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Introduction

This paper covers cloning a Fedora Core 4 system using the Knoppix Live CD. The goal is to clone the hard drive of one computer to the hard drive of another computer across the network. My servers run on high density blades. These things have older BIOSes and don't take hard drive transplants so well. The best way to install an os is over the network.

Server Instructions

1. Boot the knoppix CD on the computer you wish to clone.

2. Once booted launch a terminal window.

3. Goto the Knoppix menu and start the terminal server. It will run you through the steps to configure your network card. Configure you network card to have a static address. I used the default settings. When it asks be sure to select the network card drivers your client needs. Make sure you uncheck the secure clients checkbox. We need root access on the client.

3. Now we need to make the mount point for the hard drive we wish to clone. In the termail type the following.

> su > mkdir /mnt/image

4. We need to mount the partition. Your hard drive may be configured differently from mine.

> mount -t ext2 /dev/hdc2 /mnt/image

Be sure it is mounted

> df -h

5. We will share the hard drive over the network as read only. Type the following.

> echo "/mnt/image 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0(ro,no_root_squash,async)" >> /etc/exports

6. we now need to restart the terminal server. Go to the knoppix menu and stop the service. Go back now and start it again.

CLIENT INSTUCTIONS

1. PXE boot the client on the network.

2. We dcn't need to use the GUI. Hit ALT CTRL F2.

3. Make the mount points we need.

> su > mkdir /mnt/image > mkdir /mnt/new_image

4. Use fdisk to create the swap partition and root partition on your hard drive.

5. format the swap space.

> mkswap /dev/hdc1

6. Turn on swap if you like.

> swapon /dev/hdc1

7. Format your root partition.

> mkfs.ext2 /dev/hdc2

8. Mount the partitions

> mount -t nfs 192.168.0.1:/mnt/image /mnt/image > mount -t ext2 /dev/hdc2 /mnt/new_image

Let's check and be sure

> df -h

9. Now copy the data. Don't put a "/" at the end of the paths.

> cp -avx /mnt/image/* /mnt/new_image

Coffee break time.

10. reboot the client from the network

11. Now we need to run grub

> grup --no-floppy

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