Re: Moving Unix

[Bruce Drake <bruce%synxcti.com@localhost>]

On Tue, 27 Aug 1996, Duncan Reed wrote:

> I want to move my unix setup to a different disk.
> 
> I have bffs1.5 installed to I was thinking of doing the copying from
> the amiga side. But for some reason the root partition has a directory
> ghosted out which I can't copy (/sys in fact) anyone know why? Or can
> think of a better way? Obviously I will have to move the root last
> so that I can alter the various /etc files.

This is a tricky proposition at best.

First of all, AmigaDOS's copy command (in conjunction with BFFS) will not
preserve all the special permissions and link information that is critical
to Unix.  If you use AmigaDOS to copy the files, you will create a useless
pile of files in the target partition.  It is because of the differences
between Unix permissions and AmigaDOS protection bits that cause the /sys
directory to appear "ghosted" or hidden. 

It would be better to mount the new partition (which could be created with
BFFS) under NetBSD and do the copying there.  However, there are problems
even then.  You can't simply use the cp command to copy all the files,
since you will not copy links (but the files the links point to instead). 
You will need to use something else, like tar, to move the files.  And
even then, tar must be used with just the right options. 

I'm not in the position at the moment to look up the syntax of tar to give
you the command you need to perform this copying right now.  Maybe someone
else can supply the information more quickly.  It involves piping.

In any case, be absolutly sure you know what you are doing before wiping
out your original partition(s)!

------------------
Bruce Drake
Synectics, Inc.
(919) 872-1275 USA