Re: [e-smith-devinfo] iwill SIDE-RAID controller
Sasha: It's not quite the same, but I wrote a simple how-to about the adaptec raid controller that's posted on the e-smith site. It should pretty much tell you how to set the iwill subsystem up for data storage, and use a separate boot drive from the motherboard ide channel for everything else. One of these days, I'm going to update that how-to, and also ask the dev group about backup philosophies as they relate to e-smith and raid. Good Luck, Tom Sasha Malic wrote: > Has anyone used the iwill SIDE-RAID controller with e-smith 4.1.2? > > This card uses the High Point HPT370 IDE RAID controller chip. > > I can access drives connected to the card, but only by booting a > pre-installed e-smith connected to the MB IDE port and loading the hpt370.o > module. > The partition can then be mounted as normal. > > However, trying to install a fresh e-smith with the primary drive connected > to the card results in the installation not finding a drive to install to. > > Connecting a pre-installed HDD to the card and then booting results in a > kernel panic, just after the Linux SCSI drivers initialise in the boot > process. > > Has anyone found a workaround to using such a card ? I believe the Adaptec > IDE RAID controller has a similar problem. > > What IDE RAID controller is supported by e-smith for a standard install ? > > Regards > Sasha Malic > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] RAID 1
I've asked this a couple of times; even had a Mitec sales engineer promising to e-mail me on this subject, but there doesn't appear to be a simple answer. The suggestion that made the most sense, was to get a 3ware 6200 hardware raid card (about $125) use that instead of the software raid. The card has built-in bios recovery, and is well enough designed to give a good speed improvement over either software raid or a single drive. Hope this helps, Tom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In case of a drive failure in e-smith software raid 1 what would be the > procedure to restore the system back to normal. Anybody has a How to? > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] Samba works sometimes
One idea, almost silly. Could there be another box on the LAN with the same machine name that wasn't running yesterday? In Win2K, you see what the machine name is by right-clicking on My Computer, then Properties, then Network Identification. (It will also show your Workgroup / Domain name). Regards, Tom "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" wrote: > I was wondering if any of you can help with this > > I have a e-smith box running with a shared drive using samba. > All of the fixed computers (workstations) can see and access > this drive just fine. > > The Windows 2000 laptop is another story. > It has the right group name. > I log in using the correct name. > Yesterday I could map a network drive in 10 seconds. > Today I get "The Semaphore timeout period has expired." error > message. Repeatedly. > > BTW: TCP to the internet works fine so the network is working. > > I'm not a network guru so I don't even know where to start. > [No smoke from the e-smith server so that's good news :-) ] > > Any ideas? > > Eric > -- > # Eric Allan Lucas > # "Oh, I have slipped the surly bond of earth > # And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings.. > # -- John Gillespie Magee Jr. > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] Ideas re: flexbackup not seeing / taping entire server
Gordon: Now that I've fixed the backup to include the new partition, how do I fix the restore? I appreciate the warning, but a bit of help re: fixing the restore would be appreciated. I gather from your message that restore doesn't use the newly changed flexbackup.conf, or were you talking about "standard filesystem types" and not partitions? Thnx, Tom Gordon Rowell wrote: > On Tue, Aug 28, 2001 at 06:50:37PM -0400, "Thomas E. Keiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >wrote: > > Dan: > > > > You're right on the money -- the expand worked perfectly, and I should > > get a good backup tonight. > > [...] > > Just a warning to everyone - the server manager restore process currently > assumes the tape will contain the standard e-smith filesystems. Reports > of success/failure and fixes always welcome. > > Gordon > -- > Gordon Rowell[EMAIL PROTECTED] > VP Engineering > Network Server Solutions Group http://www.e-smith.com > Mitel Networks Corporation http://www.mitel.com -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] Ideas re: flexbackup not seeing / taping entire server
Dan: You're right on the money -- the expand worked perfectly, and I should get a good backup tonight. Thanks again, Tom Dan Brown wrote: > Quoting "Thomas E. Keiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > thought this method would work fine. I think it will, but it > > needs a tweak to the tape script somewhere, and I'm not sure > > Not the script as such, but /etc/flexbackup.conf. Right near the end, the > line that says > > $filesystems[0] = '/ /boot'; > > needs to be changed to > > $filesystems[0] = '/ /boot /home/e-smith/files'; > > This is a templated file, and it _looks_ like it should rebuilt correctly > once you've updated your fstab file. Try /sbin/e-smith/expand- > template /etc/flexbackup.conf. > > -- > Dan Brown, KE6MKS, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > "Since all the world is but a story, it were well for thee to buy the more > enduring story rather than the story that is less enduring." > --The Judgment of St. Collum Cille > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
