Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 23:25:52 +0100 From: Paul Everlund <tdv94ped@cs.umu.se> To: Steve Warwick <ukla@attbi.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Separating the OS from the data - tough to do? Message-ID: <3DC1ADF0.2080302@cs.umu.se>
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Steve Warwick wrote: > Hi, Hi Steve! > -- Problem: > Separating OS from underlying data. Which parts of the BSD OS are > not part of the initial, never modified OS? Or, which pieces of the > OS change due to useage. > > -- Goal: To have a slightly modified BSD OS structure where the OS > can be upgraded, yet the variable data remains the untouched (DNS, > websites, mail etc), on another partition or disk, allowing an OS > upgrade that can be as "plug & play" as possible. > > >-- THEORY -- > > See reference below for BSD file system details. > > At first glance it looks like I can just move and soft link a few > directories, /etc, /usr/local, /usr/home (websites) and /var. > However if one upgrades the OS, is it possible to have all the > installed apps separate? > > For example, I have Apache, MySQL and PHP installed. By moving/ > linking /usr/local to another partition or disk, is it possible that > these apps will run properly once the OS is upgraded and the soft > link re-setablished? Will /var still function properly? Will MySQL > re-write the DB files somewhere else next time it is optimized or > repaired? > > All thoughts, ideas and input gratefully received. Hopefully this > discussion will be of use to a few more people that just me :) [...snip...] Not a direct answer to your question, as I assume you want to reformat the disk for every new installation, but... The easiest way to upgrade the OS is by using cvsup. Then you'll get the changes of the source files, and after you've cvsup'ed you just compile the sources and install them. It's as easy as this... cvsup sources make buildworld make buildkernel KERNCONF=KERNEL mergemaster -p make installkernel reboot make installworld mergemaster reboot(?) (If I remember the steps correct) No need to reformat the disk, no need to recreate symbolic links and all is updated. It's all in the handbook! :-) Best regards, Paul To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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