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List:       gentoo-user
Subject:    Re: [gentoo-user]  congruant gentoo servers
From:       Uwe Thiem <uwix () iway ! na>
Date:       2008-06-27 18:10:10
Message-ID: 200806271910.10917.uwix () iway ! na
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On Friday 27 June 2008, James wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I need to deploy a (gentoo) server, on an isolated, remote network,
> with just a few custom applications. However, to periodically
> update the gentoo distro, I want to build a second (congruent)
> system, that can be physically swapped for update, or in the
> event of failure (brain-dead, I know but for now, that's a
> hard constraint).
>
>
> So I have system with identical mother boards, cpus and the same
> amount of ram. The size of the drives differs, but, that should not
> be a problem.
>
> Where to start?
> The both have the same profile:
> [9]   default/linux/x86/2008.0 *
>
>
> The both have the same kernel/options:
> 2.6.24-gentoo-r8
>
> The world files are different. One is mimimal and very close
> to what I want, the other needs many packages removed.
>
> Likewise the one system has a minimal make.conf file, which
> I like, the other is quite bloated over the years.
>
>
> So before I go any further, should I just set about pruning the
> bloated system down to match the minimal system, or go for a new
> install.

Pruning a fat system can be very time consuming. I'd rather clone the 
minimalistic one.

>
> Also what else would I check and modify to ensure the systems are
> as close to congruent as possbile?
>
> rc-status?
>
> installed packages?
>
>
> file by file in /etc?
>
>
> Any tools or suggestions to help in this effort are much welcome.
>
> Should I just "dd" one (minmalistic) drive contents to the
> other?

I'd rather tar the whole small system up and install this tarball on 
the other one (after adjusting partitioning, creating filesystems and 
such).

Uwe

-- 
Ignorance killed the cat, sir, curiosity was framed!
-- 
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