Hi all,

I know there are many tutorials on how to replace a gluster host that has 
become unusable. But they all seem to assume that the bricks of the respective 
host are gone, too.

My problem is different and (I hope) more easily solved: the disk with the 
host’s root file system died and cannot be recovered. However, all of its 
bricks are on separate disks and completely undamaged.

I‘m seeking your advice on what is best practice for replacing such a host.

My notion is that it should be possible to setup a new root system, configure 
it and have it use the existing bricks.

My questions are:

1) Is this a good idea at all or do I miss anything? Would it be better to 
format the existing bricks and start over with a completely clean new host, 
like most of the tutorials do?

2) If it is feasible to use the existing bricks, two scenarios come to my mind:
  
  a) Setup a new root file system for a gluster host and copy/change gluster 
configuration from one of the existing hosts. Adjust it so that the newly setup 
host actually thinks it is the old host (that died). I.e., copying over the 
gluster UID, Volume configurations, Hostnamen, IP, etc. (What else would it 
need?)
     The pool would then recognize the new host as identical to the old one 
that died and accept it just like the old host came online again. 

  b) Setup a new root file system for a gluster host and probe it into the 
trusted pool, with a new name and new gluster UID. Transfer bricks of the old 
host that died to the new one using „change-brick“. There would be no need for 
lengthy syncing as most of the data is existing and up-to-date on the new host 
(that has the bricks of the old host), only self-heal would take place.


Do these scenarios sound sane to you and which one would be best practice in 
this situation? This is a production system, so safety is relevant.


Thanks for any helpful comments and opinions!

Best, R. Kupper

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