[e-smith-devinfo] Ideas re: flexbackup not seeing / taping entire server
As some of you may know, I put an Adaptec Raid controller and raid 5 array into an ESSG, and mounted it at /home/e-smith/files. Everything should be transparent to the server software, but flexbackup did a backup of what it thought were the only two partitions (/ and /boot) and skipped over the third partition where all the ibays and data live. I know some others on this list have done the same thing (some mounted the raid at /home) and the e-smith tech people thought this method would work fine. I think it will, but it needs a tweak to the tape script somewhere, and I'm not sure where to start. Any ideas would be very welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom Keiser -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
[e-smith-devinfo] Dumb but perplexing question
I've set up an e-smith Server (no gateway) as: "primary domain name = 'company.com'". This outfit also has a web page hosted by an ISP which is known publicly as www.company.com. Since the e-smith server is providing DNS services to the LAN, if they point their browsers to "www.company.com" they get the starter web page on the e-smith, rather than their real-world public web site. This box is going to become a gateway soon, for purposes of email scanning by RAV. Can anyone offer suggestions on whether to give my e-smith server a new domain name, or do some other workaround to allow the users to browse their own web site. Thanks, Tom -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] Server monitoring and multiple hard disk...
Yes -- I use e-smith the same way you do, except I only remmap /home/e-smith/files to the raid array. Regards, Tom Matthieu Perreira Da Silva wrote: > Helo ! > > I don't know if many people is in my case, but I've got an E-Smith box set > up with multiple hard disks: 1 for / and /boot, and a Raid array (2x18Go) > for /home ... > I know that the 'normal' configuration on E-Smith is 1 HDD, but have you > planned to modify the monitoring tool to see more than 1 HDD usage ? > If my knowledge in perl was not so bad I would have done it myself, but I > really don't know perl... > Has anyone encountered the same problem ? > > Thanks > > ZEFYR Technologies___ > identification anthropométrique > > Matthieu PERREIRA DA SILVA / Ingénieur R&D > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
[Fwd: [e-smith-devinfo] network print servers]
Use a printer or printserver with an ethernet port. HP jetdirect or similar work great. I also use a NoName box with 1xTCP/IP and 3xLPT ports for about $100. Assign an hostentry ( dnj755cm, dj2000c,...) within the e-smith-manager for your Printserver outside the range of your DHCP range. For DHCP I use 192.168.1.10 to 192.168.1.99. The Printservers get a fixed address 192.168.1.200 ,192.168.1.190 etc. The best way to configure a HP printserver is, to connect the box first to a standalone maschine via a crossovercable. Use telnet or your browser to get into the configuration menu of the printserver ( depends on the software of the server) . Configure the printserver to use DHCP, assign the box an IP number ( 192.168.1.200 ) and set the hostname entry to a well known name ( dnj755cm, dj2000c,...), you can also specify the gateway-address ( 192.168.1.1).. Save the settings ! Now your are ready to connect the PrtSrv to your network, watch /var/log/messages to see the DHCP request. Ping the PrtSrv with the assigned IP-address and ping the PrtSrv with the hostname ( ping 192.168.1.200 and try also ping dnj755cm ). The next step is to create an printer entry within the e-smith-manager. Printer name : hpdnj755cm Brief description: HP 755cm Plotter at my office Location: networkprinter Hostname or IP address of network printer: dnj755cm Network printer name : raw( for my NoName box LPT1=lp1, LPT2=lp2,...) SAVE the settings. Install the print drivers on your clint-maschines and connect them with the the network path to your PrtSrv. mit freundlichen Grüßen ++ | Hartmut Trepkau | | Waldstr. 30 | | D-22846 Norderstedt | | Tel.: +49-40-522 11 41 | | Fax:: +49-40-526 10 801 | | Handy: +49-173-208 54 52 | | e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | www: www.trepkau.de | ++ -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
[e-smith-devinfo] network print servers
Does anyone have any favorable experiences with network print servers that either coexist with e-smith, or work well with it? I have a network with printers no where near the e-smith server, so a parallel port connection is out of the question. Thanks, Tom Keiser -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] backup question
