Cloning from HDD to HDD - Issue with HDD Names

utneflyte · September 8, 2009, 10:53am

Hi,
To my knowledge, I successfully make a copy of my hard drive to an image file for a OpenSUSE 11.1 install, via clonezilla live CD. (no errors)
I also was able to restore that same image to a new identical hard drive, no errors from CloneZilla.

The issue is that when I boot from this freshly restored new HDD, OpenSUSE won’t load because the GRUB bootloader is set at looking for the root at this location:
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD1600BEVT-00ZCT0_WD-WXE409K111111-part2
The above names the serial number (i guess) of the old HDD.

So, being smarter then the average bear I edit Grub to use the new Serial Number:
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD1600BEVT-11ZCT0_WD-WXE309U444444-part2
(also tried using only /dev/sda2 but same issues as per below)

But that gets me only to the rescue system… it says it can not locate the old drive name “-part3”.
It is looking for this (the old name of the drive):
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD1600BEVT-00ZCT0_WD-WXE409K111111-part3
When it should really be looking for this (the new name of the drive):
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-WDC_WD1600BEVT-11ZCT0_WD-WXE309U444444-part3

I ran mkinitrd for fun and that didn’t solve anything.

How can I fix it so it always looks at the new HDD name and not the old one?
Note: Although, I can open Yast, I can not do anything on it… I see the menu, but selecting anything does nothing.

My issue with the above, is I have to restore my one image to 20 hard drives… What are the steps I need to take for each hard drive post-restoration?

This also brings a fun question. When making a full HDD Image for restoring to another HDD (same vendor/size), will OpenSUSE keep track of the proper connections to USB? Example, will it know that USB port 1 is loaded with a touch screen. Or will it do like the above and it will only expect to connect the touch screen that matches its serial number? Thus me needing to re-install it…

Thank you for any hints/tips.

Steve

microchip8 · September 8, 2009, 11:18am

Did you also change those in /etc/fstab ?

One of the many reasons why I still keep using the old by Device Name notation (/dev/sdXX and co)

hcvv · September 8, 2009, 11:48am

microchip8a’ answer should resolve your problem. But as you seem to be a little bit in doubt about the way it works (“The above names the serial number (i guess) of the old HDD.”), you can find some more info at SDB:Basics of partitions, filesystems, mount points - openSUSE

After understanding this you will see why microchip8 uses /dev/sda1 and brothers. But using volume labels (I suspect these are copied using clonezilla) may also be a solution.

utneflyte · September 8, 2009, 1:13pm

Thank you microship8 and hcw.

Yes, changing the /etc/fstab did the trick.

How would I go about and do like microchip8 and use the name format /dev/sdXX instead of the /dev/disk/by-id/scsi-SATA_Hitachi_HDT7250_VFJ201R23XUEXW-part2 (example)?

That will make my life so much easier when duplicating hard drives like there’s no tomorrow…

Thank you,
Steve

hcvv · September 8, 2009, 1:36pm

Look where /dev/disk-by-id/… links to. Will be /dev/sd… (when you read the link I gave you, that should be clear).

Use the found special file instead of the links in/etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst. (like you did already)

oldcpu · September 8, 2009, 3:24pm

In case it will help, you could also look here:
Cloning an old drive to a new drive - openSUSE Forums

tcubed_bus · September 8, 2009, 4:04pm

If you see a need for multiple OSs on your boxes, it is worthwhile to read Steve Litt’s arguments in favor of a dedicated grub partition at: Grub Grotto

HTH

microchip8 · September 8, 2009, 4:41pm

also, don’t forget to adjust /boot/grub/device.map

Further, also have a look in /etc/sysconfig/bootloader and adjust the resume= variables to point to your swap partition using device names (eg, /dev/sda2 for example)

utneflyte · September 8, 2009, 5:28pm

Thank you for the replies.
All is working great, as mentionned above, only the following two locations required updating:
/etc/fstab and /boot/grub/menu.lst

knurpht · September 9, 2009, 11:17am

That’s right, it’s only those two places that need changes. Great you got it working. Power of the forums !!!

Akoellh · September 9, 2009, 3:33pm

 
  Expert Partitioner

   ┌System View────────────────────────────────────────┐Settings
   │─┬─Machine                                          │Default Mount by
   │ ├+─Hard Disks                                     │Device ID▒▒▒▒▒▒↓
   │ ├──RAID                                           ┌────────────┐System
   │ ├──Volume Management                              │**Device Name** │ ▒▒▒▒↓
   │ ├──Crypt Files                                    │Volume Label│
   │ ├──Device Mapper                                  │UUID        │ evices by
   │ ├──NFS                                            │Device ID   │ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒↓
   │ └──Unused Devices                                 │Device Path │ mation On Storage Devices────────────────────────────┐
   │───**Settings**                                        └────────────┘                                                      │
   │───Log                                             │                                                                   │
   │                                                   ││[x] Mount by                                                      │
   │                                                   ││[x] Used by                                                       │
   │                                                   ││[x] BIOS ID                                                       │
   │                                                   ││[x] Cylinder information                                          │
   │                                                   ││[x] Fibre Channel information                                     │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   ││                                                                  │
   │                                                   │└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
   │                                                   │
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   │                                                   │
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   └───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

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mikky_m · September 9, 2009, 8:54pm

I pressing recommend you to change also /etc/sysconfig/bootloader and /boot/grub/device.map also - as it was recommended here.
In SuSE before 11.1 you’ll have the problems w/names of ethernet interfaces because of udevd work (udev rules). You’ll see “new” (“added”) ethernet interfaces if you’ll not change udev rules.