How to clone RHEL 4 OS disk to a different server
 

I need to clone an HP DL380 G4 server running RHEL 4 that has 36.4GB 3.5inch disks to a HP DL380 G5 server having 36.4GB 2.5 inch disks and be able to boot from it.Both types of disk are hardware mirrored on their relevant servers. Any ideas on how to best acheive this.

If the disks really are different in physical size ie 3.5 vs 2.5 inch, you'll need a tool like mondorescue or clonezilla.
If the size thing is a typo and they are the same disks on both machines, you can take a disk from the hot-swap mirror and use it to boot the new system, then after its up (you'll get a few warnings), add in a blank disk and it should mirror up.
I highly recommend you start by installing the PSP (product support pack) from HP which contains a bunch of HW specific rpms to look at eg this stuff.
Specifically the one I used for this situation was hpacucli (hp array cmds util cmd line iirc) eg http://www.networkinghowtos.com/howt...tus-on-centos/

HTH & Welcome to LQ :)

Re:How to clone RHEL 4 OS disk to a different server
 

Hi Chris
Thanks for your reply,
The 3.5 / 2.5 disks is correct (thats the problem :( )
I will download Mondorescue and the PSP as you suggested.


cheers
Gordon

Several years ago I achieved similar by building a "minimal" RH install on the target machine and then restoring a complete tape/tar backup of the source machine. Assuming you keep partitions/names/mount points the same it should work.

Ok; in this situation its Mondo or Clonezilla or possibly TenTenths' suggestion if its not too hard (depends how well you know the system setup)

The PSP tool set is handy to have anyway; but it won't specifically help in this situation.