david <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts.
>
> I've got a feisty desktop that has grown like topsy. It's running
> several services eg: webserver, mail , postgres, mysql, apt-caching,
> Nvidia proprietary drivers, accounting software, etc etc.. lots of
> "stuff". Probably things I've completely forgotten about.
>
> At one time, I changed the UUID's in fstab to the old fashioned /dev
> id's (because of compatibility issues at the time with Mondo). Some
> things have been installed from source, some from .deb that I have
> downloaded, and most from simple apt-get.
>
> To complicate things, the box already has 4 hard drives installed, so
> installing another one for copying is probably not an option.
>
> In other words, it's a complete mish-mash.
>
> Some things are critical, some important, some trivial.
>
> I also made the mistake of using Automatix, and I've read that it has
> the potential to completely break upgrades.
It does. With luck you may not hit them, but it probably makes the
automated tools unsafe for you to use.
> The system works fine, but it's getting old and I want to upgrade to
> Hardy. I think maybe a complete new Hardy, but what's the way to make
> sure I don't lose stuff... or is it too late :)
>
> I'm sure there is no simple answer, but does anyone have any thoughts
> or experience?
Are you comfortable upgrading the system by hand, and with recovering if
it fails to boot because the boot loader, kernel, fstab, or drive
ordering is mangled?
If not then I advise, as the other poster did, that you create a nice,
fresh box[1] and migrate services to it one by one. Then, finally,
reformat the current system.
Regards,
Daniel
Footnotes:
[1] I advise one dedicated to being a server, with no GUI installed, so
that you are not tempted to put desktop-ish things on it.
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