[SOLVED] Is there a way to mirror an existing PCLOS to another PC?

[mutzsow]

Hello,

my flatmate is now into Linux too and don't want his XP anymore.
So it would be easy to install it from a live DVD but then we have to update everything again and all the updates are still made on my system.
Is there a way how we can first mirror my system to his PC, change the user and then it would be perfect if we could update in the future together, so we have to download the updates just once.

Or am I dream again?

Thanks in advance for constructive answers.

Regards
mutzsow
(Armie Bill Joestrong)

[AndrzejL]

1 - Remaster
2 - Clone

[Just18]

Remaster (mylivecd) is the best option IMO ....... you can then install to his PC from a DVD ....  including all the updates and installed apps on yours.
Just omit your personal account in the remaster.

For sharing updates in the future, .... downloaded update files can be stored (Setting in Synaptic) and copied to the second PC, so when it goes to update it does not download the same files again.
There will inevitably be some differences in the PC, but that should mean a minimal extra download.

regards

[melodie]

For sharing updates in the future, .... downloaded update files can be stored (Setting in Synaptic) and copied to the second PC, so when it goes to update it does not download the same files again.

Hi,
A detail : the whole /var/cache/apt directory should be copied in this case. It contains the following directories and files:
archives/  genpkglist/  gensrclist/  pkgcache.bin  srcpkgcache.bin

When I use this method, I generally do a tarball of the whole apt directory in the source distribution, save the apt directory under apt-backup in the target distribution (incase a file get corrupted while doing the archive) and untar it under /var/cache in the target distribution.

I has worked a lot of times this way for me, and the backup helped me once as well.

Regards,
Mélodie

[AndrzejL]

Why? I just copy rpms and it works fine...

[Just18]

Why? I just copy rpms and it works fine...

+1

[johnmart]

The whole /var/cache/apt is included in the remaster.
+1 All you need are the rpm's.
Just be sure to set your source machine to save the archives or they'll be deleted when you exit synaptic.  
See; settings>preferences>files

Remaster or LiveUSB?
I always remastered 'til I tried the Live USB. Very simple. 

[melodie]

Why? I just copy rpms and it works fine...

+1

So you say it does not need more ? You still have to reload the information, don't you ?

[MBantz]

DRBL is another option, though advanced.

A DRBL server (Diskless Remote Boot into Linux) is able to work as a server for diskless systems. Though advanced to setup, I have used it successfully.

At the moment I use DRBL on a daily basis at work cloning multiple XP and Win7 systems with multicast (up to 254 at a time).

DRBL is in the repos,

cheers,
MBantz

[johnmart]

Melodie,

I think Andrejz & Just18 were referring to using one machine to update via synaptic & the other to update by copying the rpms from the /var/cache/apt/archives to the machine to update. Then running synaptic as usual. Even if the installs have different apps, the apps in common are updated from the copied rpms & any apps not installed on the first computer are downloded by the 2nd comp.

[mutzsow]

Thank you all for your tips, maybe I can start it today after work, I have a lot to do right now.
But I've already read the remaster and clone articles.

Thanks alot

mutzsow
(who is the chief of handker?)

[AndrzejL]

Melodie,

I think Andrejz & Just18 were referring to using one machine to update via synaptic & the other to update by copying the rpms from the /var/cache/apt/archives to the machine to update. Then running synaptic as usual. Even if the installs have different apps, the apps in common are updated from the copied rpms & any apps not installed on the first computer are downloded by the 2nd comp.

10 points for this Dude.

Copy *.rpm from the archives folder on one machine, paste them to the same location on 2nd machine. Reload synaptic. Mark all upgrades. There should be little or no download at all . Same goes for all the apps installed on first machine. 2nd machine will not have to download any (or very little) files.

[mutzsow]

So far so good, I had remastered my installation and it's on the way to an usb stick rightnow, but I will also try the clone thing later and see how it works.

Thanks a lot people of planet PCLOS ^.^
You're fantastic.

mutzsow
(Where is Taya Memple?)

[mutzsow]

So, everything worked out very fine so far.

Exept that the harddisk has crashed today...but it was a really old one (10 years+)
But we buy a new one tomorrow.

And of course it was only the one for the system that crashed the other is working fine but is not so old.
I really hate old drives, every hd should remind it's owners on it's 5th and the following birthdays ^.^

I'm just saying...

Greetz and Regards
mutzsow
(Grapes or G.Rapes SCNR)

[MBantz]

So, everything worked out very fine so far.

Exept that the harddisk has crashed today...but it was a really old one (10 years+)
But we buy a new one tomorrow.

And of course it was only the one for the system that crashed the other is working fine but is not so old.
I really hate old drives, every hd should remind it's owners on it's 5th and the following birthdays ^.^

I'm just saying...

Greetz and Regards
mutzsow
(Grapes or G.Rapes SCNR)

It exists, the technology is called s.m.a.r.t drive http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/smartmontools/wiki

smartmontools is in the repo :-)

cheers,
MBantz