wheel - 2:23 am on Dec 8, 2009 (gmt 0)

In terms of rebuilding the original server again so we can move back onto the 'better' hardware but now running a current version of mandriva, here's what we've cooked up (because the server is in a remote datacenter):
- I'm uploading a linux .iso file to the 'new' server.
- tech guys at datacenter are going to burn the dvd for me.
- data center is going to give me a KVM to IP solution. Basically I get keyboard/monitor function like a kvm switch, but on an ip address. That means I've got control right from the boot. They'll put the dvd in the drive, I'll reboot to the dvd remotely via the kvm solution. That will allow me to do a fresh install.

Once I've reinstalled linux, I can pretty much just repeat the process again to move everything back - except the second time should be faster as I've already got all the config files and stuff tested and working on the new version of the OS.

End result, move from old linux distro to a new on but on backup hardware, reformat and reinstall on main server, then move back to original machine. All remotely, with minimal downtime.

Once done, I can drive back to the datacenter and pick up my spare server.