Re: [tlug] Regaining System Sanity

["Keith Bawden" <keith@example.com>]

> Should I set up a dedicated GRUB partition?

# SNIP

> But maybe it's overkill for my situation...?

Never done this myself and from reading a bit of the page you linked
to the following quote may answer your question: "If you've ever had
four or more Linux distros on one box, you already know the answer."

Here is what I would recommend to help you with your new build:

1. Keep things simple.
2. Plan out the build (keeping the above in mind).
3. Document the build as you go, and keep document things you do to
the system once you have built it.

For number three above I generally keep a few text files in /root/doco

/root/doco/install.txt     <-- this one contains steeps taken during
the install including partition schema, and commands run (e.g. apt-get
install screen)
/root/doco/todo.txt       <--- this contains a list of things I plan
to do. Especially good for when you duck out half way through
something.
/root/doco/post_install.txt   <--- similar to install.txt. However I
track apps that have been installed after the initial setup. I also
keep notes here on any gotchas and workarounds associated with
anything newly installed.

Also, if I make any changes to a config file I comment those changes.
How much you comment depends on your understanding on the changes
made. For example if you know the changes effect inside out the I
simply write something like:

# Added by KB <date time stamp>

changes go here

# End edit by KB <same date time stamp>

If the system is important enough to me I would also consider keeping
config files and what not in some kind of revision control system...

Anyway, in the end the above may seem excessive to some, but it works
for me. Also, anyone else who may administer the same box can see what
has been done, what needs to be done, what changes to config files
have been made, when they were made and who made them.

One last point. I also keep a junk directory where I keep snippets of
scripts and the like, and notes. These snippets come in handy when
working on something down the track. The snippets can refresh your
memory on how you did something before, and allow you to reuse them
where you can...

For example:    mkdir -pv ./junk/{bash,ruby,perl,notes}

Regards, Keith