How can I migrate my existing /home/ directory to another drive?
How can I migrate my existing /home/ directory to another drive?
This was I can wipe the drive it's on and install a new OS without losing anything in /home/
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Log in as root to avoid trying to make sure no files in
/home/are being read/written to.Step 1: copy data to new drive. Mount new drive to
/mnt/.cp -ra /home/* /mnt/.-ameans that all permissions remain the same which will mean that your user can still read them. Check the man page for more details. This command will take a while. Use-vto see progress. You should see a folder with your username appear.Step 2. Prepare
/homefor new drive. Move the files to a new folder. This is done to make sure you can still easily go back.mv /home/ /home-bak/keep your old home dir safe in case a mistake was made.mkdir /home/.Step 3. Mount your new drive. Mount your drive to
/home/and check if you can login. If everything went correctly, you should be able to just login. Finally you need to update your/etc/fstabto include this new drive. This will make sure your home drive mounts when you start your os. If everything is working, you can delete your home-bak as well.I dont like the MV home. 😅
My advice :
- login as root.
- rsync -av /home, on the new disk.
- fstab : comment the old home's line, don't delete, and copy it to change the identifier (path or uuid).
- noob tips, add a new file in the new home.
- login to check it is ok (with su - user), and check there is the new file.
You can now delete or keep it as a save.
the mv home is just renaming the folder so you can mount home in the same space. Rsync is probably better than cp but I didn't want to suggest tools that op doesn't have installed.
Oh ok I see why no use of rsync. Clever.
I've read your solution, OP, you can go. Good tuto written on mobile.
This is a rough guide written on mobile. its probably best if someone double check some of this stuff before op tries it.