disk error / failure: need help! (smart failure predicted)

[Steve Bertrand]

> > At the moment the disk works (still). What is the easiest way to
> > copy everything from this disk to another new one (including boot
> > mgmr, mbr)
> > 
> > the system has in total 3 disks, but only the first (the broken one)
> > is bootable.
> > 
> 
> Put in another disk drive temporarily, and since this is only a one time
> thing, you can use dd. Try to eliminate most, if not all access to the
> box:
> 
> # dd if=/dev/ad0 of=/dev/ad4
> 
> Substitute ad4 with the dev name of the temporary drive. Once dd is
> done, take out the primary disk and replace it with the new clone. Read
> man dd(8) as I don't know off the top of my head what the optimal
> options would be for dd in this case.
> 

I'm following a thread in questions right now, and I must agree with
some of the posts stating that using dd on the / filesystem could cause
grief if the partition is mounted. You may want to use a fixit floppy or
alternative boot method and then dd the disk to ensure no writes occur
whilst in transfer.

Steve



> Steve
> 
> > thanks,
> > arie
> > 
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-- 
Steve Bertrand
President/CTO,
Northumberland Network Services

t: 905.352.2688
w: www.northnetworks.ca