How to change root in initrd without rdev?

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

Hello

I’ve moved my root fs to a new disk with dump/restore (OpenSuse 11.4)
New location is on an other partition.
In old opensuse versions there was the rdev prog in util-linux which was removed in 11.4 if I remember right.

How can I change now my root dev in the initrd WITHOUT recreate the initrd?

Thanks

Beat

#2

What you need to do depends on a few more details.

  1. Which hard drive is your boot drive? Old & New if different.
  2. Where is Grub loaded, MBR or partition 1, 2, 3, 4 of which hard disk?
  3. What is the drive/partition of the old / and for the new /.
  4. If grub was loaded in a partition, not the MBR, which partition was active or boot partition?
  5. Does this computer dual boot with Windows?
  6. List fstab contents and post in message, from terminal enter: sudo cat /etc/fstab
  7. List menu.lst contents: sudo cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
  8. List device.map file: sudo cat /boot/grub/device.map

List the present contents of these three files before you try to change your root / partition, of course.

Thank You,

#3

I have already changed fstab etc.
One of the problem is that I have changed from ext3 to ext4, could this be the problem.
I tought os 11.4 had already ext4 in kernel as default …

#4

Did you reformat the partitions for ext4? ext4 is the current default format.

Also please answer James’s question. We know too little to be of any real help.

#5

So, yes, the latest kernel and way back to openSUSE 11.2 at least, has support EXT4 just fine. But, switching file system type means you can not use a sector copy but must do a by file copy. Next, the booting setup must be changed. That is why I asked the other questions. In your fstab file, the drive name and part number will change, but so shall it change in your grub menu.lst and device.map files and some changes may require that you reload grub. The more info you can provide, the better chance we can to provide good help.

Thank You,