System configuration & services data on boot disk or external volume?

Assuming a RAID 1 boot disk using 2 large capacity hard disks on a Xserve, which system configuration and services data shall one store on the boot disk and an external volume?
I am thinking of keeping DNS records and Open Directory data on the boot disk while mail store, web documents and user data in an external volume. What about database file such as MySQL?
What is the normal and/or best practice in this matter?

nope. doesn't matter a damm if you put the content on a secondary drive (as long as its plugged in when you want to use it!) ... the benefit of having it on a secondary drive would be to free up space on your system disc, if necessary (useful on a laptop, but means carrying around an extra portable drive for ths content) ... don't use your media drive though, better to save that for your projects captured/imported media only.
cheers
Andy

Similar Messages

Best Practice??? Change from internal boot disk to external disk

I have a mini running 10.5.6 server and it currently boots off it's internal disk. I was hoping to get some feedback/input from others on a good process to convert the system from it's internal boot disk to an external boot disk (firewire).
I wanted minimum downtime during the conversion and I of course, want a complete snapshot on the new boot disk. Lastly, I do not have a local keyboard and console on the system although I could connect one if it seemed to be much easier that way.
In general, I am thinking of the following:
1) Boot into the Leopard Server CD.
2) Use diskutility to Restore from the internal boot disk to the new external boot disk.
3) Choose the new boot disk as the startup disk.
4) Reboot onto new disk.
Is diskutility the best bet?? Meaning will it work this way if the drives are different sizes??
Should I try to clone the disk from the internal boot disk (assuming I shutoff services first) using SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner?? But I believe they do not copy over all logfiles, etc..
Or does anyone have a quick overview of a methodology which they have done in the past or just are suggesting might be a better process than the ones I described??
In Summary:
1) From the CD, clone using diskutil and change boot disk
2) From the running OS, clone using SuperDuper or CCC and than reboot onto new disk
3) Something else??
Thank you in advance.

For cloning the machine you have the approach fine. Disk Utility is fine and booting from the CD is the best method. Simply use the restore method.
But why on earth would you want to boot from an external Firewire drive? First, there is the issue of speed. You have a mini, let's assume it is a one generation back Intel. It has an internal SATA drive on a 1.5 Gbps connection. You want to move that to a 400 Mbps Firewire bus? Next, beyond the speed issues, you have a persistence issue. You are taking the boot volume and moving into to a transitory bus. One of Firewire's greatest strengths is easy connection/disconnection. Persistence is not a strong point.
Next, if your plan is to move the boot volume to some form of a Firewire RAID, then you are even penalizing yourself more. The mini has one FireWire port. If you are using two devices and creating a mirror RAID, then you need to daisy chain. Talk about points of failure, asynchronous startup time, bus blocking, etc. Not wise.
Plus, I can not count how many external firewire devices have burnt up in the effort to have small footprints. Lacie and the "let's put a drive in a metal case with no fan" approach = melted drive. Western Digital and Lacie with the "let's make a completely un-reusable external power brick that either breaks in a small breeze or falls out when the heavy guy walks by the server" approach.
If you are looking at a Firewire RAID enclosure, then you are missing the objective of speed as you are limited by the 400 bus. It is nice to say that you have a four drive SATA 2 RAID case running a RAID 5, but you are defeating the purpose of why you bought the raid. The RAID 5 can provide an exponential increase in I/O performance. But that goes out the window because of the slow bus.
If your argument is that "this is a server and my bottleneck is Ethernet," that too does not hold up. You are likely running on a gigabyte network.
For system details check out http://developer.apple.com/documentation/HardwareDrivers/Conceptual/Macmini_0602 /Articles/architecture.html.
Take this with a grain of salt. You caught me on a grumpy day as yesterday I dealt with a melted external firewire drive.
My advice is buy real server class hardware. What is you objective? Drive redundancy? Capacity? A mini is a great dev server. Not a production server. This is your data. Presumably the data that makes your business function. Don't trust it to a single platter. And don't trust it to a consumer level, disposable system. I am not trying to malign the mini. It is a fine machine for its role. Its role however is not to be a production file server. Now as a web server, we are talking a different situation.
Ok, I am rambling. Hope this helps in some way.