Two questions: 1. Is the e-smith backup in the form of a single file; and 2. What's the workaround? NTFS? Thanks, Tom Darrell May wrote: > Lee Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > > I have tried to backup my e-smith server to my windows98 desk top with > > 15 gigs free on one box and also to another win98 box with 10 gigs > > free. The backup is only 8 gigs. It stops backing up at 3.99gigs every > > time. Can some one help me out here? > > > > thanks > > > > lee roy > > FAT32 has a 4GB single file size limit. You've just found it :( > > -- > Darrell May > DMC NETSOURCED.COM > http://netsourced.com > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] backup question
Lotas: I use DriveImage 4 also, but have never quite determined how to use it with Linux, as it only images partitions, not entire disks, and the e-smith server has 3 partitions that have to be precisely imaged and restored. Can you share your technique? Thanks, Tom [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I think you should take a look at Powerquest DriveImage 4.0 > I also use it...I made a bootable cd for it and when I boot from that cd, > the programm can make an image of my entire harddisk directly on cd by > burning it, but of course it is also possible to write it to another > harddisk. > > - Original Message - > From: "Lotas T Smartman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 4:17 AM > Subject: [e-smith-devinfo] backup question > > > I want to backup my e-smith server. I have made a few costomisions to it, > > like added support for my winmodem, installed php4.0.5, and 1 or 2 other > > little things. I need to backup EVERYTHING!!! I, unfortunitly, dont have a > > tape backup drive. Is there a script that i can get that can backup the > > entire contents of my drive to a tar.gz file? Its something i think i > sould > > start doing cause i have fairly old hardware, and cant realy trust it > much. > > Please help. Thanks. > > PS. I would like something like the backup from harddrive. Even if there > was > > an option for bootable CD or something, just something that makes a > > compressed image of my drive, so i can download it of the server and burn > to > > a CD. Thanks! > > - > > Lotas T Smartman > > CEO, LSN > > Dublin, Ireland > > www.lotas-smartman.net > > www.lsn-search.net > > freemail.lsnmail.net > > - > > > > > > -- > > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Archives by mail and > http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org > > > > > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] Re: adding a 2nd hard drive
Thanks, Robert. Other than the transport risks of carrying a hard drive home, I like it. And, despite the price of 5 or 6 hard drives + removable carriers, it's still cheaper than DDS-3 or 4, and undoubtedly much faster, too. Do you know if this little app can do a "modified" backup of those files with changed archive bits from within the selected files, or even if it can change the archive bits back after a backup? If not, there are other programs available, such as those from Novastor. Thanks, Tom robert wrote: > > Hi > > I am going to put something else in the mix... > we have found that in small business the only way a regular backup gets > done is if it is automatic and easy. > Our usual solution is to provide identical disks and mirror them.This > provides some fault tolerance but does not address off-site backup and > backup generally. > To backup we install a removable IDE drive on one of the workstations > and install a fantastic little app on a WIN98+ machine called Disk to > Disk.[tucows $19.95US] > It can perform all sorts of backups.Individual files from anything on > the network.Full data backup of the server.Compress it or just copy. > It has an easy to use graphical interface and allows scheduling.it runs > in the backgroud backing up the data. at home time you whip out the > removable drive and go home. We still remind people to use the e-smith > backup as it backs up the config files but they really don't care about > that. [we do] > its cost effective. Easy for the user and provides good backups at a low > price. -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] Re: adding a 2nd hard drive
Sorry for the confusion here, on two fronts: 1. My clients are small to mid-sized businesses, and many just won't make all scheduled backups. I can't change that; and 2. That's why I'm advocating raid; the notion that I wanted a separate data drive (singular) got started during this thread, but it wasn't what I wanted. Other than that, I agree with everything you said -- you're "preaching to the choir" ;-). You also pointed out: >Also if you use RAID1 practice breaking and restoring >it by disconnecting and booting with one and then the other disk >disconnected - to ensure each will boot and then re-add the other to the >array to make sure you know how it works. Have you any thoughts on how to do that with software mirroring (as provided by e-smith)? Tom Graeme Robinson wrote: > On Tue, 24 Jul 2001, Thomas E. Keiser wrote: > > >Making a tape backup or dumping the data > >to a > > client machine is some help, but it won't get your recent data back, > > Neither will RAID (of any type) if you've overwritten or deleted a file. > What circumstance is your solution supposed to cover exactly? > > > and recent may be quite a few days if you or your client isn't > > meticulous about doing backups. (and who is?). > > They should be. Tiresome as it may be backup of data is a core > responsibility of data management. I personally use daily, weekly and > monthly tapes on my own network, and I get daily