Using files from previous Amahi setup

[Curbuntu]

I've had Amahi running for a few years and never have to think about it. It works. I'm happy.

But I came close to running out of storage space for CrashPlan files, so it was clear that an upgrade was needed. I'm in the process of setting up a hardware RAID (new territory for me, but outside the scope of this post) and reinstalling Amahi. This brings up several small challenges:

• Since in the previous Amahi setup, I had assigned static IPs to almost every computer in the house, I would like to salvage whatever file or profile holds that information and transfer it to the new install. Where does that information reside, and can I copy it over to the new setup?
  
  Most of the Amahi setup will be on a separate drive, while the contents of /var (or maybe just var/hda?) will be relegated to the RAID. Do I need to manually create a symlink for this, or is there a way that Amahi will do this for me, if requested?
  
  I notice that the new default setup for Amahi is Ubuntu instead of Fedora. That's not a problem, since everything else in the house runs Ubuntu 12.04.2. But I notice that the installation instructions specifically require 12.04.1. Is installation really that specific (i.e., .1 instead of .2), or is it just that the instructions haven't been updated to include 12.04.2? And at what point (if ever) can I allow Ubuntu to install its updates?
  
  Are there any other considerations for such an upgrade/transfer? FWIW, our Amahi server has been used mostly for CrashPlan backup [thanks for introducing us to CrashPlan, BTW!], DHCP, and VPN, so there aren't a lot of other things that need transferring to the new hardware.

Thanks in advance!

[bigfoot65]

There is not much you can salvage from a previous install without some great efforts. All the static IP addresses reside in the hda_production database. You can capture them and reload using one of the MySQL web clients.

As for other files, only config files would be the easiest to save I would think. Apps have to be reinstalled, no way around it. You might find some help in the wiki as well.

[Curbuntu]

Thanks, Bigfoot, for the quick reply. It sounds like recreating the assigned DHCP list could be less hassle than extracting it from the old setup. As for the apps, I didn't have too many active, at least that I can recall. But just out of curiosity, is my app list somewhere in an online profile of my HDA?

I went back and amended my original post shortly after I created it, so you may not have seen this item in the version of the post you read:

I notice that the new default setup for Amahi is Ubuntu instead of Fedora. That's not a problem, since everything else in the house runs Ubuntu 12.04.2. But I notice that the installation instructions specifically require 12.04.1. Is installation really that specific (i.e., .1 instead of .2), or is it just that the instructions haven't been updated to include 12.04.2? And at what point (if ever) can I allow Ubuntu to install its updates?

This last item is a bit time-sensitive, as I start the new install in a few hours. Thanks!

[bigfoot65]

The list of apps installed is in the hda_production database as well. Extracting the appropriate tables and then restoring them is pretty simple. I usually just insert what is missing in mine.

As for install instructions, there is no difference between 12.04.1 and 12.04.2. We do need to update that part. We will soon have Amahi 7 for Fedora 19 out in case you might be interested.

[Curbuntu]

Looking at my partially disemboweled server this afternoon, it struck me that I may be making this harder than it needs to be. Why not:

• 1. Keep the current Fedora/Amahi setup just as it is on the original 2Tb drive, so as not to disturb anything
  2. Set up the RAID 5 array on the three new 2Tb drives
  3. Prep the new RAID storage area as a single partition, as would be expected
  4. Learn the easiest/safest way to move /var/hda to the newly created almost-4Tb RAID array
  5. Find out how to make CrashPlan happy with the new location of the backup files stored in /var/hda

I can handle #s 1-3. After looking at https://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/RAID_5, I guess I should add that I'm using a hardware RAID. I'm totally new to RAID, so I'm trying to work out how many of the steps mentioned on that page aren't relevant to my situation.

Is there a way to make Amahi happy with step #4? And should I contact Code42/Crashplan support about step #5?

Thanks again.

[bigfoot65]

Personally I would not use RAID. If you are using Greyhole with replication, no real need for it.

4. Learn the easiest/safest way to move /var/hda to the newly created almost-4Tb RAID array

Why? If you have a space problem with shares, then move them and reassign the path via Dashboard. Moving too much could cause more issues.

5. Find out how to make CrashPlan happy with the new location of the backup files stored in /var/hda

Consider changing the location of where Crashplan stores the backups. It could be on the new drives.