Service Data on other disk

On Lopard Server and Snow Leopard Server you could place the diffrent service data (mail, ical adresbook) on a other disk than the main startupdisk. Where is this option in Lion Server ?

This option is added to 10.7.2.
Open the server app, under hardware click on the server > Settings, and there it is, Service Data.
Unfortunately after one time of moving the data with an error at the end the Edit button is now grayed out .
Anyone any tips?

Using Boot Disk with external monitor?

Does anyone have any idea how to boot from the OSX install disk while using an external monitor?
My powerbook screen and HD are both busted and I can't install the OS on the new HD. I can get to the point where it has booted up and is using the external monitor as a second screen but I can't see what I'm doing! HELP!

Do you have another Mac at your disposal? If you have installed a new HD into the PB and need to put an OS on it, you could put the PB into firewire target mode and attach it as a second drive to another Mac. You can then install an OS onto it.
It might also work that, when you have the PB booted and the external monitor is acting as the second screen, close the lid and put the PB to sleep. Then, wake it up by plugging in a USB mouse or keyboard and the external screen should become the primary screen. You need to have the PB plugged into the AC adapter to perform this trick.

LDOM 1.1 migration with boot disk on zfs volume

I have a big disk and set up a few zfs volumes for guest domains.
Have anybody successfully configure LDOM 1.1 to migrate guest domains
between two hosts when guest domais are on zfs volumes.
The two hosts shares the FC LUN through SAN.
Any suggestions?
cm

Can you provide a working example of this? I fail to see any benefit of using files as bootdisks via NFS. It seems you will need a new bootdisk file (approx. 12g for our env.) for every ldom guest. First, how do you save storage space? Then, how do you manage additional storage devices for applications which require a small amount of additional disk space (say 50g)? If you use file allocation (mkfile on NFS allocated to an ldom) then you've gotten yourself into potentially disastrous performance issues (virtual guest storage -> virtual I/O management -> file -> NFS -> ZFS -> SAN Luns). The only solution to the problem as I see it is to use a clustered file system, which is not currently a viable option for the following reasons:
1. Veritas CVM does not support Branded Zones in an ldom = we can't use it
2. ZFS is not a cluster file system
So, this begs the question, what is the "Best Practice" for setting up ldom environments (with migration ability) from a storage perspective? What is the Sun recommendation on this?

Can I install Tiger as a boot disk on external drive

I upgraded to Leopard 2 months ago and everything works well except a program called Avid Express Pro. Avid suggests I go back to Tiger, but I like many of the features in Leopard. I'm using a Macbook pro with an intel processor. Is it possible to install Tiger on an external drive and boot from that drive when I want to use Avid, then restart on the internal drive for normal operation? I've tried installing Tiger on an external drive I have, but the installer won't let me select the external. Any help would be appreciated.

Your Intel MacBookPro can install Tiger or Leopard to any external drive that has been formatted with a GUID partition. It can be USB or Firewire. I'm using a miniStack v3 500gb FW800 drive for my MBP. When it arrived from OWC it was APM and Leopard or Tiger would refuse to Install to it. Disk Utility fixed this by repartioning the drive and choosing the GUID option and HFS+.
The GUID partition scheme is probably the problem. Most external drives come formated for DOS (Fat32) or the APM (Apple Partition Map). The Intel macs require GUID for Installing and Updating, but work fine with the APM drives for files.
You Intel Mac can boot from an APM drive, but not install to it. You can use SuperDuper to clone a bootable copy of your OS from your internal GUID drive to an external APM drive and the machine will boot from it, it just can't be updated.
Use Disk Utility to check the Partition Map Scheme on your external drives before you try to use one to install to.

