Data recovery

[sauergeek]

I have a deceased server that was running OpenBSD. The hardware will no longer POST. I've not had any particular trouble with the disks, and I'd like to salvage ~20 gb of data from them. Does anyone have a SCSI-capable box running BSD (probably any sort would do, though OpenBSD would be ideal) that I could borrow for long enough to pull the data I want off these disks?

Comments

[xeger.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's going to help you if I note that I have such a device...

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

Not really, no. It could be a thin excuse for a road trip to Toronto, though.

Hmmm

[(Anonymous)]

Since you're on the Internet, you may consider listing, "in the X area." Where X may be equal to, "Bay," "York," "Miami," or whatever. Helps with potential strangers lending a hand. You may also want to consider listing this inquery on the OpenBSD list on livejournal.

Re: Hmmm

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

I'd thought that my location was visible in my profile, but it wasn't. I've fixed that. Both the server and I are in Lowell, MA.

[dr-memory.livejournal.com]

I'm 99% sure that linux and macosx will also read *bsd-flavor UFS filesystems well enough for you to use them to salvage data, so if there are no offers of bsd boxes for you to borrow locally, it might be easiest to buy a $10 used SCSI card off of ebay and throw it into a random PC with a knoppix boot CD.

[pir.livejournal.com]

If he's got a scsi card and a random PC then he could presumably boot the OpenBSD installation that's on the disks... or could boot from the FreeBSD live CD.

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

Hrm, I was expecting that Linux would not handle *BSD file systems, but I'll definitely check into it. I have a non-SCSI Linux box readily available; a SCSI card is easy enough to come by.

[pir.livejournal.com]

Yep... not really in a useful location for you, though :)

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

No, and I suspect that if I did try to visit the UK with a pair of bare drives in my luggage, I'd have them confiscated in a heartbeat.

[pir.livejournal.com]

Why? They're just hard disks, I've travelled with disks in checked luggage and carryon in both directions many times with no issues, including recently.

[audiogeek.livejournal.com]

If you need a random SCSI card, I have several I will be bringing to the flea this weekend (free if you want one). I also have a random machine you are welcome to use, however, it currently has no OS installed. Since all you really need is network, SCSI, and little to no custom config... a simple install off a CD should be pretty darn quick.

Having said all that, I'm leaving tomorrow mid-afternoon, and won't be back till Thursday night... though I will be driving up to your neck of the woods, I could drop a machine off if you'd be home.

Another question is... what kind of SCSI? 50pin? 68pin? SCA? other? The one easy-to-get-to box has SCA hot-swap bays, but internally 68pin LVD and SE connectors. I think I have an internal SCSI adapter to go between several different types too.