[tlug] Re: File system backup / moving partitions

[scott in sendai <linuxdorkjp@example.com>]

Hi TLUG,

 I thought that I would post this question before I dive
off the cliff into potential disaster with my current
beloved RH7.2 system. 

Situation: Currently I have 3 OS's spread accross 2 hard
drives. Win98Eng(hda), Win98Jp(hda), and RH7.2(hdb). 

Problem: I need to install win2000 server so I can have a
"testing environment" available. (I know, it sucks, but
until I can convince my boss to go full Linux I'm stuck
with working with M$...)

Idea: Resize HDA partitions to make room, then move Linux
off of HDB onto HDA, retaining current setup, wipe HDB,
and install M$ product.

Problem: I don't know if it will work. What am I going to
have to change in terms of fstab and mount points, etc?
I'm pretty sure that I can create the proper partitions
using parted on hda, so if I just create the appropriate
partitions and then copy the contents of hdb partitions
into hda, will the system be bootable? I thought if this
sort of operation were possible, then people could
potentially use the same steps to create system backups,
like replicoaster into predetermined partitions. What do
you all think?

Thanks,

Scott VanDusen in Sendai (but soon Tokyo)

 
PS here is some exterraneous data about my hard disks'
structure if it is helpful:
Disk geometry for /dev/hda: 0.000-43979.414 megabytes
Disk label type: msdos
Minor    Start       End     Type      Filesystem  Flags
1          0.031   4502.592  primary   FAT         boot
3       4502.593   8918.898  primary   FAT         hidden,
lba
2       8918.899  43974.799  extended              lba
5       8918.930  23932.771  logical   FAT
6      23932.802  38946.643  logical   FAT
7      38946.674  43974.799  logical   FAT
Disk geometry for /dev/hdb: 0.000-29314.687 megabytes
Disk label type: msdos
Minor    Start       End     Type      Filesystem  Flags
1          0.031   4996.779  primary   ext3        boot
2       4996.780   9993.559  primary   ext3
3       9993.560  14990.339  primary   ext3
4      14990.339  29313.918  extended              lba
5      14990.370  19987.119  logical   ext3
6      19987.150  23987.680  logical   ext3
7      23987.711  26035.026  logical   linux-swap
8      26035.058  28082.373  logical   FAT         lba



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