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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Best way to swap drives? (self.linux)

submitted 1 month ago by Nednarb44 to c/[email protected]

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I'm looking to upgrade drives on two of my machines. My server running ubuntu has a 3.5" and will be getting a larger capacity HDD, while my personal computer running endeavor OS will be going from a 2.5" ssd to an nvme drive. (Not sure if it helps giving the drive types, but can't hurt).

I'm fine with a clean install and reinstalling everything, but to save some time I'd of course like to minimize the effort that goes into it (importing settings etc). Any tips/tricks for either? Thanks in advance

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

dd then resize the fs?

Edit: one caveat here I forgot: if your fstab is using UUIDs, you're going to have to update that, since the new drive won't be the same UUID because, well, it's not the same drive.

[–] Nednarb44 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Any help with the acronyms? I'm still pretty new to Linux

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

two commands: dd and resize2fs, assuming you're using ext4 and not something more exotic.

one makes a block-level copy of one device to another like so: dd if=/dev/source-drive of=/dev/destination-drive

the other is used to resize the filesystem from whatever size it was, to whatever size you tell it (or the whole disk; I'd have to go read a manpage since it's been a bit)

the dd is completely safe, but the resize2fs command can break things, but you'd still have the data on the original drive, so you could always start over if it does - i'd unplug the source drive before you start doing any expansion stuff.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

dd is completely safe.

Only if you have the correct args and device names. Make a backup if you want to do it from the command line and aren't feeling 100% confident.

[–] Nednarb44 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thanks, that's really helpful. It can be hard to tell between commands and acronyms in conversation with familiarity

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Be absolutely sure that you get the source and destination drives correct. If you get them backwards, it will nuke your data. There is no confirmations, dd will start as soon as you press enter.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Good old disk destroyer.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Absolutely this. Relatively quick and clean, no messing with installation or reconfiguration. That is, assuming your data isn't completely corrupted and the old drive doesn't just outright fail during transfer... But if that happens you were screwed to begin with.

[–] Nednarb44 2 points 1 month ago

The old drives are fine, just either too small or too slow, so it sounds like it may be an option