FC6 i386 to FC7 x86_64

[Javier Perez]

Hi

How do I go from a FC6 i386 system to a FC7 x86_64 system without data loss?

I had to change the motherboard of my MythTV system. Given the fact that
x86_4 support
was poor at the time I built it, I went i386 on the install. Now it looks
like x86_64 is better
supported and I want to move to a x86_64-only system.

I was able to upgrade from FC6 to FC7 in another system using yum only (I
think my
DVDwriter is toast, The FC7DVD came out a coaster). Therefore I'd rather use
the
yum/rpm way to upgrade. Nevertheless when I downloaded the x86_64 kernel,
rpm
refused to install/upgrade my current kernel to that version.

Is there a minimum set of  programs that I have to update together to make
the switch to
x86_64?

Thanks!

[Development discussions related to Fedora]

Javier Perez wrote:
> Hi
>
> How do I go from a FC6 i386 system to a FC7 x86_64 system without
> data loss?

I don't know if that is a ~supported or even possible thing to do. {and
I have never tried it}.
see eg:
http://www.google.com/search?q=linux+fedora+upgrade+%22from+i386+to+x86_64%2...
http://www.unicom.com/chrome/a/000651.html
> I had to change the motherboard of my MythTV system. Given the fact
> that x86_4 support was poor at the time I built it, I went i386 on
> the install. Now it looks like x86_64 is better supported and I want
> to move to a x86_64-only system.
>
> I was able to upgrade from FC6 to FC7 in another system using yum
> only (I think my DVDwriter is toast, The FC7DVD came out a coaster).
> Therefore I'd rather use the yum/rpm way to upgrade. Nevertheless
> when I downloaded the x86_64 kernel, rpm refused to install/upgrade
> my current kernel to that version.

{There is a file under /etc that indicates the architecture {i cant 
remember what it is}.}

You are going to need to do a full install.
Now, in terms of your data you need to ensure:
- that you have multiple partitions
- user data, downloads, recordings are not on the / partition.
- take a copy of /etc {config/settings}, /boot, /root, and /var{default 
location of mysql database storage} onto this other partition.
- rpm -qa>rpm-qa.my_cf6_system.txt {to a location that isn't going to be 
formatted.}
- rpm -qa --queryformat="%{NAME} ">package-to-install.txt
This makes a space separated list of packages on your previous system, 
that you can copy/paste into a yum install command after you have 
installed the x86_64 system {limit is about 5 lines per command from 
memory}.

Network or hard disk install can be your friend if you have a wonky dvd 
writer/reader. For hard disk method, you need to have a partition that 
you wont be formatting during the install, and you place the dvd iso 
image at the root of that partition {easiest}, and note the partition 
name {~ /dev/sda6}.

Then you can boot a boot.iso or rescuecd.iso cd image {or a few other 
ways directly of your hard disk} for the x86_64 architecture. And choose 
"hard disk" as the install method.
> Is there a minimum set of  programs that I have to update together to
> make the switch to x86_64?

Its ~ the packages that yum remove kernel {no} would have you remove = ~ 
everything.

DaveT.

[Karl Larsen]

David Timms wrote:
> Javier Perez wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > How do I go from a FC6 i386 system to a FC7 x86_64 system without
> > data loss?
>
> I don't know if that is a ~supported or even possible thing to do. {and
> I have never tried it}.
> see eg:
> http://www.google.com/search?q=linux+fedora+upgrade+%22from+i386+to+x86_64%2...
>
> http://www.unicom.com/chrome/a/000651.html
> > I had to change the motherboard of my MythTV system. Given the fact
> > that x86_4 support was poor at the time I built it, I went i386 on
> > the install. Now it looks like x86_64 is better supported and I want
> > to move to a x86_64-only system.
> >
> > I was able to upgrade from FC6 to FC7 in another system using yum
> > only (I think my DVDwriter is toast, The FC7DVD came out a coaster).
> > Therefore I'd rather use the yum/rpm way to upgrade. Nevertheless
> > when I downloaded the x86_64 kernel, rpm refused to install/upgrade
> > my current kernel to that version.
>
> {There is a file under /etc that indicates the architecture {i cant 
> remember what it is}.}
>
> You are going to need to do a full install.
> Now, in terms of your data you need to ensure:
> that you have multiple partitions
> user data, downloads, recordings are not on the / partition.
> take a copy of /etc {config/settings}, /boot, /root, and
>
> /var{default location of mysql database storage} onto this other 
> partition.
> rpm -qa>rpm-qa.my_cf6_system.txt {to a location that isn't going to
>
> be formatted.}
> rpm -qa --queryformat="%{NAME} ">package-to-install.txt
>
> This makes a space separated list of packages on your previous system, 
> that you can copy/paste into a yum install command after you have 
> installed the x86_64 system {limit is about 5 lines per command from 
> memory}.
>
> Network or hard disk install can be your friend if you have a wonky 
> dvd writer/reader. For hard disk method, you need to have a partition 
> that you wont be formatting during the install, and you place the dvd 
> iso image at the root of that partition {easiest}, and note the 
> partition name {~ /dev/sda6}.
>
> Then you can boot a boot.iso or rescuecd.iso cd image {or a few other 
> ways directly of your hard disk} for the x86_64 architecture. And 
> choose "hard disk" as the install method.
> > Is there a minimum set of  programs that I have to update together to
> > make the switch to x86_64?
>
> Its ~ the packages that yum remove kernel {no} would have you remove = 
> ~ everything.
>
> DaveT.

For what it is worth, I had a flaky DVD RW and decided to replace 
it. Wall Mart has one for $35.00 that works fine. Made in China where 
else? It works fine with the Gnome software. Had it two weeks now :-)

Karl

[Matthew Miller]

On Sat, Jun 30, 2007 at 09:37:23AM -0500, Javier Perez wrote:
> How do I go from a FC6 i386 system to a FC7 x86_64 system without data loss?

Unfortunately, the only clean way is to back up your data and reinstall.
(You could maybe do some craziness with an x86_64 rescue disk, but that
seems like more work.)

When you *do* reinstall, I suggest making a separate /home partition and
keeping all of your important data there. Then, next time something like
this comes up, you can do a new install onto the system partition and
carefully make sure that /home is not reformatted during install.