clone a server

[Ratzie]

I briefly read that you can use make_tape_recovery to clone a system.
I would like to try this on my server, as I am setting up an identicle box for developement.

The only thing is that this box would only have 2 or 1 cpu's (not sure) instead of the 4 that is in the server now. As well, I dont think I will have all drives.

Now I am thinking, and it could be wrong. That when you create a make_tape_recovery with the -i option, on boot, it will go into interactive mode and you can modify the files needed. IE host name, ip, etc.

Is this correct?

Another question...
On boot will it make the correct changes in the kernel for the correct amount of cpu's?

Am I on the right track, I have never done this before and it would save quite a bit of time.

I will only need to do the vg=00 drive?

[Michael Tully]

If you create the tape this way, it will make it in interactive mode. You can make a number of changes including filesystem sizes. The number of cpu's won't matter. The below only creates for your vg00 volume group.

# /opt/ignite/bin/make_tape_recovery -x inc_entire=vg00 -I -v -a /dev/rmt/?mn

Using the latest ignite version, will fix the kernel problems.
You can get the latest ignite version from here:
http://www.software.hp.com/products/IUX/download.html

[Michael Steele_2 · Accepted solution]

Along as you stay within HW classes cloning works just fine. In fact, this is my preferred way of O/S installation because, as you pointed out, the kernel parameters are preset. But the patches and drivers are already installed too and usually in less than two hours its done.

Collect all your ioscans, boot disks, O/S file system sizes, hostname, ip, gateway, ntp, nis, swap sizes, RAM, etc.

Boot off of a tape.

Interrupt at 10 second prompt. (* don't opt for automatic recovery *)

Advanced installation.

Use tab, enter and arrow keys. Fill in all the data fields. Modify.

[Fred Myers_1]

Actually if the HW is the same, or at least the Drives are the same, and you are truely wanting to recreate the server, the fastest way to do this is the dd command.

just dd the VG00 non mirror disk: take it out, place in the new server at the same location. at boot interupt

bo pri
Interact with ipl Yes
hpux -isl

After it comes up do a set_parms initial, finish bringing up the server on the network. Bang! you have an exact copy of the server preserving EVERYTHING exactaly as it was in VG00.