SCO OpenServer Data Loss When Switch to Virtual Server

When you try to make a virtual server by switching from SCO OpenServer Smart Array controller system to ESX server, you may encounter certain problems. After setting your drives on the new system and restoring the data, when you attempt to boot your system, the process might fail. This behavior may make all your critical data inaccessible and cause serious data loss. To sort out such behavior of SCO OpenServer system, you should opt for SCO OpenServer Recovery.

When you switch to the virtual server, you can backup your data by creating images of every individual drive. But when you reboot the system after restoring data on the VM (Virtual Machine) hard drives; you may encounter the following error message:

“Not a directory

Boot not found

Cannot open

Stage 1 boot failure: error loading hd(40)/boot”

When you attempt to get past the boot process using boot/root disks, the process halts before INIT SINGLE USER MODE with the following error message:

“PANIC: exit – cannot exec /etc/init (PID 1) 0×00000200”

If you attempt to access data by putting the old hard drives in slot, the array gets crashed and displays the underwritten error on screen:

“No array configuration”

This entire behavior of SCO OpenServer makes your system inaccessible and SCO Data Recovery comes into the picture to revive your critical server data.

Grounds of the issue

This problem may occur when you image the drive for transferring data to the Virtual Machine. The reason behind the issue is you have actually imaged the partition instead of the drive. Thus, the boot information goes missing from your drive and the system becomes unbootable.

Resolution

To sort out this problem, you need to format the primary volume of your hard drive and reinstall SCO OpenServer operating system. Formatting the hard drive will write new boot information on it and then you will be able to boot your system.

Although, formatting the drive is able to resolve boot level problems but it also has a downside. It removes all data from the hard drive and causes serious data loss issues. In such situations, carrying out SCO Data Recovery is the only option to fix this problem.

It is best possible using third party applications which are known as SCO OpenServer Data Recovery software. These software work in almost all data loss situations and perform absolute recovery by thoroughly scanning the drive.

Stellar Phoenix (SCO OpenServer) Data Recovery is the most powerful tool for SCO OpenServer Recovery. The software retrieves all missing or inaccessible data. It supports recovery from HTFS and EAFS file system volumes. The software gets installed on Windows (Windows XP, 2003, 2000, NT, ME and 98) and the UNIX hard should be connected as slave.

How To Switch Web Hosts?

Moving a website is not something that most webmasters undertake unless they have absolutely no choice. There are many details involved with relocating a website, and all of the steps have to be completed for the move to be successful… Of course, the precise details involved with moving a particular website are to some extent specific to how that particular site is structured. However, there are some aspects of website relocation that are generally true for all sites, no matter how large or small.

Keeping the basic principles of pulling of a successful website relocation can help make the process of moving your website much less tedious, and increase the likelihood of success the first time.

Make sure you are aware of how much space your website is taking up on your current web host, so that you can be certain that your new hosting arrangement includes plenty of space to comfortably house your site as it is now, as well as sufficient room for future expansion, if such is expected.

You might even want to find out what types of expansion options will be available to you down the road if you have the wonderful problem of experiencing larger than expected growth of your business. You certainly don’t want to have to move again if you can help it!

When comparing the storage space you had to the storage space you are looking at moving to, verify how both the old hosting company and the new hosting company count storage space. Apples to apples comparisons between storage space on different hosting companies can be difficult, because they don’t all count space in the same manner.

Some hosting providers count only the files of your actual website toward your storage allocation, while others also count the space occupied be emails or log files. Different methods of accounting for space can result in significant differences from one hosting provider to another.

It is also important to find out information regarding relevant technical differences between the old hosting provider and the new one. While your website might be able to run on both a Linux server and a Microsoft server, you need to know if you are transitioning from one type to another before you begin the process of transferring the site.

For example, if you are relocating your website from a Windows server to a Unix server, and the scripts your site uses were written with a language that is Windows based, you might to have very good luck getting them to function properly when you move your site to a Unix server. You need to be prepared for the types of issues that might arise when you move your website from one platform to another.

Before a final decision is made on where your websites new home will be, you should check to be sure that the new hosting provider will effectively support the scripts that run on your website. You are much better off if you verify this before you sign a contract, and certainly before you start moving the site.

