[Ubuntu-SG] Ubuntu-related article on ST Digital Life

[Kelvin Quee]

Hi,

Why so complex???

KQ


available here -
http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Digital%2BLife/Technology/Story/STIStory_269872.html

Aug 20, 2008

Get ready to go /home on Ubuntu

So you've been running Ubuntu Linux on your rig for a while. LIM YEE 
HUNG shows how to preserve your settings by shifting your /home folder
WITH the recent release of the new Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron), successor 
of the Gutsy Gibbon, you might be tempted to upgrade to enjoy the 
cleaner graphical user interface and improved video compatibility. Plus, 
its updated Linux kernel brings greater reliability and security.

However, upgrading to the new version will cause you to lose all your 
data. The system will also revert to the default settings, meaning that 
you lose all your painstaking work configuring that snazzy 3D desktop 
cube that Linux is famous for.

Skip the aggro: Put your /home folder (where all your data and settings 
are stored) into a separate partition. This way, it remains intact when 
you upgrade and all your stuff is preserved.

For this operation, you will need an Ubuntu Live CD. You can create it 
by downloading the CD image from www.ubuntu.com and burning it on a 
blank CD. Or order a free CD from the website.

Your hard drive cannot be used when modifying the partitions in it. So 
you will have to boot the Live CD instead.

In the live session, install the Gnome Partition Editor (GParted) by 
using the Synaptic Package Manager (System >Administration >Synaptic 
Package Manager). Install GParted. Note that an Internet connection is 
needed.

Once it is installed, run GParted with administrator privileges. Press 
Alt-F2, and type in 'gksudo gparted' to run GParted with root access.

In GParted, first create some free space for your new partition by 
shrinking one of the existing partitions. Right-click the partition and 
select 'Resize/Move'.

Choose the size of the partition you want. The free space generated by 
the shrinking operation will be used for your new partition. Tip: Give 
it at least 5GB of space, as this is where all your data such as 
documents, music and videos will be kept.

After shrinking the partition, right-click the new empty space generated 
and select 'New'.

In the 'Create New Partition' settings window, select 'ext3' under 
Filesystem, leaving the other values as is.

Note that all these operations have not been set into motion: you will 
need to apply them. Do a quick double check. Once you are satisfied with 
your new partition layout, click 'Apply'. The operation should be 
finished in a matter of minutes.

Once complete, take note of the name of the root partition, where your 
/home folder currently resides, and the name of your new partition. In 
this example, it is /dev/sda2 for the current home folder and /dev/sda5 
for the newly created one.

Voila! You have successfully created your new partition. Now it's time 
to place your /home folder in it. In the following commands, remember to 
replace the partition names used in the example with your own partition 
names. For example, if your original /home partition is /dev/sda3, then 
replace all instances of /dev/sda2 in the examples with /dev/sda3.

Open up a terminal window (Applications >Accessories >Terminal) and 
mount both partitions by typing:

sudo mkdir /old

sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda2 /old

sudo mkdir /new

sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda5 /new

Then, back up the /home directory and move it to the new partition by 
typing:

cd /old/home

sudo find . -depth -print0 , sudo cpio --null --sparse -pvd /new

sudo mv /old/home /old/old_home

sudo mkdir /old/home

Now, you need to direct the system to use your new partition as the 
/home partition. First, type:

sudo cp/old/etc/fstab/old/etc/old_fstab

sudo nano /old/etc/fstab

This will take you to the nano text editor, where you can then add in 
this line:

/dev/sda5 /home ext3 nodev,nosuid 0 2

Save the file and exit the editor, then reboot the computer. Your 
computer should now be using your new /home partition.

However, if you made a mistake and things go wrong, do a recovery using 
your Live CD and start all over again. (Or get someone to help you this 
time.)

To recover your old settings, boot into the Live CD, open a terminal 
window and type:

sudo mkdir /recovery

sudo mount -t ext3 /dev/sda2 /recovery

sudo cp -R /recovery/old_home /recovery/home

sudo cp /recovery/etc/old_fstab /recovery/etc/fstab

Then reboot the computer.

If everything works fine, then you can remove the old /home directory to 
save disk space. Open a terminal window (Applications >Accessories 
 >Terminal) and type:

sudo rm -rf /old_home

Now that you have your data all safe and sound in your new home 
partition, you can look forward to the next release of Ubuntu, the 
Intrepid Ibex, coming your way in October.

The writer is an Ubuntu user and is studying in Britain

available here -
http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Digital%2BLife/Technology/Story/STIStory_269872.html

-- 
Kelvin Quee
+65 9177 3635
kq at kquee.com