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Black Raptor 06-20-2005 03:46 AM

Anyone gives me some suggestion
I am taking over some one for looking after a Linux server.

It is a Debian breed. The trouble I can see, for my first day here is that my predecessor has put altogether, Fax, Email, FTP and an Intranet application into the same Debian system.

How do I migrate everything from Debian to a RED HAT 9 server?

kees-jan 06-20-2005 04:43 AM


Your question leaves me totally confused. Allow me to ask you a few questions, hoping to clarify your problems?
- What is your experience level with Linux, particulary with Debian and RedHat?
- Why do you want to migrate to RedHat?
- If I recall correctly, RedHat 9 is somewhat older. Why migrate to that?

Without further information, your question "how do I migrate" could be answered with something like "Install RedHat, Install all necessary software, copy configuration files". What problems do you anticipate when doing so?



Black Raptor 06-20-2005 04:57 AM

I come from a background in Unix. But I am not a Linux guy at all. I have read magazines and some books on Linux, but never actually installed and configured one myself.

Right now, the Debian system is sitting on a P4 2.0GHz machine with roughly 512MB RAM. My pre-decessor has installed a Fax Server named 'Hylafax'. Incoming fax are logged and stored in MySQL. Trouble is that he has customised it by modifying the source code of Hylafax. And he won't tell us what that is. So I and my peer are stuck as he knows no Linux better than I do.

So that thought of migration emerges...

I have been thinking if I could install RH 9 and get another fax software and start it all over again.

I know I have to polish my Linux from today onwards, but for the time being, I need to get things sorted in case users get stuck with the fax when Hylafax goes down.

kees-jan 06-20-2005 07:30 AM


Hylafax is a rather well known fax package for linux, although I have no experience with it, personally. You should have no problem setting it up to your needs. If the modified source code is still on the system, you might want to run a diff against the original :-)



Black Raptor 06-20-2005 08:11 AM

Okay. So from what you told me, I suppose RH 9 migration is not a solution in this case.

I have got the source code, it is so small. So much so it is like a little less than 2MB large. I extracted the files, but I don't know where to start. They are C programs. I guess they are C++ programs rather.

kees-jan 06-20-2005 08:26 AM

I'm not sure I'm following your thinking. If you already have the source code, I'd attempt to download the original. At least they have a cvs server running for hylafax, though debian (and most other distributors, for that matter) are known to make some changes themselves. So running a diff against vanilla sources may yield more changes than only your predecessors.

The impression you leave with me, is that you are not yet that experienced in unix or linux system administration. Hence, migration might be your best option. There are plenty of documents on how to setup new systems.



Black Raptor 06-20-2005 09:35 AM

When you say diff, are you talking about the "diff" command? I recall this command being the one used to cast out "added" as well as "deleted" lines, if memory serves me right.

If you are telling me to use this command, then I am getting to your thoughts. It makes sense to do that because I can see what changes he made and respond accordingly.
