ZoneMinder Forums

Hello:

I'm awaiting the new 64bit version of Cordel's great CTU iso... I know he's been working on it for a while and perhaps it is even done.

I just wanted to start a thread about it, and also to post a request for a feature (or just instructions on how to do it).

Could you please give instructions about what steps would be involved to, during the process of installing a new Linux OS and subsequent ZM install, restore a saved database from a previously configured system.

Before taking down the old system I would delete all events in the database so that the database was just holding my camera configuration info. Then I'd do a database dump -- perhaps you could review the process of doing that and point out any special commands the might be necessary?

I would then copy that off the machine, do the install, then when in the process of bringing up the cleanly installed new version, I would restore the database somehow. If the database was an older version, then I would apply the update process.

Perhaps a feature request would be to have some script that the CTU install goes through on first boot that would prompt you to upload a saved database rather than creating a new one.

Thanks! Looking forward to the 64bit version. Your 32bit version has been running flawlessly... and a donation will be coming your way! What is the email address for your paypal?

-Casey Stone

Here's where I'm currently at with the 64 bit distro. I was hoping to have all the bugs worked out by now but thats not the case. I have most everything working except this one problem thats just kicking my butt. the install is not properly setting up the grub boot loader. I can manually place it there and everything works, but for some at the moment unknown reason the installer is missing something.

So here's the scenario:
You go thought the install as normal and after the reboot, grub starts to load displaying "GRUB" on the top left corner of the screen. Nothing else happens. At this point there are no error logs generated and nothing else displayed on the screen.

I have tried replacing the grub package and that has not helped. The anaconda installer at build time throws one error but as far as I can tell has nothing to do with grub or the x86_64 arch and should be benign. It's possible that it may depend on a 32 bit package that I have removed and I will be looking into that as a last resort as I would rather see that everything running is of a 64 bit arch.

Now about upgrading. This should be fairly simple depending on how you setup the previous install. I personally have /home on its own partition and setup zm to store it's events under that directory (/home/zm/events) this way I can dump the database to /home/zm then you can install the OS like normal just make sure that you setup your /home partition and don't format it of coarse. Then start up the database and load the dumped db in. then you can update to the new version if needed.

I'm already started augmenting Oskins zminit script so that it will do a bit more and reduce the steps to creating and updating the database and gives you the option to set the services for apache and MySQL. That should help some.

I had thought about setting up a graphic helper as part of first boot but there are two reasons this has not and may not happen. First I don't know a lick of python and second firstboot will only run if the graphic desktop has been installed so does no good for a headless install which most of us do anyway. I only included the desktop to reduce the shock for newbies and I may actually remove the graphic desktop in future versions as they take more space and add to the download. Then I can just add instruction on how to install the desktop through various means.

Once I get this GRUB issue ironed out it should be good to go. The 64 bit packages are already up on the FTP and one of these days I'll update my web site to reflect them.
The packages are located http://www.computerntelecom.com/pub/lin ... MS/x86_64/

Regards,
Cordel

Hey Cordel:

Sorry to hear about your Grub problem. I'm sure you'll get it figured out soon.

I would be upgrading from your 32bit CTU install. I used the default partitioning that your installer wanted to do and I didn't actually watch too closely what it did. I do have two drives installed and would prefer to have it setup as you described... one "boot" drive and the other (much bigger) drive reserved for events.

So, whether or not I can keep from reformatting the events drive, when do I restore the database from the saved file? What is the command and then is there a standard step (like initializing the database I guess) that I should skip?

Thanks.

-Casey