mailed backup reports > from all my servers and if they miss they get to hear about it. > > > And that data loss > > could be disastrous, so a better solution is a good idea. > > There is no better solution to backup than backup. Disk redundancy through > RAID will give you additional reliability and preserve current data > in event of a disk failing but it isn't a replacement for backup. > > Backup is more than duplicating your current data - it is about keeping a > sequential timeline of data, it's having removeable media copies of that > system data, it's about having offsite copies of that data. > > Also I don't really understand how your solution is supposed to improve > anthing with respect to file recovery. > > If you are using RAID then you only need to add a new disk to the system, > bootup and the disk will be re-added to the RAID set. > > RAID provides disk redundancy, an important factor in increasing the > reliability of a server. RAID isn't backup though. > > Your solution seems to imply your data is better off if it's on a second > disk in a non-RAID setup. It's not - what if that disk fails? Use RAID1 > for disk redundancy (hard or software) and backup too. Backup - one of the > most used words in my vocabulary. :-) Backup often and test your backups - > practice restoring. > > Also if you use RAID1 practice breaking and restoring > it by disconnecting and booting with one and then the other disk > disconnected - to ensure each will boot and then re-add the other to the > array to make sure you know how it works. > > -=-=-==-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > Graeme Robinson - Graenet consulting > www.graenet.com - internet solutions > -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==---=-=--=-=-= > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive
Dan: Just for the sake of perversity, I tried an upgrade install over a good box, and it does seem to work, installing the packages without formatting the drive. I did note that it didn't touch any i-bays and didn't try to change the config files I looked at. All my settings were in place after I finished. So, that may be one decent answer to the problem. Thanks for the suggestion! Regards, Tom Dan Brown wrote: > This, I think, is the biggest difference. I think, too, that you could > reinstall selecting the "upgrade" option and be safe. -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive
Dan: You threw me a curve here. I had been told that an "upgrade" install wouldn't fix a broken installation, only move it to a higher version. Have you tried doing this? It would surely be another possible solution. Thanks, Tom Dan Brown wrote: > This, I think, is the biggest difference. I think, too, that you could > reinstall selecting the "upgrade" option and be safe. > -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive
Dan: As you will note from my msg to Darrell, I'm going to try the 3ware, but I still have a nagging uneasiness with it, as a misstep or defective RPM can blow away the boot drive array and the data with it. Your point of view: If you mount a raid on /home, might as well install the whole system on it--again, better to have fault tolerance for the whole system than just for the data. isn't what I'm feeling, especially after repeatedly reinstalling the Adaptec IDE RPM, and seeing the system blown away and refuse to boot thereafter. You will know much better than I do, but between the use of the separate /home directory on a raid array, and an up-to-date reinstallation diskette, am I going to need any reconfiguration after a reinstall of the e-smith (assuming I remember to pull the IDE cables to the data drives)??? Now I know that certain hand-customizing won't survive this kind of reinstall, but assuming the server is vanilla except for the /home remount, where will I be? Thank you for jumping in, BTW, and I hope you see my point: with a destructive install, if a re-install is needed, it is *NOT* better to have fault tolerance for the whole system than just for the data. Now, since I've been trying to become a partner for several weeks, and haven't yet sampled your tech support, maybe you see it differently, and don't often find situations where damage can't be repaired and a reinstall is needed. I'm coming from a different world, where a reinstall fixes (most) everything ;-). Regards, Tom Dan Brown wrote: > Quoting "Thomas E. Keiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > 3. Hardware mirroring is now cheap, simple, and easy to recover from > > or just keep running on one drive until fixed. Unfortunately, there does > > not appear to be any way to install e-smith to an inexpensive hardware mirror > > or other type of raid array. > > Sure there is--3ware. The 3ware Escalade 6200 is a two-channel true > hardware RAID controller (the Promise card you listed isn't really), and it > sells for about $129 on pricewatch. It's on the e-smith HCL, addressing point > 4 of your message, and it doesn't require SCSI hard drives. > > Another possibility is the ARCO DupliDisk arrangement. It's nowhere near > as nice as the 3ware, and it costs at least as much, but it's a bit more > transparent. Both of these would give you a hardware RAID 1 implementation. > > What you propose (separate drives for system and data, but neither drive > mirrored or anything--right?) would do nothing to preserve the data (it's still > on just one drive, which can fail), and would add another point of failure > (that way, either drive can go, and take down the system). If you mount a raid > on /home, might as well install the whole system on it--again, better to have > fault tolerance for the whole system than just for the data. > > -- > Dan Brown, KE6MKS, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > "Since all the world is but a story, it were well for thee to buy the more > enduring story rather than the story that is less enduring." > --The Judgment of St. Collum Cille -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] 3WARE raid products [was Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive]
