I'm currently using 5.0b10, but would like to audition the current release candidate.  I'm only using one of my two licenses. 

 

Question:  Could I copy the contents of my running flash drive to my second flash drive, upgrade it, then boot my server from IT? 

 

My goal is to try out the software, while (1) keeping my array data safe and (2) avoiding any lengthy parity rebuilds.  Ideally, I'd like the ability to simply remove the second flash drive, re-insert my original, and return back to good old 5.0b10 if anything bad pops up....without redoing parity.

 

Thanks!

You are making this much more difficult than it really is.  Read the instructions for upgrading here:

 

    http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php?title=UnRAID_Server_Version_5.0-beta_Release_Notes

 

But make sure you copy bzroot and bzimage (Your current version software) off of the flash drive and put them in a safe place so you can restore them if you should find it necessary.  If you aren't having any problems with your current version, you probably won't have any with rc8.  The only real issue is that some people had some file deletion issues using Samba with  rc8.  If you encounter that issue, here are the instructions to update with a corrected Samba:

 

  http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=22604.msg206583#msg206583

 

                        and here

 

  http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=22604.msg208948#msg208948 

 

Hope this helps...

Thanks for the links.  I've previously read the upgrade instructions numerous times.  It would seem that simply backing up the entire flash drive is easier than selectively backing up bzroot and bzimage....and even safer.  Given the problem with the current version relates to samba shares, and my primary use is via samba shares, I think I'll wait.  I've waited through the last 15+ updates.  No reason to tempt fate now.

It would seem that simply backing up the entire flash drive is easier than selectively backing up bzroot and bzimage....and even safer. 

Really?

 

Share the Flash drive with read and write permission.  Using whatever file manager you have on a machine on the network, copy the two old files into a suitably named subfolder - "beta10 backup" or similar.    Copy the new bzroot and bzimage onto the Flash share where the old ones were previously.  (This overwrites them, but in the event that neither gets written you still have your previous files available.)  Shut down and reboot the server. 

 

In my view it is going to be a lot safer just to copy over a couple of files than trying to backup and restore a complete stick.  And if your stick is inside the machine, it's a lot quicker too.

 

At the end of the day, it's up to you, but I always just move the needed couple of files for these kinds of updates.

Yes.  Really.

 

I don't see a backup of only TWO files as safer than having the originals of ALL files?  If things go wrong, I won't be "restoring" anything- I'll reinstall the original flash drive.

 

Whether I'm copying TWO files or ALL files, the process is pretty much identical.  And by using a backup stick, IF things go sour, I still have the original- untouched and ready to be reinstalled....with bzroot/bzimage/plugins/wheteverelse AS THEY WERE.

 

And as I've already said- I'LL WAIT.  Your approach is easier- but I don't think it's safer.

 

Yes.  Really.

 

I don't see a backup of only TWO files as safer than having the originals of ALL files?  If things go wrong, I won't be "restoring" anything- I'll reinstall the original flash drive.

 

Whether I'm copying TWO files or ALL files, the process is pretty much identical.  And by using a backup stick, IF things go sour, I still have the original- untouched and ready to be reinstalled....with bzroot/bzimage/plugins/wheteverelse AS THEY WERE.

 

And as I've already said- I'LL WAIT.  Your approach is easier- but I don't think it's safer.

 

IF you are running the free version that will work and it is simple.  Remember that you will lose all of your settings. 

 

The replacement of those two files is how most of us update from one version to the next.  The reason that I recommended backing up bzroot and bzimage is that it may be difficult to find the 5.0b10 version for download.  Those are the only two files that change in the between versions of unRAID.  (At least the ones released in the past couple of years.) 

Yes.  Really.

 

I don't see a backup of only TWO files as safer than having the originals of ALL files?  If things go wrong, I won't be "restoring" anything- I'll reinstall the original flash drive.

 

Whether I'm copying TWO files or ALL files, the process is pretty much identical.  And by using a backup stick, IF things go sour, I still have the original- untouched and ready to be reinstalled....with bzroot/bzimage/plugins/wheteverelse AS THEY WERE.

 

And as I've already said- I'LL WAIT.  Your approach is easier- but I don't think it's safer.

I think you misunderstood my intention - or perhaps I misunderstood yours.

 

Of course you should have a back up of the stick (or more than one).  Goes without saying. 

 

But you asked about swapping between versions, which I took to mean possibly swapping back and forth a few times (for testing / comparing / etc), and for that there is no need to swap sticks around, which is why I suggested simply copying over the two files needed.