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How to keep consistent user data across multiple installations of Linux on the same machine
Applies to:
- SUSE Linux 10.0
- SUSE Linux Professional 9.2-9.3
- Novell Linux Desktop 9
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9
PROBLEM: Multi-boot with different versions Linux mucks up the hidden file (.bashrc, etc,) and gives problems with choosing the right kernel/initrd.
SOLUTION: By its very nature this is really two seperate questions. Only the first is addressed here AND only in part.
The original article suggested the use of (soft) links (ln -s <file-path> <my-link-name>). The problem was being addressed backwards and that was the rub.
The real problem is "How can I get hold of my data from every system?". The answer is very simple.
Make a second directory in /home such as /home/local. This is either used directly or as a mount point for the real "home" partition. For the paranoid, this may be .local - the DOT makes it hidden causing a very confusing // where you would expect a /.
Move all important AND user-visable directories from /home/<user-name> to /home/local/<user-name> maintaining all ownership (not root:root) and permissions (u-mask). Mostly, this ./bin ./Documents and ./public_html.
Make appropriate soft links (ln ../local/<user-name>/Documents Documents) for everything you moved. This makes them visible to the user under /home.
Unless you feel incredibly adventurous, DO NOT move the hidden files and directories. ,But, if you really are and just cannot help yourself, make a /home/local/<user-name>/etc/ as a catchall, move it there and then do you ln -s -bit.
Other things you can do:
Firstly secure /home so that your wonderfull and incredibly saintly users do not go and muck-up all this hard work - Well this ancient newbie is his very own hacker and in-house, too.
Secondly - and hopefully some bright spark will tell me how - Adjust /etc/skeleton so it all gets done automatically - Saves all the finger trouble.
For multi-booting with GRUB, please see my comments on my previous article.
EXAMPLE:
# /bin/bash --- running as root # Make your real home-dir mkdir /home/local # make user home-dir mkdir /home/local/pluto chown pluto:users ../local/pluto # Go to original and move user-stuff cd /home/pluto mv bin ../local/pluto/bin chown pluto:users ../local/pluto/bin ln ../local/pluto/bin bin mv Documents ../local/pluto/Documents chown pluto:users ../local/pluto/Documents ln ../local/pluto/Documents Documents mv public_html ../local/pluto/public_html chown pluto:users ../local/pluto/public_html chmod 0755 ../local/pluto/public_html ln ../local/pluto/public_html public_html # We are done for user named pluto aka doggie-features. |
Disclaimer: As with everything else at Cool Solutions, this content is definitely not supported by Novell (so don't even think of calling Support if you try something and it blows up).
It was contributed by a community member and is published "as is." It seems to have worked for at least one person, and might work for you. But please be sure to test, test, test before you do anything drastic with it.
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