# SLES 11 SP2 Creating bootable image **URL:** \ **Category:** SLES Install-Boot\ **Created:** [December 7, 2017, 10:23am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-11-sp2-creating-bootable-image/30641 "2017-12-07T10:23:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alokpandey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@alokpandey](https://forums.suse.com/u/alokpandey)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 10:23am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-11-sp2-creating-bootable-image/30641/1 "2017-12-07T10:23:19Z")
I have a running SLES 11 SP2 physical server (Dell R series). I wish to create its image on a usb hard disk such that I can install its exact replica on another physical server. Is it possible? If yes, what is the best method to do so? ---
**Author:** ![smflood](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forums.suse.com/smflood/32/10576_2.png) [@smflood](https://forums.suse.com/u/smflood)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2017, 1:21pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-11-sp2-creating-bootable-image/30641/2 "2017-12-07T13:21:41Z")
On 07/12/17 08:24, alokpandey wrote: [color=blue] > I have a running SLES 11 SP2 physical server (Dell R series). I wish to > create its image on a usb hard disk such that I can install its exact > replica on another physical server. Is it possible? If yes, what is the > best method to do so?[/color] Is the new physical server exactly the same make, model, hardware specification, etc. as the running one? Obviously the USB hard disk storage would need to be larger than the running server’s disk(s) - this could come done to bytes as formatted capacity will be less than advertised capacity. USB hard disk will also need to be formatted with a file system that can take large files (I’m guessing your hard disks are bigger than 2-4GB!). I would boot the running server from a rescue disk then use dd to make an image of the disk(s) saving them to the USB hard disk. Note image the disk(s) not the individual partitions. Use something like “dd if=/dev/sda of=/mnt/usb/disk1.img” where /dev/sda is the disk to image and /mnt/usb is where USB hard disk is mounted. You can then boot the new server from the same rescue disk then copy image to hard disk with something like “dd if=/mnt/usb/disk1.img of=/dev/sda”. If it’s the same hardware, etc. it should then boot though the network configuration will need adjusting to take account of different MAC addresses. If it’s not the same hardware then you may need additional and/or newer drivers. Storage could be different so disk may not be /dev/sda. ## HTH. Simon SUSE Knowledge Partner * * * ## If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface, please show your appreciation and click on the star below. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Andreas1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Andreas1](https://forums.suse.com/u/Andreas1)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/sles-11-sp2-creating-bootable-image/30641/3 "2017-12-26T11:41:59Z")
Use “dump” and “restore” to create file system images. “Dump” and “restore” are provided by modern, production stable file systems. For example XFS: [https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red\_hat\_enterprise\_linux/7/html/storage\_administration\_guide/xfsbackuprestore](https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/storage_administration_guide/xfsbackuprestore) [https://forums.suse.com/showthread.php?10294-about-partition&p=40594#post40594](https://forums.suse.com/showthread.php?10294-about-partition&p=40594#post40594) Or even better, use a virtual machine (which is hardware independent): [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual\_machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_machine) [CODE]Boot from SLED Installation-DVD. Press button . Choose “More” =\> „Rescue System“ Login „root“ # mkdir /usr/lib/microcode/root # mkdir /usr/lib/microcode/home # mkdir /usr/lib/microcode/backup # mount /dev/sda1 /usr/lib/microcode/root # umount /dev/sda1 # mount /dev/sda5 /usr/lib/microcode/home # umount /dev/sda5 # mount /dev/sdb1 /usr/lib/microcode/backup # umount /dev/sdb1 # mount # df -h # xfs\_repair /dev/sda1 # xfs\_repair /dev/sda5 # xfs\_repair /dev/sdb1 # mount -r /dev/sda1 /usr/lib/microcode/root # mount -r /dev/sda5 /usr/lib/microcode/home # mount /dev/sdb1 /usr/lib/microcode/backup # mount # df -h # Full Backup # xfsdump -l 0 -f /usr/lib/microcode/backup/Linux/ /dev/sda1 # xfsdump -l 0 -f /usr/lib/microcode/backup/Linux/ /dev/sda5 # df -h # umount /dev/sdb1 # umount /dev/sda1 # umount /dev/sda5 # mount # poweroff Remarque: „-l“ =\> small “L” like „Level“.[/CODE] [CODE]Complete restore =\> Preparation (boot SLED12 installation dvd ans so on) # mount /dev/sdb1 /usr/lib/microcode/backup # umount /dev/sdb1 # mount # df -h # xfs\_repair /dev/sdb1 # mount -r /dev/sdb1 /usr/lib/microcode/backup # umount /dev/sda1 # umount /dev/sda5 # mkfs.xfs -m crc=1 -fL root /dev/sda1 # mkfs.xfs -m crc=1 -fL home /dev/sda5 # mount /dev/sda1 /usr/lib/microcode/root # umount /dev/sda1 # mount /dev/sda5 /usr/lib/microcode/home # umount /dev/sda5 # mount # df -h # xfs\_repair /dev/sda1 # xfs\_repair /dev/sda5 # mount /dev/sda1 /usr/lib/microcode/root # mount /dev/sda5 /usr/lib/microcode/home # xfsrestore -f /usr/lib/microcode/root # xfsrestore -f /usr/lib/microcode/home # df -h # ls -alh /usr/lib/microcode/root # ls -alh /usr/lib/microcode/home For SSD only: # fstrim -v /usr/lib/microcode/root # fstrim -v /usr/lib/microcode/home[/CODE] [CODE]Install Boot Manager =\> Preparation (boot SLED12 installation dvd ans so on) # mkdir /usr/lib/microcode/root mount /dev/sda1 /usr/lib/microcode/root umount /dev/sda1 mount df -h # xfs\_repair /dev/sda1 # mount -o discard /dev/sda1 /usr/lib/microcode/root # mount --bind /dev /usr/lib/microcode/root/dev/ # mount --bind /proc /usr/lib/microcode/root/proc/ # mount # chroot /usr/lib/microcode/root # grub2-install /dev/sda # grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg # exit (Exit chroot environment) # umount /usr/lib/microcode/root/dev # umount /usr/lib/microcode/root/proc # umount /dev/sda1 # mount # poweroff[/CODE]