[CentOS] Moving files to new server

[Thomas E Dukes]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: centos-bounces at centos.org 
> [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On Behalf Of Johnny Hughes
> Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 11:15 AM
> To: CentOS ML
> Subject: RE: [CentOS] Moving files to new server
> 
> On Sun, 2006-03-05 at 11:01 -0500, Thomas E Dukes wrote:
> >  
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: centos-bounces at centos.org
> > > [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On Behalf Of Johnny Hughes
> > > Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 10:51 AM
> > > To: CentOS ML
> > > Subject: RE: [CentOS] Moving files to new server
> > > 
> > > On Sun, 2006-03-05 at 10:20 -0500, Thomas E Dukes wrote:
> > > >  
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: centos-bounces at centos.org
> > > > > [mailto:centos-bounces at centos.org] On Behalf Of Chris Mauritz
> > > > > Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 10:08 AM
> > > > > To: CentOS mailing list
> > > > > Subject: Re: [CentOS] Moving files to new server
> > > > > 
> > > > > Thomas E Dukes wrote:
> > > > > > Hello,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I am getting a new computer and am going to need to
> > > move the files
> > > > > > from the old to the new.  What is the best way to do this?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Should I install CentOS from scratch on the new computer
> > > > > then move the
> > > > > > directories I need?  How do I maintain permissions if this
> > > > > is the best way?
> > > > > >   
> > > > > 
> > > > > If you have the luxury of having both machines online at the 
> > > > > same time, why not just use the easy way out and use rsync?
> > > > > Or as someone else suggested, you could physically attach the 
> > > > > new drive to the old computer and copy the data to to it with
> > > any number
> > > > > of tools (tar/dump/cp/etc....).
> > > > > 
> > > > > Cheers,
> > > > 
> > > > I can put both online but have never used rsync nor dump.  
> > > The old pc
> > > > is old! A P3-450, 18GB HD.  The new one is a P4-3.0Ghz with
> > > 1GB ram.  
> > > > The way CentOS will do the partitions will probably be
> > > different than
> > > > from the old, especially the SWAP.
> > > 
> > > You don't need to copy swap.
> > > 
> > > > The old system has been upgraded numerous times since
> > > RedHat 8.0.  I
> > > > like the idea of a fresh install but want to make sure I have 
> > > > everything working on the new without missing something I
> > > installed on
> > > > the old one.
> > > 
> > > You can just use disk druid and create your partitions 
> any way you 
> > > want ...
> > > 
> > > I personally grab the old hard drive, stick it in the new 
> PC and use 
> > > rsync (or cp -a ) to copy each partition into the new one.
> > > 
> >  Hello Johnny,
> > 
> > I believe by default, CentOS will setup a /boot, / and SWAP 
> > partitions.  Is it still a good idea these days to create 
> one for /home and /var?
> > 
> 
> That depends on if you will need to add additional space 
> later specifically to those places.
> 
> We put lots of stuff in home in our server set ups ... and 
> var has lots things (like logs) that grow.  If you use LVM on 
> your machine, you can add new drives (Physical Volumes / PVs) 
> and add space to other partitions.  In this senerio, having 
> things like /tmp and /var and /home on separate partitions 
> helps to more easily add things.
> 
> But if the hard drive you have is not going to need to be 
> added to for the lifetime of your install ... then having 
> more than the 3 basic partitions is adding complexity that is 
> probably not required.
> 
> (With the exception of maybe home on a separate drive and 
> partition ...
> I do this with my main workstation.  So that I can do a new 
> install on another machine ... then move my home drive over.  
> This is helpful when do upgrades to new OSes, etc.)
> 
> For a normal setup though, where the machine is not probably 
> going to switch to a new OS, I normally just do a swap and 
> /boot and root partition.

Thanks for the info.  My current setup is with just the three partitions.  I
have never had any problems doing it that way and I'm very pleased with
CentOS which has been upgraded several times since Redhat 8.0. I had a few
bumps in the road with the Fedora releases but nothing major.  Just thought
I'd ask these question while I have an opportunity to change things a
little.  I have thought about adding a second HD for /home and /var and
still might do so while I have the chance.

Again, thanks!!
>