Using Ignite-UX to reinstall server from 18Gb to 73Gb disks

[uts]

I have an N-class server with 2 internal 18Gb disks currently. I will be replacing these with 2 x 73Gb disks and will be using Ignite to reinstall the server. Are there any special steps I have to take for it to recognise the larger disks or are there any problems I could encounter?

Also, the data on this server resides on a set of EMC disks. Do I need to do a vgexport or anything before rebuilding the server or will the volume group automatically be available?

[Stefan Farrelly · Accepted solution]

using ignite to reinstall to larger OS disks is the preferred method, weve done it loads of times and it works perfectly. Nothing special you need to watch out for.

After the reinstall you will only have vg00. You will need to id all your other disks and which VG's they are in (or use vgscan to do it) and import them all manually. Its up to you if you export them first, you dont need to. Just make a careful note of which disks are in which vg.

[uts]

Thanks for the response - that is what I wanted to be clear on. The data VG in question is a serviceguard volume group. Does that matter or can I still export and import as normal?

[T G Manikandan]

This doc can help u

http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000067004327

[Patrick Wallek]

Actually, after you reinstall from you Ignite tape, since you are reinstalling to the same machine, your EMC VGs should be imported and mounted automatically, assuming your /etc/fstab is still correct.

You probably ought to ftp, or e-mail, a copy of /etc/fstab somewhere else before you start.

I would go ahead and do some exports and create the map files just to be safe though.

# vgexport -s -m vg??.map -p -v vg??

Do that for each vg you have. I would also go ahead and either e-mail them to yourself or FTP them to another machine just to be safe.

[T G Manikandan]

You would be safe with the vg00 ignite .

Then

vgexport (for all VGs)
Make copies of fstab,lvmtab,lvmconf files on the system.

[uts]

My fstab file does not contain information about my MC serviceguard VG (the only other VG on the server). DOes this matter?

[Patrick Wallek]

Since it is a MC/SG VG, all mount information will be in the scripts that control your MC/SG package(s).

[uts]

OK - that makes sense. ShouldI still do a vgexport of the MC/SG VGs? I actually have two of them running - one on the server that I will be re-igniting and one on the other N-class in the cluster.

[Patrick Wallek]

Yes, I would go ahead and do an export of them. As long as you use the -p (preview) you will not harm your active VGs, but it will go ahead and create the map file for you.

Better to be safe than sorry!