[GLLUG] Re: If RSYNC then how - also HDPARM?

[Mike Neir]

Rsync will copy the files for you on an NTFS partition, but the thing it 
won't do is grab the permissions correctly. There's a lot of metadata in 
the NTFS filesystem that just doesn't exist on a *nix-style filesystem. 
In my opinion, trying to copy the Windows partition with rsync is a 
waste of time.

However, you can copy *nix filesystems with it quite easily. The flags I 
use for my typical rsyncs are "-avHlx" (yes, I know some of them are 
redundant... it's a habit). That will copy every attrbute of the 
file/directory when its copied, preserve both hard links and symlinks, 
and will only copy files/directories within that filesystem. The latter 
is useful for root partitions because it won't copy stuff out of 
partitions mounted on top of a subdirectory, such as /proc, /sys, or 
/home. You'll have to copy things on a partition by partition basis this 
way, but you'll know you're getting the best possible replication.

Hope this helps.

MN

Benjamin Cathey wrote:
> Okay - don't bother replying if all you have to suggest is to google it or 'there are plenty of howto's on the internet' -- I believe one of the main reasons I JOINED a lug was for the support locally and help if you need it.  At least that's how I see it . . . anyway . . . .
> 
> Please, as I expressed earlier - if you think rsync is a better option explain what flags, etc I would need to use.  The process if you will.  I know it would still need to be done from a boot disk.  I would have to partition the new drive.
> 
> Beyond that then what??  I really don't know here.  I have read about rsync but don't know all the flags, etc.  Also, does it support NTFS?  I mean, I know if I boot from a live cd, I can install NTFS-3G and mount the partitions as writable but beyond that what flags do I need?  and what about grub?
> 
> Also - as I side note, how about the fact that the new drive has a bigger cache on it?  Will linux automatically figure that out on it's own or do I need to use HD parm or some tool to tell it to use this extra space and 'optimize' the new hdd?
> 
> 
> Benjamin Cathey
> System Administrator
> Cathey Company
> 4917 Tranter St.
> Lansing, MI 48910 USA
> Phone:     517.393.4720
> Fax:       517.393.4225
> Toll Free: 800.333.1972
> "Service is Our Profession"
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Richard Houser
> [mailto:rick at divinesymphony.net]
> To: Michael Watters
> [mailto:michael at watters.ws]
> Cc: Benjamin Cathey
> [mailto:benjamincathey at catheycompany.com], linux-user at egr.msu.edu
> Sent: Wed,
> 31 Oct 2007 20:20:39 -0400
> Subject: Re: [GLLUG] Dual-Boot Copy?
> 
> 
>> ->> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> ->> Hash: SHA1
>> ->> 
>> ->> > I'm a big fan of the KISS principle.  dd the drive to the new one and
>> ->> > resize the file systems, that's all you need to do.
>> ->> 
>> ->> As an image based copy, dd has the downside of transmitting all data,
>> ->> not just what's in the filesystem.  So, 1GB of data on a 500GB drive
>> ->> would be 500GB of data to copy via dd or 1GB of data to copy via rsync
>> ->> or tar.  Dd will also copy deleted data, so there might be security
>> ->> concerns as well.
>> ->> 
>> ->> In addition, dd will not allow you to change filesystem options like
>> ->> block size or special features like "tails", will keep any fragmentation
>> ->> or corruption, etc.  At a minimum, a filesystem based copy will detect
>> ->> these errors.  In the case you have a corrupt filesystem, making an
>> ->> image with dd before attempting repair can be the difference between a
>> ->> hosed partition or not.
>> ->> 
>> ->> The KISS method would actually favor creating the partition as desired
>> ->> and then copying the data to it.  Doing a larger copy then resize is a
>> ->> lot more complicated and resource intensive of an operation (not simple
>> ->> in any means).  In fact, back around 1999, that was just the way you did
>> ->> it, period (not all filesystems even supported resizing then).
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>> ->> Comment: Using GnuPG with Mandriva - http://enigmail.mozdev.org
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>> ->> 
> 
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