Server Upgrades

[drplokta]

I have a dedicated Linux server hosted by 1&1 Internet, which runs the plokta.com website and my email and stuff. But it comes with Redhat Linux 7.2, which is no longer supported, and in any case I really hate Redhat's package management. So I want to put Debian Linux on it instead, but I don't have any physical access to the machine, so I can only do it via an ssh connection. This makes reinstalling Linux difficult, at best.

Fortunately, some kind soul has had the same problem and produced a script called debtakeover to migrate a running server to Debian. So I'm about to try it out, having backed up everything critical. 1&1 do give you a facility to boot an emergency system off a network drive if you screw up your config, so I should be able to put everything back the way it was if I screw it up too badly. But wish me luck...

www.plokta.com will be down for a while, and I won't be able to receive any email.

Comments

[lproven.livejournal.com]

Courageous man.

[drplokta]

Well, that didn't go too well. Lots of segmentation faults partway through the upgrade -- I suspect a library conflict of some kind. I was able to copy my backups back without even having to reboot using the emergency network boot. I'll have to try again going through the script manually. But not now.

Re:

[red-cloud.livejournal.com]

Failed or not, that's the bravest thing I ever saw.

Re:

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

Oh well. An impressive attempt. Look forward to hearing about future tries. The ideal solution would be to have the machine configured with enough unpartitioned space that you could keep the current OS safe, and install the new one as a dual boot.

Many would consider switching Debian a pretty brave move even without the remote install. Have you considered Suse or Liam's favourite, ESmith?

[ex-erikvolso370.livejournal.com]

They won't give you a serial console? Ick. Updating in multi-user *sucks*.

Re:

[drplokta]

Nope, no console. And its usefulness is limited on most Intel hardware anyway -- I prefer my Sun servers where I can power cycle the box via the console even if it's completely hung and then do a network boot or whatever I want -- saves a lot of site visits.

Re:

[ex-erikvolso370.livejournal.com]

True -- but even on a bog-standard Intel Box with a serial port, FreeBSD will let you boot single-user and do a proper update. You might need an external box to frob the power switch, or one of the fancier Intel boards that lets you access the BIOS via serial.

Not having that ability is, to me, a critical blow against a hosting provider.

You're right about Sun hardware and the serial port -- big win for that platform, and the customer, considering the amount of dollars it costs to have an FE go smack the red button and fsck the box.

Re:

[drplokta]

Yeah, but I can get a dedicated server (a real one, not a virtual one) for £30 per month -- which was $50 when I got it, but is more like $55 now that the $ has fallen. I'm prepared to put up with the inconvenience for that price -- and I can do a network boot of an emergency repair system, and mount the disk and fix stuff, if it fails to reboot.

Re:

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

gosh that is cheap!

[frostfox.livejournal.com]

Wondered why my homepage had gone wibble.

Tsk, just can't get the help these days.