Reinstallation necessary when upgrading mobo and CPU?

upgrading server

[dreamscan]

I have redhat 9 on a p3 733MHz 133FSB system.

I have a p4 3GHz hyperthreading processor on its way with a new motherboard and 1 gig of ram.

I know with windows you need to reinstall the O/S. However, will I need to do this with linux?

Thanks!

[Duckula]

The thing I've done in that case is getting the most basic possible kernel reserved to boot. In my case, one for i386 when upgrading a Pentium 233MMX to P3-800 and another to a k6. It worked both times.

Later I just compiled new arch specific kernels, but having a functional system with the basic kernel allows you to simply download them for your distribution.

[vrtlw]

I know with windows you need to reinstall the O/S.

I guess it depends what version of windows your talking of, Windows 2000, my machine was more stable after upgrading the mobo and processor (everything was on-board) and windows 98 I had no probs with after removing the PCI-Bus in device manager.

[Josk]

I've changed motherboards quite easily with Linux, either by changing the mobo, or by taking by taking a harddrive from one computer and putting in another. Linux seems a lot more understanding about these things than Windows!

[DaveAtIFG]

If memory serves, RedHat 9 includes Anaconda, a hardware detection and configuration utility that runs during the boot process, and it's very effective. Install the MB and boot! Anaconda will probably display a screen informing about new hardware detected and reconfigure accordingly. If it's ineffective for you, THEN try an install. I changed MBs not long ago and RH9 reconfigured itself flawlessly.

Of course it would be wise to have your old system backed up before booting the new MB for the first time, just in case...

[martin]

I changed some time ago from a K6 to a PIII and I had NetBSD and Win2K, the NetBSD ran ok, I guess you should have a similar experience with Linux. I can't say the same for the Windows though, I had to reinstall it.

[Nova Reticulis]

There's absolutely no need to reinstall Linux if you change the underlying hardware.

[Duckula]

There's absolutely no need to reinstall Linux

Fun that you say it that way.

Linux is a kernel. It is most of the time compiled for an specific chip. Attempting to load a kernel compiled for i686 on a K6 brings only a black screen.

I know, i know; that was supposed to mean "no need to reinstall a linux distribution"; but it's fun that Linux itself (the kernel) is the only thing that *has* to be reinstalled. That's why I referred above to having a safety kernel for the lowest denominator, then reinstalling the architecture optimized one.

[martin]

Actually it's best to use your distro's kernel when upgrading hardware, they tend to be throughly tested on many different hardware setups so you've got a better chance to be OK with it than a custom kernel. And you can always boot Knoppix and restore if all else fails.

I've tried booting a Pentium MMX with a PIII optimized kernel and it restarted immediately after it loaded it which is kinda the equivalent to your black screen Duckula ;-)