[kwlug-disc] Adding (setting up) 2nd disk.

[john at netdirect.ca]

kwlug-disc-bounces at kwlug.org wrote on 01/27/2010 12:01:42 AM:
> 
> Found this: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ZFS.
> 
> Not sure if lack of kernel fs support is significant for the desktop 
user.
> 
> But, if I read correctly, it doesn't keep OS stuff on one well defined 
> partition (for bare metal backup), and everything else somewhere else.

ZFS, or any other file system for that matter, allows one to decide which 
disks the file system uses. Just put a separate file systems on distinct 
disks and you're done.

I like the idea of having data on a separate file system and in some case 
separate physical disks, but it doesn't have anything to do with managing 
backups or restores. On desktops I rarely do it anymore, but on servers 
it's still mandatory.

I consider the use of symlinks, like what you're attempting to do, as a 
"hack". Yes, I've done it but it was a compromise. Like mentioned by 
someone else in a previous post, I used it to move some data to another 
file system because the one it was on was full and it was too hard to 
expand it or otherwise re-arrange disk space. That's why today we use LVM 
and leave unallocated space in every server install we do.

Mount points are very readily distinguishable by so many tools that I've 
never had to concern myself with trying to side-step the mount mechanism 
through the use of symlinks.

Like Raul and Rob said, so many tools include a way to avoid traversing 
mounted file systems:

        tar --one-file-system ...
        cp -x
        find / -mount .... | cpio
        dump and restore naturally only work on filesystems
        mkcdrec has a configuration
        so does amanda 
        and bacula.
        mkisofs doesn't but there are work arounds.

The problem of preventing traversal has been fixed long ago.

John Van Ostrand
Net Direct Inc.
 
CTO, co-CEO
564 Weber St. N. Unit 12
map
 
Waterloo, ON N2L 5C6
 
john at netdirect.ca
Ph: 866-883-1172
ext.5102
Linux Solutions / IBM Hardware
Fx: 519-883-8533