Darrell: Thnx for the info on 3ware; I've ordered one of each, and will certainly give them a fair trial. But one thing I said in my earlier post still gives me pause: 5. Even if you could install directly to a hardware raid device, if you screw something up while working from the command line, you may end up with a machine that won't boot anyway. (For instance, the Adaptec IDE raid rpm has a flaw that renders the machine completely unbootable). I know you can still (probably) recover from that, but again, you won't be able to talk your customer through that process over the phone, and your precious data is very much at risk and unavailable until you can get there in person. So, while hardware raid is nicer than software raid, it is still vulnerable as a boot drive array in ways that it wouldn't be if it were just a data array. Regards, Tom Darrell May wrote: > "Thomas E. Keiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > > 4. There are apparently some hardware raid controllers on the supported > > list, but they are not available through normal reseller channels, > > > Have a look at 3WARE products. They are inexpensive and available to > resellers. Here is the distributor list: > > http://www.3ware.com/order/northamerica.shtml > > As a reseller, contact 3WARE directly and sign-up as a Channel Partner > online. They offer 'eval' units to test for 30 days. Once you try one > you'll probably change your mind and implement 3WARE h/w raid. :) > > Also see Eric Womack's HowTo on the contrib site. :) > > -- > Darrell May > DMC NETSOURCED.COM > http://netsourced.com > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive
Hi Darrell: I think this is a benefit over a standard install for these reasons: 1. Single hard drive will inevitably fail -- sooner or later. 2. Backups through tape or client dump-to-disk won't get done often enough. Much of the time, they won't get done at all, or be done more often than weekly. I think this is made worse by the reliability of Linux. 2. Software mirroring can help, but it doesn't protect against making a stupid mistake and thereby rendering the machine unbootable. Also, no one I've asked can tell me how to successfully recover from a crashed software-mirrored disk. Probably there is a method, but no one seems to know what it is, and if it exists, it is probably somewhat complex -- not the thing you could talk your client through via telephone. 3. Hardware mirroring is now cheap, simple, and easy to recover from or just keep running on one drive until fixed. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any way to install e-smith to an inexpensive hardware mirror or other type of raid array. The promise card in my earlier post is less than $100, making it only slightly more expensive than software mirroring, and much easier to work with. 4. There are apparently some hardware raid controllers on the supported list, but they are not available through normal reseller channels, and tend to be very expensive, and to require expensive SCSI hard drives. So, while these are an option, they aren't going to be cheap. 5. Even if you could install directly to a hardware raid device, if you screw something up while working from the command line, you may end up with a machine that won't boot anyway. (For instance, the Adaptec IDE raid rpm has a flaw that renders the machine completely unbootable). I know you can still (probably) recover from that, but again, you won't be able to talk your customer through that process over the phone, and your precious data is very much at risk and unavailable until you can get there in person. I think I've convinced myself of the benefits; I'm not sure if you or anyone else agrees. Regards, Tom Darrell May wrote: > "Thomas E. Keiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > > Basically, the idea is to put a second hard drive, or > > better yet, a raid array inside the box, and store your data on that. > > > The idea is two-fold: > > > > 1. move the entire contents of the /home directory to the data > drive; and > > > > 2. make occasional updates of the reinstallation diskette. > > > Hi Tom, so if I understand you want to have add a second drive or raid > array to hold /home. Definitely possible. > > Why do you feel this is a benefit over a standard install? > > Again, if I understand your goal the second hard drive/raid would need to > be linked so e-smith would treat it as a normal install. As such the > only small benefit I see is you have two hard drives in use so if the > first drive fails the theory is your /home drive is left unaffected. > > Isn't this a similar benefit a s/w raid 1 or h/w raid implementation > would provide? > > -- > Darrell May > DMC NETSOURCED.COM > http://netsourced.com -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive
