SCSI disk cloning on DL320

[Al_56]

Hey gurus,

The story is that we've purchased 8 DL320's to use as load balanced web servers. They are using the 36 gig MAP3367NP SCSI 68 pin hard drives, which is causing me some issues with my planning.

I've built the first server using RedHat 7.3 and intended to clone the boot disk to the other 7 boot disks, so that they will all have identical configs.

I wish to place the boot disks from the other Dl320's into the second disk slot of my master DL320, and then use a boot CD to dd the master disk to the clones.

I tried to use my TiVo Linux boot disk (l'm a bigtime TiVo hacker sadly), to dd the disks, however the tiVo boot disk does not recognize the SCSI adapter, so can't see the disks in the DL320.

l've spelunked through these forums and can't find any info on other boot CD's (or floppies) that people use that do recognize the SCSI adapter.

Can anyone recommend a boot CD or floppy that l could use to acheive my aim?

Thanks in advance.

Al

[Huc_1]

You could try knoppix

http://www.knoppix.org/

There are some iso files on the link.

I dont know if this will work for your scsi but it worked for all the ones I have tried.



J-P

[Thilo Knoch]

In addition to knoppix or superrescue
(http://www.kernel.org/pub/dist/superrescue/v2/) the cheaper but may be harder way:
If you was able to install RH using a bootable CDROM, the rescue system on the installation media should work with the SCSI Adapter too. Just a "linux rescue" at the isolinux boot prompt and after some questions you get a shell (with a limited set of tools, but dd is available, I think).

[Al_56]

Thank-you Huc and Thilo for your advice.

Knoppix has to be the best rescue disk l've come across. Plenty of utilities, and the GUI is nice to have.

It recognized my SCSI disks without issue, and the cloning of a 36gig 10k disk took less than 15 minutes. Much quicker than cloning IDE drives.

I had used rescue disk before, but the early version l had used was buggy, so l did not think to try the latest version, before seeing your message Thilo. I will download it, and give it a try soon.

[Amit Dixit_2]

HI,
Can i clone my IDE Disk using the method
which AL has use will it work for me on
my redhat 5.2 and if yes how ?

Thanks,
Amit

[Stuart Browne]

Amit, no.

For you, it would be advisable to build your new box, and then re-configure the individual services you've customised.

[Paul Cross_1]

Admittedly, Knoppix rules, however, the redhat boot cd should do what you need to do... boot: linux rescue