Reloading OS

[JHL_1]

Hello all,

While a quick question, I'm sure the answer is not. I continue to read responses that include "Reload OS..." that may seem like a quick and easy response but I'm not so sure. I've been talking to several people within my group and the consensus is "well let's reload the OS...". How realistic am I to think this can be done within a few days and what happens to my kernel, user config etc? Are there any specific links anyone can think of?

Thanks always for your help.

John

[JHL_1]

Boy was that generic. Ok, most of the boxes are N, V and K boxes respectively. All are running 11.0.

[Christopher McCray_1 · Accepted solution]

I want to give you a quick answer first because there is such an answer. If you reload the OS, there is actually two ways of doing this: using the install CD or by using the ignite tape. If you use the CD, yes your current configuration will go away and you will have to reconfigure everything again, to inlude kernel, user accounts, applications and special drivers for devices not on the core install CD. Reconfiguration can be accomplished in a few days, depending on what you had previously.

Using an ignite tape, however, will bring you back to speed concieveably within a couple of hours, depending on how current it is. An ignite tape takes a bootable image of your vg00 to be used in the instance of such failures requiring a reload of the os. The software is free and on the hp website for downloading, or on the application CDs. Having said all this, I'll now search out some links for you.

Hope this helps.

Chris

[Craig Rants]

John,
Reloading is prefered to upgrades if that is what you are getting at. If you are concerned with time and getting all the individual files you've customized into a build, your process could be much shorter if you had an ignite server. You can customize your OS loads to include customized options. This may take more time up front, but if you build a few boxes a year, your time will be well spent.

Good Luck,
C

[Santosh Nair_1]

If you're looking to set up several machine indentically, then I would second Craig's suggestion of setting up an Ignite server. Once the server is setup, set up one machine with all the driver, kernel parameters and root VG configured just the way you want and then use this machine to create a golden image that you can use to set up the other machines. Conceivably you can set up several machine within a few hours with an ignite server with very little interaction. Best of all, Ignite is free and supported by HP.

Hope this helps.

-Santosh

[Tom Geudens]

Hi John,
Now I've read the two previous answers to this thread ... and I may be making a fool of myself here, but what exactly is the question/problem ? Why would you reload an OS - whatever it exactly means ... and I must say I don't understand it 100% ... must be my poor understanding of the language - if there's nothing wrong with the systems ?

Can you - or one of the others who do seem to understand your question help me out here ?Regards,
Tom

[JHL_1]

Tom,

There's several reasons we're considering re-loading the Kernel. Problems (many)re-booting, utilities such as sybase that will not run (we're convinced it more patch related here), errant kernel changes (that can probably be fixed by hand - I know). What concerns some of us is there's too many spoons in the pot - all of which are making changes.

Solution 1 - remove spoons.
Solution 2 - (try) to reload kernel

Thanks guys

[Christopher McCray_1]

I opt for option 1. There must be some hierarchy, planning and coordination in any process, or your just spinning your wheels.

Still searching...

Chris

[Darrell Allen]

Hi John,

Whatever you choose to do, be sure to document each step. Then as you make changes to try to find the problem(s), limit you changes to one thing at a time. Often the temptation is great to make several changes at a time. If a problem arises, which change caused it? Or if one of the changes corrected the problem, which one was it?

I believe rebuild a system is a drastic measure that generally can be avoided. However, there are some times the system may be so messed up that the only feasible option is to revert to a known, good state.

Heaven help you if you have several managers and / or "customers" screaming at you all at once with their own, individual "suggestions".

Darrell

[JHL_1]

Are there any links detailing both technical, or perhaps even better "cookbook/white-paper-like" documents? If for no other reason than to make an argument and/or better understand what is done during the re-installation process.

Thanks again guys.