2013/12/2 William Kenworthy <bi...@iinet.net.au> > > You are looking far too deep .... > > > just rsync -avP to /newusr
+1 I have done this more or less the same way > > reboot to livecd > > rsync again with --delete to update ... takes a only few seconds this > time - minimal downtime :) > mv /usr /oldusr > mv /newusr /usr > reboot Let's make this thread more interesting, would it be possible to do this without a reboot? ie: going single user mode, kill anything that might still be running from usr, umount /usr, mount it to /mnt, rsync -avP to usr, going again into runlevel 3 or 5. Obviously not possible if running systemd. > > > The --numeric-ids is a good idea but I've made my systems consistent > with the standard gentoo id's so that's no longer a problem. > > Ive done this many times over the years, and to the system I am writing > this on many times (moving to lvm2, restoring from backups after disk > failures, restoring from backups after user failure - rm -rf /usr !) > > If you need to practice, run up a vm and test/destroy :) > > You have got the disk space, so if you have a backup its reversible so > don't be a wimp :) > > BillK > > > > > On 03/12/13 05:36, Mick wrote: > > On Monday 02 Dec 2013 20:40:28 Tanstaafl wrote: > >> On 2013-12-02 2:41 PM, Thanasis <thana...@asyr.hopto.org> wrote: > > > >>> That is why I recommend using the option --numeric-ids. > >>> And using it would not hurt anyway. > >> > >> Right... poison pointed this out... > >> > >> This is why I asked for help about the arguments. > >> > >> I honestly don't care about superflous/unnecessary arguments, I just > >> want to make sure I use at least the ones needed for this to work. > >> > >> Thanks... > > > > The comment about --numeric-ids that Thanasis made is valid. I messed up > > some > > fs of mine last time I used rsync, when I wasn't paying much attention! I > > made a mental note to always use it in the future. On the other hand, if > > you're not that comfortable with it, a quick trial run with a test > > filesystem > > will offer some assurance that your chosen command and options will work as > > you intended. BTW, you do not *have* to use rsync: > > > > cp -a > > > > will do the same. > > > > su - > > cd /old_usr > > tar --one-file-system -cf . | (cd /new_usr ; tar -xvpf - ) > > > > will also do the same. > > > > Finally, star -copy is my favourite faster alternative to copying > > directories, > > inc. respecting any acl's and the like if you specify it in the options: > > > > su - > > star -copy <options> -C /old_usr . /new_usr > > > > Then you can also add -diff to see if any file was not copied correctly (use > > star diffopts=!<option> to exclude things like ctime, or you'll drown in the > > noise of the output). > > > > > > Speaking from experience I suggest that you do not blast your old /usr away > > until you have booted with /usr mounted in the new location and have > > verified > > that ownership and access rights are as you expected. > > > > PD: sorry if my english is not so good