Thanks, Dan, for enlightening me on something that wasn't obvious, and wasn't previously pointed out. I'd have been very unhappy with the results of my "safer" arrangement if I hadn't known that. Tom Dan York wrote: > Tom, > > > some new discoveries. Basically, the idea is to put a second hard drive, or > > better yet, a raid array inside the box, and store your data on that. If you > > ever have to reinstall the e-smith server, you're not going to wipe out your > > data; you'll just remount your data drive(s) on the boot drive's directory tree. > > One MAJOR caution - the e-smith installation process wipes > **ALL ATTACHED** hard drives during the install. (Hence the big warning > on http://www.e-smith.org/docs/manual/4.1/installingsoft.html ) > > The answer, of course, is to have that second disk drive in there, copy > the data to it, etc., and then *physically disconnect* the hard drive > from the disk controller (just pull the cable) before you do the > reinstall. After the software is reinstalled, you shut down the box, > reconnect the hard drive, and power it back up. > > The key is that you have to *remember* to disconnect the drive... > > Regards, > Dan > > -- > Dan York, Director of Training[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Ph: +1-613-751-4401 Mobile: +1-613-263-4312 Fax: +1-613-564-7739 > e-smith, inc. 150 Metcalfe St., Suite 1500, Ottawa,ON K2P 1P1 Canada > http://www.e-smith.com/open source, open mind -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
Re: [e-smith-devinfo] adding a 2nd hard drive
Lee Roy: I've been thinking about this problem for a few weeks, since first being introduced to the e-smith product. As the installation process always destroys the contents of the hard drive, it is possible to lose your data if for some reason you have to reinstall. Making a tape backup or dumping the data to a client machine is some help, but it won't get your recent data back, and recent may be quite a few days if you or your client isn't meticulous about doing backups. (and who is?). And that data loss could be disastrous, so a better solution is a good idea. I've got a preliminary how-to posted on the e-smith site (How to use an Adaptec Raid controller... in the hardware category) that explains the bare bones of what I do, but I'm going to be updating that in the near future to add some new discoveries. Basically, the idea is to put a second hard drive, or better yet, a raid array inside the box, and store your data on that. If you ever have to reinstall the e-smith server, you're not going to wipe out your data; you'll just remount your data drive(s) on the boot drive's directory tree. I've talked this over with some of the e-smith staff, and they don't seem to have or see any problem with it, although (as tech people always say) "we'll try to help you if you have any problems, but we can't *GUARANTEE* that we can get you back up and running." I guess that tiny margin, between almost certainly get back up and running and cannot guarantee it, is where a tape drive or some other form of backup comes in. The idea is two-fold: 1. move the entire contents of the /home directory to the data drive; and 2. make occasional updates of the reinstallation diskette. I have done this successfully with an Adaptec SCSI raid controller (expensive), an Adaptec IDE raid controller (medium cost) and a Promise Fastrack 100 IDE raid controller (now we're talking cheap), and I'll cover the details in my next how-to. But it's really pretty simple, and straightforward. Plus, unlike the Linux software raid situation, where info about recovering from a drive failure is either nonexistent or confusing or inapplicable, if you use one of these cards in hardware mirroring, recovery is just about automatic. Finally, once you have moved the /home directory over to the new data drive, the server doesn't know the difference, acts perfectly normally, and all features will work as usual. But now, you have some additional protection. Hope this helps, Tom Darrell May wrote: > Lee Roy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > > Please fore give my simple question, I'm just trying to do this the > > right way. I'm looking for a "How to" or a doc on the right/Safeway to > > add a 2nd hard drive to my home use (up for 74 days) e-smith box. > > There is no right way as e-smith expects only one hard drive or a RAID > implementation appearing as one hard drive. It is 'possible' to add a > second hard drive but you would be on your own and working outside the e- > smith-manager features when trying to make it workable for you. > > -- > Darrell May > DMC NETSOURCED.COM > http://netsourced.com > > -- > Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues > Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org -- Please report bugs to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] (only) to discuss security issues Support for registered customers and partners to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives by mail and http://www.mail-archive.com/devinfo%40lists.e-smith.org
