Moving distros

[Juan Pablo]

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I have 3 distros on my computer and a messy partition table. I would like the first (Gentoo) to /dev/hda1 from /dev/hda7 and the second (Debian) from /dev/hda4 to /dev/hda2 and a data partition from /dev/hda5 to an extended partition on /dev/hda4 (say /dev/hda5) and leaving space for /dev/hda3 so I can install FreeBSD there .

Would it be a matter of copying the file system (skipping /dev and /proc) from one partition to another, setting fstab and configuring the bootloader?

Also I don't want to lose any data in the process, is possible?

Is it better to bakup my file systems to a tarball, put it on a DVD and delete the whole partition table and create the partitions with cfdisk from a live cd and putting all back also with a live cd? (of course reinstalling the bootloader and editing fstab for eachi distro)

[devils casper]

Hi Juan Pablo!

you can MOVE partitions anytime but take care of fstab and Boot Loader.... Edit fstab file according to changes you did.

Is it better to bakup my file systems to a tarball, put it on a DVD and delete the whole partition table and create the partitions with cfdisk from a live cd and putting all back also with a live cd? (of course reinstalling the bootloader and editing fstab for eachi distro)

if you recreate partition table then tarball wont install filesystem properly. new partitions, new size...

you are well aware of LiveCD's capabilities and there is no chance of Data loss...



.... casper ....

[Juan Pablo]

I was thinking on using the tarball as it is recommended in gentoo-wiki.org to backup the file system when you move an OS from a physical hard drive to another.

To copy, what options should I use to duplicate the filesystem exactly without changing symlinks? or use dd?

[devils casper]

I was thinking on using the tarball as it is recommended in gentoo-wiki.org to backup the file system when you move an OS from a physical hard drive to another.

you can use tarball if both harddisks have same partition structure. it works like PartImage.

To copy, what options should I use to duplicate the filesystem exactly without changing symlinks? or use dd?

do you have separate home partition ?



.... casper ....

[Juan Pablo]

No, it is inside each / partition for each distro. But just one folder is used, the others are empty

[devils casper]

No, it is inside each / partition for each distro. But just one folder is used, the others are empty

home is inside root. on moving partition, absolute and relative paths of home, its files and all other folders wont change..... go ahead.... you can move/resize partitions......



casper

[Juan Pablo]

Of course I can , anything about the command to use when copying files (preseve symlink, etc)

Is there other folders excepting /proc and /dev I should worry about?

[devils casper]

Of course I can , anything about the command to use when copying files (preseve symlink, etc)

Is there other folders excepting /proc and /dev I should worry about?

dont worry about anything. File System is not multipartitioned. it means moving partitions wont change links or paths of files and folders inside it.... /proc and /dev uses virtual mount points generated/directed by fstab. you have to edit actual mount points in fstab.



casper

[Juan Pablo]

I had to use cp -Pp to copy the files, otherwise the links where updated.