Linode.com Forum

[kwilson]

To install a new system to replace my existing one, I created a second account ("Linode"), set it up, and then cloned the "Configuration profile" and "Disk images" over to the first account, and then cancelled the second account one day after opening it. Something tells me there must be a better way to do this sort of thing.

My original thought was that I could simply add another Linode to my existing account and be able to move disk images between them. It doesn't seem to work this way though. So is there any good information out there on the relationship between these three things and how to use them together? As it is, it's a little confusing and so I'm not sure what options I had, other than opening/closing a new account.

Failing that, I'll settle for examples of how people use these things together (or don't, as the case may be), as that will still possibly give me some insight into how they work.

[bdonlan]

Er, if you just wanted to set up a new disk image with a new distro install, you can just hit the "Distro wizard" link. No need to set up a second linode for it. Is that what you were trying to do, or...?

[kwilson]

Now, having spent more time researching it, I see that I probably could have ordered more disk space, created a new "disk image", and rebooted my existing VPS using the new image to set it up (I think).

The problem is that this isn't clear to someone unfamiliar with the system and there doesn't seem to be any documentation on how these tools can be used. The "Add another Linode" link is featured more prominently on the dashboard and so I was naturally drawn to that as a way to do what I wanted.

These tools are obviously very powerful and useful but the lack of documentation makes them difficult to understand for a newcomer to Linode. Community wikis and forums are a great resource but they're no substitute for proper, official support information.