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TheKingOfPain
n00b
Joined: 13 Aug 2011
Posts: 14
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 Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject: Moving root to another filesystem |
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I'd like to format my root partition to another filesystem(probably ext4, but everything else then btrfs should be fine). Is it possible to move the whole partition (for example using cp -R  ) to another one, format root partition and move everything back?
Of course I mean if it is not only possible, but also if it is sensible. |
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ShadowCat8
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Joined: 07 Oct 2008
Posts: 173
Location: San Bernardino, CA, USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Well,
Something to keep in mind as you put everything back: As parted loves you remind you - "Remember to update your fstab."
Overall, as long as you are doing the copy out and back from a LiveCD/LiveDVD environment, I don't see any major issues with it. And, to make sure that you cut down possible issues, I would recommend using
| Code: | | ~ # cp -a <source> <dest> |
That should maintain ownership, permissions, timestamps, symlinks, etc.
HTH. Let us know.
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denial
n00b
Joined: 15 Nov 2007
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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This should not be a problem at all, as long as you have a way of booting the system (Live CD, or from a USB stick) and another partition with enough space.
I would recommend tar rather than cp.
All the information you might need about that (and more) can be found here: http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Custom_Stage4 |
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Roman_Gruber
Advocate
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 3846
Location: Austro Bavaria
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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i moved recently root with cp -a source destination
the only weird thing i had to move the destinatin form a folder one folder below thats it..
Boot with livecd, and cp -a thats it
there are other suggestions with DD and other stuff but i dont suggest to use dd.. |
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aCOSwt
Bodhisattva
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 2537
Location: Hilbert space
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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I like rsync.
So I would backup root that way | Code: | | # rsync -vaHXx8 --del / whatever_backup_location_path |
Then... the other way around.
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denial
n00b
Joined: 15 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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I guess I just like tar, but I agree that cp and rsync can do the job. Definitely not dd though as it works below the file-system level and would destroy any reformatting changes.
Whatever too you use, you should take care with /proc and /dev - you don't want to leave your system without /dev/null and /dev/console after restoring. |
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BillWho
Veteran
Joined: 03 Mar 2012
Posts: 1600
Location: US
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:36 am Post subject: |
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TheKingOfPain,
I think cp -a would be better than cp -R if you decide to go that route.
Also, don't forget grub entries rootfstype= real_root = or root=
Good luck
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Goverp
Advocate
Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Posts: 2014
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:38 am Post subject: |
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KingOfPain, Do you have a separate /boot partition? If not, and it's part of your root file system, I think you should rerun grub-install after moving to the new format. Otherwise grub might barf when it tries to find its components that have moved.
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toralf
Developer
Joined: 01 Feb 2004
Posts: 3925
Location: Hamburg
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:55 am Post subject: |
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| denial wrote: | | Whatever too you use, you should take care with /proc and /dev - you don't want to leave your system without /dev/null and /dev/console after restoring. |
IMHO /dev/console isn't necessary, but /dev/zero should already been created. |
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toralf
Developer
Joined: 01 Feb 2004
Posts: 3925
Location: Hamburg
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| Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Moving root to another filesystem |
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| TheKingOfPain wrote: | | (but everything else then btrfs should be fine). |
yes | TheKingOfPain wrote: | | (for example using cp -R ) |
better "cp -ar", or you use something like | Code: | | cd /to/old/root/; tar -cpf- ./* | (cd /to/new/root; tar -xpf-) |
while you booted from a LiveCD - at least in the (bad) old days "tar" was faster than "cp" in such a szenario |
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ShadowCat8
Apprentice
Joined: 07 Oct 2008
Posts: 173
Location: San Bernardino, CA, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Greetings,
@toralf: Just as a note, the "cp -ar" is a bit redundant as '-a' covers '-r'. That being said, excellent call on the "tar stream copy" (as one of my linux mentors used to call it). Using that should also preserve everything and, in my experience, be even faster than "cp" in this case.
HTH.
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"As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not
certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."
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