Hi,

I am pretty sure this is not possible at all, but again, may be something else is available that I haven't found/think yet.

Two questions I have.

1. use of dd across servers.
2. use dd or the like to increase disk size with same content in the end.

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1. I am trying to see if I can mirror raw disks across servers just like I would do on the same server.

dd if=/dev/rsd0c of=/dev/rwd1c bs=1m

Not the end of the world, but if possible it would be great. I have situations where this would be very useful as I always have servers ready with nothing on them to take over if needed and if I get signed of possible failure of drives and all, be able to do this would be very nice oppose to drive and physically do it on the same server.

More of a convenience then a must have, but I can't come up with an idea to do so. Any way to do this anyone knows of?

2. The second question again relate to this is I also have the needs to replace with bigger drives now and this is on Solaris with plenty of hard and symbolic links and on system that include installations of software at the company that run proprietary software and really do not provide details sadly. So far I always take care of drives that may be flaky by simply booting an OpenBSD live CD and use DD to mirror the SCSI drive in it, remove the old, put the new one in and be done with it. I do that to keep drive in best shape and be sure it doesn't crash on me. Or provide me better chance not to anyway.

But now, I would really need to use bigger drives and dd is great fro identical drives, however doesn't really do a good job for different size obviously.

Anyone have a suggestion that may be as simple as the above describe one that works.

I always loved the dd way with drives in the same server.

- Shutdown server.
- Add new SCSI drive in the box.
- Boot OpenBSD live CD
- use dd to mirror drive as is, no need to know anything about it.
- Wait patently until it's done.
- Remove old drive.
- Put new drive in place.
- Reboot and all is back to work.

Then I can do this in two more years and sleep well in between time knowing that chances the SCSI drive failed on me is much more remote, still there, but less likely.

However, now this process do not really work obviously with different size hard drives... (;<

I can't come up with an alternative solution as simple as this one. Any clue as to may be something that might work and somewhat guaranty to have identical ending working setup, but on a bigger drive?

Many thanks for any possible suggestion that may address these questions with simple alike solutions.

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