Re: [gentoo-user] Running Gentoo in VirtualBox

[thelma]

I configure all machine the same way.  The older units saver as a
backup.  If something goes wrong all I need to do is to boot one of the
backup machine and restore the files, or do minor adjustments.

Thelma
On 12/31/2017 01:13 PM, Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On 31/12/2017 21:40, the...@sys-concept.com wrote:
>> I'm using Gentoo as a server (so it runs 24/7) Apache, Asterisk, Hylafax
>> etc.
>>
>> What are my chances to run Gentoo as a VirtualBox?
>>
>> Installing Gentoo takes me 2-3 days (basic setup min., I don't do it
>> every month so I have to go through Gentoo handbook); to configure it
>> the way I want it takes another week or two.
>>
>> So I was thinking,  if I run Windows 10 and configure Gentoo as a
>> virtual box it might be easier to transfer it from one system to
>> another, in case there is a HD failure (like it just happened to me
>> yesterday).
>>
>> Any input will be appreciated.
>> I know I might have problem with Serial port and receiving faxes via
>> HylaFax as they are time sensitive.
>>
> 
> 
> That is not the question. The real question is:
> 
> Why are you running a production fax server with n backup or redundancy
> plans?
> 
> Virtualization here will not solve your risk or effort exposure. It will
> increase it.
> 

Re: [gentoo-user] Running Gentoo in VirtualBox

[R0b0t1]

On Sun, Dec 31, 2017 at 2:13 PM, Alan McKinnon  wrote:
> On 31/12/2017 21:40, the...@sys-concept.com wrote:
>> I'm using Gentoo as a server (so it runs 24/7) Apache, Asterisk, Hylafax
>> etc.
>>
>> What are my chances to run Gentoo as a VirtualBox?
>>
>> Installing Gentoo takes me 2-3 days (basic setup min., I don't do it
>> every month so I have to go through Gentoo handbook); to configure it
>> the way I want it takes another week or two.
>>
>> So I was thinking,  if I run Windows 10 and configure Gentoo as a
>> virtual box it might be easier to transfer it from one system to
>> another, in case there is a HD failure (like it just happened to me
>> yesterday).
>>
>> Any input will be appreciated.
>> I know I might have problem with Serial port and receiving faxes via
>> HylaFax as they are time sensitive.
>>
>
> Virtualization here will not solve your risk or effort exposure. It will
> increase it.
>

I agree: this way lies pain.

Firstly, if you must use Windows, I highly recommend using Hyper-V
over VirtualBox or VMWare/ESXi. It is free and has better hardware
configuration support.

Secondly, the backup scheme you are wanting to implement is easier and
more robustly done with LVM. Even if you don't want to deal with that,
rsync over SSH is secure and easy to set up. More complicated
solutions like BorgBackup may ultimately be the most appropriate.

Thirdly, save your configuration files so you do not need to reread
the documentation each time you install a system. Look at Gentoo stage
4 tarballs and programs like Ansible or Puppet. You might also
consider running Debian. Gentoo is nice, but not necessary or even
suitable for every use case.

Cheers,
 R0b0t1

Re: [gentoo-user] Running Gentoo in VirtualBox

[Alan McKinnon]

On 31/12/2017 21:40, the...@sys-concept.com wrote:
> I'm using Gentoo as a server (so it runs 24/7) Apache, Asterisk, Hylafax
> etc.
> 
> What are my chances to run Gentoo as a VirtualBox?
> 
> Installing Gentoo takes me 2-3 days (basic setup min., I don't do it
> every month so I have to go through Gentoo handbook); to configure it
> the way I want it takes another week or two.
> 
> So I was thinking,  if I run Windows 10 and configure Gentoo as a
> virtual box it might be easier to transfer it from one system to
> another, in case there is a HD failure (like it just happened to me
> yesterday).
> 
> Any input will be appreciated.
> I know I might have problem with Serial port and receiving faxes via
> HylaFax as they are time sensitive.
> 


That is not the question. The real question is:

Why are you running a production fax server with n backup or redundancy
plans?

Virtualization here will not solve your risk or effort exposure. It will
increase it.

-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan.mckin...@gmail.com

Re: [gentoo-user] Running Gentoo in VirtualBox

[Alec Ten Harmsel]

On Sun, Dec 31, 2017 at 12:40:43PM -0700, the...@sys-concept.com wrote:
> I'm using Gentoo as a server (so it runs 24/7) Apache, Asterisk, Hylafax
> etc.
> 
> What are my chances to run Gentoo as a VirtualBox?
> 
> Installing Gentoo takes me 2-3 days (basic setup min., I don't do it
> every month so I have to go through Gentoo handbook); to configure it
> the way I want it takes another week or two.

Instead of running Gentoo with VirtualBox and backing up the image, I'd
recommend storing your configurations in a git repo and using ansible[1]
or salt[2] to deploy them when you need to.

Also, if you ever expand to more than 1 server, these tools make even
more sense. I use salt for my personal setup, which is 1 server and 1
laptop (I have 2-3 more servers that I need to get set up someday...),
but salt is simpler and no less powerful.

Hope this helps,

Alec

1. https://www.ansible.com/
2. https://saltstack.com/

Re: [gentoo-user] Running Gentoo in VirtualBox

[Matthias Hanft]

the...@sys-concept.com wrote:
> 
> What are my chances to run Gentoo as a VirtualBox?

I just did it (amd64-Gentoo on Win10/64), and it works like a charm.

No problems encountered at all.  However, here it's just a "server-
Gentoo" (only Apache, Postfix and all that - no GUI/desktop, no
special hardware).

-Matt

[gentoo-user] Running Gentoo in VirtualBox

[thelma]

I'm using Gentoo as a server (so it runs 24/7) Apache, Asterisk, Hylafax
etc.

What are my chances to run Gentoo as a VirtualBox?

Installing Gentoo takes me 2-3 days (basic setup min., I don't do it
every month so I have to go through Gentoo handbook); to configure it
the way I want it takes another week or two.

So I was thinking,  if I run Windows 10 and configure Gentoo as a
virtual box it might be easier to transfer it from one system to
another, in case there is a HD failure (like it just happened to me
yesterday).

Any input will be appreciated.
I know I might have problem with Serial port and receiving faxes via
HylaFax as they are time sensitive.

-- 
Joseph