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Date:      Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:40:43 +0200
From:      Michael Sperber <sperber@deinprogramm.de>
To:        Stefan Bethke <stb@lassitu.de>
Cc:        freebsd-stable@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: How to predict drive number change for 7.3->8.1 upgrade?
Message-ID:  <y9ly6b2f2lg.fsf@deinprogramm.de>
In-Reply-To: <C8117F8C-DDAF-47A4-A723-71AAEA6E22FA@lassitu.de> (Stefan Bethke's message of "Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:29:33 %2B0200")
References:  <y9l7himgit9.fsf@deinprogramm.de> <C8117F8C-DDAF-47A4-A723-71AAEA6E22FA@lassitu.de>

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Stefan Bethke <stb@lassitu.de> writes:

> Am 16.09.2010 um 11:05 schrieb Michael Sperber:
>
>> I just upgraded my desktop system from 7.3 to 8.1, and the main hard
>> drive, which was /dev/ad6 before is now /dev/ad10.  Consequently, the
>> initial boot failed when trying to mount the root file system from ad6.
>> 
>> The desktop system is now fixed, but I also have a rented server with
>> only a serial console, and I worry that the upgrade is going to leave me
>> with a dead machine.  Is there any way to predict how the drive number
>> changes?  (Why does it change at all?)  If so, what's the proper way to
>> tell the system the initial root device *before* rebooting?
>
> If you have a serial console, you can always enter the root device at
> the prompt, so you can recover there.

I know.  But given the serial-console problems recently reported here, I
was a bit reluctant to take the risk.

> Long-term, the best option is to label your filesystems or partitions,
> and use the label entries in fstab instead of the device names.  I
> don't remember what 7.3 offers in terms of labels, but glabel should
> be available.  Check tunefs if it offers the -L volname option, that's
> even better.

That sounds like a good idea.  Thanks!

-- 
Regards,
Mike



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