How to move Xen image to another VPS? (and viceversa)

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't find a thread on this. How can I download my Xen image in a way that will let me upload it to another Xen VPS? Do I use lish, use the cloning feature, is it even possible? You can just point me to the correct existing thread or suggest keywords to use.

Why would I leave? Linode is amazing, but all I need is Linode 180 type plan.

8 Replies

Searching for "Xen image" in the forums brings up these helpful-looking threads:

http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4339

http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3531

http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3466

Not sure if they're truly helpful, but they look like they could be. :)

These might help:

http://library.linode.com/linode-manage … e-over-ssh">http://library.linode.com/linode-manager/copy-disk-image-over-ssh

http://www.sysadminsjourney.com/content … e-with-you">http://www.sysadminsjourney.com/content/bringing-your-linode-home-with-you

Lot's of other good information here:

http://library.linode.com/l

oops:

http://library.linode.com/

thanks mjrich

@waldo:

Lot's of other good information here:

http://library.linode.com/l
No, terrible information there.

Good information here: http://library.linode.com/

:)

@waldo:

These might help:

http://library.linode.com/linode-manage … e-over-ssh">http://library.linode.com/linode-manager/copy-disk-image-over-ssh

http://www.sysadminsjourney.com/content … e-with-you">http://www.sysadminsjourney.com/content/bringing-your-linode-home-with-you

http://library.linode.com

These look promising. It seems like I cannot transfer this Linode image to any other Xen VPS host easily though…the image is Linode kernel specific? You'd think Xen would make this easier…a bit like Vmware .vmdk files…sigh…I'll have to do some more digging. thx for your help so far.

@linodeTail:

the image is Linode kernel specific?

The Linode kernels are basic vanilla kernels with only the Xenbits added (for the non-pv_ops kernels). The only thing in your file system that would complain about a different kernel are any modules you compiled yourself.

@linodeTail:

You'd think Xen would make this easier…a bit like Vmware .vmdk files

Your disk images are actually LVs on the host, not disks-in-files-on-disks. Using finnix, dd, gzip, ssh, zcat, and dd to download your image will do essentially the same as copying a vmdk off the host (if there was such a thing).

Hi all. I followed the steps here: http://library.linode.com/linode-manage … e-over-ssh">http://library.linode.com/linode-manager/copy-disk-image-over-ssh

However, as you can tell, there is no process outlined for restoring the image. How would I upload the image from my local machine to a Linode, over ssh? Thanks for your help.

@nsajeff:

Hi all. I followed the steps here: http://library.linode.com/linode-manage … e-over-ssh">http://library.linode.com/linode-manager/copy-disk-image-over-ssh

However, as you can tell, there is no process outlined for restoring the image. How would I upload the image from my local machine to a Linode, over ssh? Thanks for your help.

Start here: http://library.linode.com/advanced/cust … r_vm_image">http://library.linode.com/advanced/custom-distro-howto#setupfinnixandcopyyourvm_image

That guide infers that you're installing a Linux distribution locally into a VM, then uploading it -- however, the general process described there works well for uploading any 'ole filesystem to your Linode. I wouldn't go step-by-step without understanding, but that document will guide you on the right path.

Specifically, it instructs you to boot into Finnix locally to do the upload. If you have the filesystem sitting around, you don't really need to boot into Finnix in your case; if your source machine is Mac or Linux you have dd already.

Just play that guide by ear and you'll get there.

You're the man Jed! I'll follow that later. I'm not looking forward to uploading a 23.3Gb image via a 1Mbps connect :S

Edit: And by follow it, I mean, use it as a guide and not follow it step for step…that might be interesting…

@jed:

@nsajeff:

Hi all. I followed the steps here: http://library.linode.com/linode-manage … e-over-ssh">http://library.linode.com/linode-manager/copy-disk-image-over-ssh

However, as you can tell, there is no process outlined for restoring the image. How would I upload the image from my local machine to a Linode, over ssh? Thanks for your help.

Start here: http://library.linode.com/advanced/cust … r_vm_image">http://library.linode.com/advanced/custom-distro-howto#setupfinnixandcopyyourvm_image

That guide infers that you're installing a Linux distribution locally into a VM, then uploading it -- however, the general process described there works well for uploading any 'ole filesystem to your Linode. I wouldn't go step-by-step without understanding, but that document will guide you on the right path.

Specifically, it instructs you to boot into Finnix locally to do the upload. If you have the filesystem sitting around, you don't really need to boot into Finnix in your case; if your source machine is Mac or Linux you have dd already.

Just play that guide by ear and you'll get there.

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