Replacing a Mobo on a Linux machine...

[SlickAU]

Hey All, 🙂

At work today, the engineer asked me if anything could go wrong if we changed the mobo on one of our servers which runs Linux (we think there is a problem with the motherboard).

Can I just use any motherboard (the same socket/DIMM type of coarse) considering the machine is running Linux (there isnt likely to be any compatibility problems seeing it is running Linux is there? (i.e- drivers arent supported from mobo)).

Thanks everyone!

Slick 😎

 

[TonyRic]

if it is the same make/model there will be no problems. If not, then the only issue would (should) arise is if you are using scsi to boot from. The initrd might need to be rebuilt.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: SlickAU
Can I just use any motherboard (the same socket/DIMM type of coarse) considering the machine is running Linux (there isnt likely to be any compatibility problems seeing it is running Linux is there? (i.e- drivers arent supported from mobo)).

I have no idea what you're talking about. Your motherboard most certainly has drivers, and will not work without them. If you're using a good distro, there's a reasonable chance it'll come back up and configure itself correctly, but no guarantees. I would definitely try to get the _exact same motherboard_.

-Erwos

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: SlickAU
Can I just use any motherboard (the same socket/DIMM type of coarse) considering the machine is running Linux (there isnt likely to be any compatibility problems seeing it is running Linux is there? (i.e- drivers arent supported from mobo)).

I have yet to find a motherboard that didn't have driver support under linux.

Another option could be to make a backup, build a second linux server, and restore the backup to that.

 

[SlickAU]

Kewl thanks guys!

I think we will just get a normal mobo and use that (building a second server would be too expensive).

P.S - erwos...what is there NOT to get lol..pretty simple!

Slick 😎

 

[Zelmo3]

Don't worry too much about the drivers. The kernel has nearly everything compiled as modules (unless the distro changed that, which most don't), so it will simply load the appropriate ones during bootup.

 

[Mesix]

I would say as long as it is the same chipset and SCSI/SATA/Whatever controller

 

[Panther505]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: SlickAU
Can I just use any motherboard (the same socket/DIMM type of coarse) considering the machine is running Linux (there isnt likely to be any compatibility problems seeing it is running Linux is there? (i.e- drivers arent supported from mobo)).

I have no idea what you're talking about. Your motherboard most certainly has drivers, and will not work without them. If you're using a good distro, there's a reasonable chance it'll come back up and configure itself correctly, but no guarantees. I would definitely try to get the _exact same motherboard_.

-Erwos

Have you ever swapped a mobo out from one linux system to another? I have swapped whole chipsets (always staying on HW RAID) and NEVER had any issues. Very rarely do you need to go with the same board. If it were windows then yes but if you haven't done it with linux before then you ought to try it.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Panther505

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: SlickAU
Can I just use any motherboard (the same socket/DIMM type of coarse) considering the machine is running Linux (there isnt likely to be any compatibility problems seeing it is running Linux is there? (i.e- drivers arent supported from mobo)).

I have no idea what you're talking about. Your motherboard most certainly has drivers, and will not work without them. If you're using a good distro, there's a reasonable chance it'll come back up and configure itself correctly, but no guarantees. I would definitely try to get the _exact same motherboard_.

-Erwos

Have you ever swapped a mobo out from one linux system to another? I have swapped whole chipsets (always staying on HW RAID) and NEVER had any issues. Very rarely do you need to go with the same board. If it were windows then yes but if you haven't done it with linux before then you ought to try it.

I have. I'm assuming you never had integrated video on-board. Also, we have no idea whether he's using a stock or custom kernel. Lots of people blow building custom kernels because "they think they know what they need".

-Erwos

 

[Panther505]

Originally posted by: erwos

I have. I'm assuming you never had integrated video on-board. Also, we have no idea whether he's using a stock or custom kernel. Lots of people blow building custom kernels because "they think they know what they need".

-Erwos

Actually 4 of the 5 systems that are in my office now have int video... and using a RH distro (FC or RHEL) will get you kudzu, which generally will fix the problem for you. SuSE will do the same with YAST2.

I agree that custom kernels can get you into trouble and can cause problems with changing hardware but with the way the kernel is now, why use a custom static kernel (unless you are on an embedded system) when you have the space for the modules? The assumption that I made was he was at work and I assumed a "supported" distrobution- RHEL SuSE which will do what he is trying to do.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: Panther505
I agree that custom kernels can get you into trouble and can cause problems with changing hardware but with the way the kernel is now, why use a custom static kernel (unless you are on an embedded system) when you have the space for the modules? The assumption that I made was he was at work and I assumed a "supported" distrobution- RHEL SuSE which will do what he is trying to do.

Again, I would agree, except for the fact that there are a surprisingly large number of idiots on the net who keep advocating rebuilding your kernel with everything built straight into it. I didn't claim I supported only such things, only that that there are people who do.

-Erwos

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: SlickAU
P.S - erwos...what is there NOT to get lol..pretty simple!

"(i.e- drivers arent supported from mobo)). "

Obviously, this phrase makes SOOOOOOO much sense. "Drivers arent supported from mobo"? Does that make any sense to anyone without having to take a guess, like I did?

-Erwos