From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Mar 24 20:08:54 2005 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id AAB0E16A4CE for ; Thu, 24 Mar 2005 20:08:54 +0000 (GMT) Received: from mxsf29.cluster1.charter.net (mxsf29.cluster1.charter.net [209.225.28.229]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E8F5E43D5C for ; Thu, 24 Mar 2005 20:08:53 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from pathiaki@pathiaki.com) Received: from mxip15.cluster1.charter.net (mxip15a.cluster1.charter.net [209.225.28.145])j2OK8qG7011524 for ; Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:08:52 -0500 Received: from cpe-68-184-36-187.ma.charter.com (HELO pc4.atlantisservices.com) (68.184.36.187) by mxip15.cluster1.charter.net with ESMTP; 24 Mar 2005 15:08:53 -0500 X-Ironport-AV: i="3.91,119,1110171600"; d="scan'208"; a="845541732:sNHT14001560" From: "Paul J. Pathiakis" To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:08:51 -0500 User-Agent: KMail/1.7.2 References: <1735169762.20050324050924@wanadoo.fr> <1473492382.20050324195730@wanadoo.fr> In-Reply-To: <1473492382.20050324195730@wanadoo.fr> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-Id: <200503241508.51834.pathiaki@pathiaki.com> cc: Anthony Atkielski Subject: Re: What's an easy way to replace a drive? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 20:08:54 -0000 On Thursday 24 March 2005 13:57, Anthony Atkielski wrote: > Gary Smithe writes: > > May not be the best answer, but if the drive's data is still intact > > (i.e. readable) and the replacement will be identical, maybe try DD > > or similar from a bootable "rescue" cd, like freesbie? If not > > that, then you may be able to copy the data between the 2 drives > > using same said bootable CD after creating the partitions. > > Is it possible to dd the entire contents of one drive into a single > file on another drive (assuming the latter drive is big enough)? If > so, I could save time by just copying the drive wholesale to a huge > file on another drive, replacing it, then copying everything back. > Not sure if "whole drive" would include content outside the FS, > though (?). Also, just an fyi.... Under just about any circumstances, mirror the root drive with either hardware (if your motherboard supports it) or (THANK GOD FOR POUL AND PAWEL) use geom_mirror. It will save you an incredible amount of headaches if you can't do fdisk and bsdlabel confidently. If configured correctly, just pull the bad drive, install another, tell it to sync up. All done. In a hot swap box, no down time needed. P.