Migrate Debian Etch Server Hardware

**Xmen** · 17-12-2009

Hello,
I am a student in Computer Science (Networks and Linux server administration), and a personal project I put together a website (on a LAMP server with Debian Etch ). But following a strong increase in the affluence of the site I will have to change the physical server. The problem is that I do not find too much information on how to migrate physical keeping all the packages and configurations of my current system. Obviously, my installation is not limited only to Apache, Mysql and PHP, I also installed several other packages monitoring etc.. I do not know specifically the names to redo the apt-get install. Also I do not see any return back to 0 for the server. My question is, are there tools to simplify the migration material without changing the installed packages, their versions and configurations? But also if possible, all user accounts and other configurations of the current Debian. Thanks in advance.

**Devasis** · 17-12-2009

Hi
You have the following solution, Reinstall a debian based on your new server.
And play with the controls dpkg - get-selections and dpkg - set-selections in order to ask the "new" debian reinstall packages that were installed on the old debian. On what will become the old debian:

Code:

dpkg - get-selections> paquets_installes.txt

You copy this file to the new server installed in debian
And then

Code:

cat paquets_installes.txt | dpkg - set-selections
apt-get upgrade-deselect

which will cause you to reinstall all the packages on the old server.

**Xmen** · 17-12-2009

Hi

dpkg - get-selections> paquets_installes.txt

Thank you for this information I do not know dpkg more and actually looked the wrong side (with apt). Second and last question, can I copy all / etc on the new server or it is not advisable too? (to restore the users, groups, but also package configurations). Any advice on this or suggestion.

**Devasis** · 17-12-2009

Hi
Make a tar your / etc directory on the old server, copy it onto the new server (ssh, usb key, more .)

Code:

mon_repertoire_etc.tar tar cvf / etc

Turns off the old server or disconnect the network and your file.

Code:

mon_repertoire_etc.tar tar xvf-C /

Hope this will help you. If you have any problem then please do post back.

**Xmen** · 17-12-2009

Hey
In case anyone use these commands. I am not sure this is correct or not, still if you feel I am wrong then guide me correctly. This is what I have done.

Code:

apt-get dselect-upgrade

I have not followed this.

Code:

apt-get upgrade-deselect

Thank you again I am doing this migration? Is this correct? Any advice

**jesse** · 17-12-2009

Hi
If you need to transfer a directory recursive without tar (simple version with scp)

Code:

scp-r / path / directory / login @ IP_nouveau_serveur source: / path / directory / dest

If the directory is rather bulky to use rsync can resume sending complementing / overwriting files (after checksum or time), and other very useful options:

Code:

ARCV-rsync - rsh = "ssh" / path / directory / IP_nouveaux_serveur @ source: / path / directory / dest

- A: archive file
- R: recursive copy
- C: resume files that have a different checksum (you can use-u to overwrite if the date is earlier)
- V: verbose mode to see what happens
Hope this will help you.