /*

 

bear in mind though with this method you'll have to:

 

1) partition and format your disk

2) setup your boot loader

 

on the new machine.

[budgester]

use partimage

 

http://www.partimage.org/Main_Page

 

If you want a prebuilt LiveCD with partimage on. Use SystemRescueCD.

 

http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

 

I can vouch for the System Rescue CD.

 

I ended up using it to ghost a bunch of machines to the RM Smart Build Level as the gig nics (agere) in the pc's did not have a dos driver available, and it's not in the main kernel yet so couldn't get it to boot linux across the network either. Just follow the intructions and all will fine and loverly

[SimpleSi]

Thanks for replies.

 

So has anyone actually done this and how does Linux respond to the new hardware - will it be nice like Win98 or blue screen like XP?

 

regards

 

Simon

[CyberNerd]

depends. I've done it and it worked. I suspect it won't always because it will depend on the hardware and the kernel version - probably the best bet would be to install an i386 kernel rather than one for a specific processor /hardware (k7, ati etc) image the disk and try it.

[Geoff]

yep stick with a generic kernel and you'll be fine. Other hardware should be ok. But test compatability with a LiveCD beforehand.

[budgester]

My old home linux box went down, an epia via died on me, a while back, now this had an ubuntu 5.10 install on it, that had been upgraded to 6.06.

 

So i pulled the disk and threw it into a pentium 4 2ghz dell pc, so a fair difference in hardware, and the linux install just came up and worked with all the relevant drivers.

 

Yup stick with the stock i386 kernel and life will be wonderfull, all your dreams will come true and you will win the lottery.

 

Well ok maybe I went a bit over the top there, but "It will just work™"

[webman]

Well, since nobody's mentioned it yet, there's always Ghost for Linux

[ico2]

take a look at rsync