Hardware raid boot disks on m5000

Is it possible to configure a raid 1 on boot disks to this machine?
The M5000 has the LSI 1064 controller and it seems to be possible..
After booting from dvd (boot cdrom -s):
# raidctl -c -r 1 c0t0d0 c0t1d0
Creating RAID volume will destroy all data on spare space of member disks,
proceed (yes/no)? y
Operation not support with volume of this level.
The controller is in GOOD state...
# raidctl -S
0 "LSI_1064"
0.0.0 GOOD
0.1.0 GOOD
3 "LSI_1064"
# format
Searching for disks...done
AVAILABLE DISK SELECTIONS:
0. c0t0d0 <SUN146G cyl 14087 alt 2 hd 24 sec 848>
/pci@0,600000/pci@0/pci@8/pci@0/scsi@1/sd@0,0
1. c0t1d0 <SUN146G cyl 14087 alt 2 hd 24 sec 848>
/pci@0,600000/pci@0/pci@8/pci@0/scsi@1/sd@1,0
Any ideas?
Many thanks,
Mauro.

I configured mirror boot disk using Solaris Volume Manager...

Telling ML Server where service data location is (again).

Hello,
I've seen this a couple of times and think it's a bug. Maybe somebody knows how to resolve this properly. Mini Server with 10.8.2 and OS X Server v2.2 running, all services configured. Service data is moved via Server->Settings->Service Data to another volume.
The customer moves the physical location of the server, probably forgets to attach the external drive containing the service data on boot. Server starts with other (local) settings rather than what was configured and run already successfully with service data located on external drive.
After stopping all services, setting the service data location to the external drive fails with "Existing Service Data - The volume “Data” already contains service data in /Library/Server. Please delete or move the data and try again, or choose a different volume.".
Yes, we want to use the service data of the external volume. This is desired. How to resolve this?
Alex

Hi,
ran several times into the same problem. Our service data was moved to an external RAID 1 volume and there it should be. For whatsoever reason the volume containing /Library/server was disconnected and upon automatic reconnection (or restart) the server could not find the service data again and therefore the osx server set the default location of service data to boot volume/Library/Server... I thought I was about to go mad... How to point the server to correct service data manually. It seemed there was no option to do this in ML OS X server. So being almost hopeless, I renamed the original service data folder on RAID 1 volume to /Library/Server_old. In the menawhile i noticed that although Finder showed correctly mounted RAID 1 volume with the initial name ("Pool") in fact in /Volumes there were /Volumes/Pool and /Volumes/Pool1 which pointed to the RAID server. Ridiculous. The OSX mounted the RAID 1 volume incorrectly or the server tried to save some sort of service data BEFORE the server data RAID 1 volume was at least mounted correctly and thus created a directory named /Volmes/Pool that fooled the server completely and corrupted it as it could not found any correct service data on /Volumes/Pool... Googling around showed that the problematic service might be Messages "_jabber". So In Server.app turn off every service available and quit. In disc tool eject the external volume containing real service data. Then in terminal delete recursively the undesired "ghost" folder ( /Volumes/Pool in my case). Pay attention not to delete the real volume containing the service data! Then again mount the external volume with the service data. Check in terminal that it was mounted correctly in /Volumes. In the meanitme act quickly. I needed to delete the gost folder several times until there was not any ghost folder anymore before mounting the true service data external volume. It is difficult to completely shut down all the server services that access service data although the Server.app shows everything offline. Then launch server.app again move the almost empty default service location to the real external Volume already mounted correctly. Now comes the brute part. On the external volume delete in terminal recursively the /Library/Server and rename the backup /Library/Sever_old to back to /Library/Server. I prayed it would work at that point. And upon restart it did work. Good luck!

Rebuild Mac Pro boot disk on a Mac Mini - possible?

