Restore of /boot

[Mike Reinehr]

On Thursday 09 June 2005 01:43 pm, Vu Pham wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: linux-users-bounces at linux-sxs.org
> > [mailto:linux-users-bounces at linux-sxs.org] On Behalf Of Mike Reinehr
> > Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 8:37 AM
> > To: linux-users at linux-sxs.org
> > Subject: Re: Restore of /boot
> >
> > On Wednesday 08 June 2005 06:10 pm, Vu Pham wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > When my server goes down, I do a minimal resintallation (
> >
> > maybe with a
> >
> > > different partition table ) and do a restore.
> > > If I restore the /boot then my server hangs at the GRUB
> >
> > problem. If I
> >
> > > do not restore the /boot partition then it works but with an old
> > > kernel ( the kernel on the CD ).
> > >
> > > How can I restore my /boot ?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Vu
> >
> > Vu,
> >
> > This begs several questions. First, is whether you are
> > restoring root to the same partition or a new one. If a new
> > one, then your root entries in /boot/grub/menu.lst (or,
> > whichever config file you are using) would have to be edited
> > to reflect the new root partition.
> >
> > Also, is grub installed to your MBR or to your /boot
> > partition? If to your /boot partition, then grub would have
> > to be re-installed if you have changed your boot partition.
> > It likely would have to be re-installed if you have changed
> > your partitions in any way.
> >
> > What GRUB problem do you refer? Where is it hanging?
> >
> > What do you mean it boots from the kernel on the CD? What CD?
> > Are you booting from your HD or from your CD?
>
> Thanks for your reply. Here is my situation. My original disk has 3
> partitions : /boot, / and swap.
> It failed. I use a new drive and re-create 3 similar partitions but may be
> with different sizes because I do not remember exactly the size of /boot
> and / then I install Linux ( RHE 3 in this case ) with minimal
> configuration. Then I do a full restore of the tape that include /boot and
> other
> directories as /usr , /lib, /etc  ...( except /dev, /mnt, /proc ).
>
> When I restore everything from tape ( including the /boot ) and reboot from
> the hard disk, the server reboots and display only "GRUB" with the flashing
> cursor right there. It hangs right there.
>
> When I restore everything except /boot, then the server is booted normally
> from the hard disk. And in this case, the kernel is the one that the RHE 3
> CDs has.
>
> I mentioned old and new kernels because on the original drive, I ran the
> RHN update to some new kernel. The tape does have this new one.
>
> GRUB is installed onto MBR.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Vu

Vu,

My guess is that for some reason the GRUB bootstrap written to the MBR is not 
finding the GRUB files in /boot/grub after you have restored /boot from tape. 
So, here's something that you might try. Boot with the boot files from your 
new RHE3 installation in /boot. Then restore the /boot files from tape into 
another directory. Copy just the kernel image files over manually into /boot. 
Then, edit your /boot/grub/menu.lst file to use the new kernel. (There was a 
thread about this recently. Not all systems use menu.lst. I think some use 
menu.conf or some such file, and there may only be a symlink in /boot/grub 
pointing to your configuration file in /etc/... .)

Cheers!

cmr

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