[plug] Re: Looking for help maintaining a linux domain server

[Lucas van Staden]

Hi,

Taking into consideration Heather's explanation, regarding their linux 
(or general computer) knowledge,
the steps may need to be explained a bit further, for example, 'how to 
boot into run level 1'

Also, I think the original message is a bit vague:

'...

says it has problems with the hard drive

...'



Could this be expanded as to what the exact issue is? Possible the issue 
does not require a new hard drive, but some simple hard drive 
maintenance/checking?

I have an alternative, remote admin suggestion:

1. Connect a new hard drive as suggested by Leon
2. Download one of the Live linux cd's and boot from that, making sure 
networking is enabled. (If Heather needs help on selecting which live cd 
to use, and how to enable it's networking, I am sure we can help with that)
3. Configure router/connection to allow ssh access to the box (this may 
be the most tricky part)
4. Someone can access the  box remotely and do the copy as suggested by 
Leon, as the main hd will not be in play.

I have not tried this method before, but of the top of my head, it 
sounds viable....
This may not work, and I welcome coments as to why, or how it can be 
done remotely.

-Lucas




 


Leon Brooks wrote:
> On Friday 19 December 2008 18:46:39 Patrick quoted:
>   
>>> My Windows computer man and I know enough to be
>>> dangerous and I currently need urgent support for a
>>> box that says it has problems with the hard drive.
>>>       
>
> Heather, replacing a hard drive in a Linux server is
> typically very simple.
>
> Acquire a replacement hard drive of similar or larger
> capacity (e.g. IDE or SATA, almost _anything_ will be
> larger). Plug the drive in to an unused drive connector
> on the motherboard or into a USB caddy, then into a USB
> socket.
>
> Start the computer in single-user mode (runlevel 1).
>
> Copy the entire drive (e.g. typical of copying an IDE
> drive into a drive in a USB caddy):
>
>     dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/sda
>
> Wait for copy to complete. Force disk cache to flush
> completely:
>
>     sync
>     (wait 10 secs)
>     sync
>
> Shut down (init 0), power down, place the new drive into
> the original drive socket.
>
> When sure all is working, now is a good time to perform
> software updates. I will be in Perth between 24Dec &
> 28Dec if you need a warm body to do this, then back
> again in mid Jan.
>
> Instead of placing the new drive into the original socket
> you can place the new drive into a new machine. This is
> possible, for example, after copying IDE drive's content
> onto a SATA drive. There will probably be 2 or 3 steps
> of configuration to do if the devices (e.g. ethernet
> card(s)) are not identical.
>
> Cheers; Leon
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