Hello-
A friend has a Mac Pro 8-core with 10.6.2. The hard drive is showing some issues so I would like to rebuild the installation from scratch on a new drive. I have an intel mac mini and I'm wondering if it is possible to create a new boot disk (via external firewire enclosure) and do all the updates and software installation (Final Cut Studio, Adobe suite, etc) on the mac mini and then simply drop the new drive into the mac pro. Or is the software installation hardware specific?
Thanks for your help,
Mark

you shouldn't do that. first, there may be hardware problems due to difference in available hardware drivers if the mac pro is very new. also, if you do this the system will be identified everywhere including system profiler as mac mini. if you need to do it do it straight on the mac pro.

HT4974 How can I select a remote volume (NAS) as my service data storage volume?

Hi everyone,
I have been struggling with the following:
I have Mac OS X Server (the Mountain Lion add-on) running on a Mac Mini (2009). Ever since the upgrade to Mountain Lion Server (10.8.2) I have been wanting to store the Service Data on my Synology DS412+ NAS. The reasons for this are: greater storage capacity, speed (my NAS is fast) and reliability through RAID5.
The instructions provided by Apple Support point towards the Server App: go to Hardware > Server > Settings > Service Data (click Edit) and select the volume where you want to store your Service Data. However, this only lets me select the volume(s) of my Mac Mini or USB-connected volumes (if present). I would like to select a network share on my NAS, but mounted network volumes do not show up in the list.
FYI, I have connected my NAS to the LDAP service running on Mac Mini Server, so all users have access to it based on their network accounts.
I hope someone has pointers or even conclusive advice how to go about. Many thanks in advance.
Jannem

Works only when the volume is mounted as iSCSI target :
http://www.synology.com/support/tutorials_show.php?q_id=468

Satellite A300D-135 - BIOS - System Configuration Data Read Error

After Booting a Satellite A300D-135 laptop the following error message appears:
<Several BIOS messages >
3070M Extended RAM Passed
512 KB L2 Cache
System BIOS shadowed
Video BIOS shadowed
ATAPI CD-ROM: TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L632H
Fixed Disk 0: TOSHIBA MK2546GSX
Mouse initialized
ERROR
System Configuration Data Read Error
Press <F1> to resume, <F2> to Setup
After pressing F1 the machine boots Windows just fine, but the error message is quite irritating while it comes with a loud BEEP
I've tried the following things so far (in this particular order):
- Loaded BIOS defaults
- Flashed the BIOS with latest BIOS (2.80) for this model type
- Reinstalled windows with HDD format
All of these haven't worked.
I've seen the same message appearing on several places on the internet (on different laptops with a Phoenix BIOS in common), but until now I haven't been able to find a working solution.
It might me a hardware issue, but all devices (vga, soiund, lan, wifi, usb, hdd) seem to work just fine in Windows, so this doesn't seem the issue). Another solution that is mentioned in some forums is replacing the cell battery. But because the laptop keeps time properly I don't think this is the case either.
Any ideas ?
Regards,
GJ

Hi buddy,
It seems that the power on self test has detected a hardware error... :(
I think such a problem like this you cant solve with loading the default settings in BIOS or with an update because its hardware based error.
In your case I would contact an authorized service provider. The guys can check your notebook because they have special diagnostic tools for Toshiba notebooks and access to all Toshiba databases I think.
You can find a list of them here:
http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com > Support & Downloads > Find an authorized service provider
Usually they work really fast and you will have a short repair time I think. In my case it did take only one week until I got my notebook back. :)

System won't boot from Windiws XP boot disk after setting up RAID 0 array???

After connecting my two Western Digital Raptor on SATA ports 1 and 2, and finally being able to launch the Bios option ROM "Intel SATA Raid manager" (had some problems associated with an LSI 4i megaRAID adapter in a pci slot), I was able to put the two disks in RAID 0. After exiting the Raid manager, the DMI pool was updated, and I was expecting the computer to boot from the XP installation boot disk in the optical drive. Instead I got the message: "Disc boot failure. Insert system disc and press enter.". This is very strange, as I installed XP earlier with the Raptors functioning as IDE drives without a problem (so IDE was selected in the BIOS for SATA drives instad of SATA as in this case). As a result I am unable to install Windows XP (professional).
My system configuration:
Motherboard: Platinum power up edition
Bios version: W72461MSv7.3
CPU: Intel Core2Duo 6700
Memory: Corsair, 2 GB in matched pair DDR 2, now on 2 volts
Harddrives: 2 western digital raptors of 150 GB in RAID 0
Optical drives: LITE-ON DVD-rewriter and reader from same brand (also DVD)
PSU: Corsair 620 Watt
Now removed: LSI Megaraid 4i adapter (pci) with 4 Samsung spinpoint harddrives of 4 in raid 5
XP professional
Boot sequence: CDROM, floppy and harddisk in this order
BIOS settings:
USB keybooard and mouse disabled
JMB361 option rom disabled (not using it)
Onboard lan boot rom disabled (not using it)
Sata mode set to RAID
All other settings "optimal" using F7 in BIOS
Usinf F11 during startup doesn't help: the CDROM is not displayed in SATA mode, only floppy and harddisk.
Using Microsoft XP professional boot floppy's did'nt help either. System restarted after loading first floppy (ther are 6 in total), and no result.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...
Hans

so your problem is TWICE as important, and you start another thread.
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=104173.0

Comp won't boot, disk repair through system CD fails

my power mac froze, and won't boot. i'm running 10.4
no recent changes, downloads, or updates.
safe mode won't work. freezes on grey start up screen.
system CD in drive, won't boot from holding down "c"
held down option and selected CD and finally got to disk utility.
now, when i try to run utility to repair permisisons, i get an error stating "disk utility has lost its connetcion with the disk management tool and cannot continue. please quit and relaunch disk utility"
happens over and over.
when i try to repair disk, i get a red line saying "reserved fields in the catalog record have incorrect date, keys out of order. the volume could not be repaired"
Error: the underlying task reported failure on exit (-9972)
1 volume could not be repaired
SOOOO.... i'm stuck. can't boot, can't repair, can't do anything. any other possible suggestions before i throw this thing away?
thanks

Yes, Like I said, it sounds like the Drive is dying, but in SU mode you might try...
/sbin/fsck_hfs -f
Or possibly stronger Disk Repair tools...
Your best bet is DiskWarrior, you need the CD/DVD though.
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
But others that may work…
Drive Genius…
http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php
TechTool Pro…
http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=83

I have a new macbook pro 2,6 Ghz i7, 8GB 1600Mhz internal ram. He will not boot from an external disk with operating system Snow Leopard

I have a new macbook pro 2,6Ghz i7, 8GB 1600 Mhz internal ram, but he will not boot from an external disk with operating system Snow Leopard.

These Macs shipped with 10.7, and will run nothing older than that:
MacBook Pro
Date introduced
Original Mac OS X included
(see Tips 1 and 3)
Later Mac OS X included
(see Tip 1)
Mac OS X Build(s)
(see Tip 2)
MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)
Jun 2012
10.7.4
11E2068
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
Jun 2012
10.7.4
11E2617
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
Jun 2012
10.7.4
11E2617
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011)
Oct 2011
10.7.2
10.7.3
11C74, 11C2002, 11D2001
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
Oct 2011
10.7.2
10.7.3
11C74, 11C2002, 11D2001
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011)
Oct 2011
10.7.2
10.7.3
11C74, 11C2002, 11D2001

Hp mini 110 boot disk error after installing new hard drive and system recovery

Need help, HP mini 110 Windows 7 32 bit. using my recovery disks I created i was able to recover to the old 160 gb hard drive. After I installed new 320 Gig drive and used my recovery disks i now get boot disk error. Looks like system was installed on new drive. but will not boot to complete set up.

If you use the recovery disk, your machine will restore to its default factory state. Try to reinstall the 320 GB you have if you want it to get back.
Can't get enough of this Envy...

System configuration & services data on boot disk or external volume?

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