Failing to check this out in advance is like buying a condominium, showing up with all of your stuff and your three dogs and your pet parakeet, and then finding out that pets aren’t allowed in the building. You have to check out all of the relevant information out ahead of time to make the transition as soon as possible.

You also need to be aware of the different types of software that are supported by the new hosting company. If your website was created with Dreamweaver, and you are looking at a hosting site that only supports FrontPage sites, you need to keep looking.

Don’t build an igloo on a Caribbean Island. Some homes just aren’t right for certain climates. All hosting providers are not right for all websites. There are so many choices in web hosting providers. Ask the right questions ahead of time, and be sure that you are finding a new home that will support your website.

Not only do you have to be certain that the particular type of software your site uses is supported, you also have to check the fine print too. Make sure that the particular version of software that your site uses is supported by the new provider. Sometimes there are significant changes from one version to the next, and not all versions are downwardly or upwardly compatible.

E-mail is an important consideration for many site owners, particularly businesses. Be certain that your new hosting company can provide you with a sufficient quantity of email addresses, and that the email features that you currently use will be available with the new company. For example, if you use the autoresponder feature with your current hosting company, make sure that the new one has the same capability. Don’t make assumptions that the new company will have all of the same features as the old one.

Make sure to set up your existing email accounts on the new server before actually move the domain itself. This little detail can help ensure a relatively smooth transition for your site and for all of the people at your company who are dependent on email in order to perform the functions of their jobs.

Now that the pre-move details have been ironed out, it is time to start uploading files to your new server. If you expect the new hosting provider to handle this task for you, hopefully you asked ahead of time. Some hosting companies provide this service, others do not. Some companies that do provide this service charge a fee. Again, when its time to move, it’s too late to ask. Do your homework ahead of time.

Don’t cancel your old hosting account immediately. It may take a little while to make sure the transition went smoothly. Once the files have been uploaded to the new server, you are going to have to verify that everything transferred properly, and that it looks and works the way it should. When any tweaks have been made, then it is time to change your nameserver information with your domain name registrar.

Once you do this, your site will go live online within a couple of days. When you are sure everything is running smoothly in real time, then you can cancel your old contract and consider yourself moved in to your new home!

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How to Switch Web Hosting Companies Without Downtime

How to Switch Web Hosting Companies Without Downtime

Let’s face it – quite often many people tolerate less than great service from their hosting provider simply because it can be a real pain to move your site, your domain name and your email accounts without creating major downtime for you and your site visitors. Here’s a general checklist to follow to ensure that you have the smoothest move possible, and hopefully with no down time.

Note: although this procedure will work fine on most all sites, there are some template generated sites that this procedure may not apply. For example, if you have a CitySearch site then you are going to need to just rebuild a new site.

Step 1: Get all of your files local.

Using a basic FTP program or whatever development tool you may be using, such as FrontPage, download all current files used in your web site including graphics, html files, and anything else that may be used in your site. Most likely you already know this – but when you are copying down your files you want to keep the directory structure exactly as it is on your web server. If you built the site then most likely you already have all of this.

Step 2: Analyze your hosting needs and select a new host.

Is your site just basic html or will you need a Cold Fusion host or one that supports active server pages? Depending on your site needs, select a host that can provide what you need. HostChart.com features some of the most advanced and reliable hosts out there, so finding a good one should not be hard. Most hosts these days allow you to either handle the domain name change yourself, or they can handle it for you. Just so your domain name does not get switched faster than you can get your new files posted, you may want to handle the domain name change yourself. Be sure they know to still add a record the their DNS, but that you will handling the NIC record change.

Step 3: Get everything loaded to your new server.

Before making the domain name change, go ahead and load up all of your site files to your new host using just the IP address. If your new account does not have a dedicated IP address, then request that they create a subdomain for temporary use from their domain – something like newcustomer.hostingcompany.com for you to work with before transferring your name. Most should gladly do this for you. Although they won’t really work yet, go ahead and set up all of the email accounts that are used on your domain as well. Be sure to create a “catchall” or “wild-card” address just in case you forgot to someone – at least their email will not bounce.

Step 4: Initiate the domain name record change.

Either through Network Solutions or whatever registrar you used to register your domain, initiate the name change. Technically speaking the only thing that really need to be changed in your record is the name server information. If you host has not already provided you with this information, just email their support and ask what their Name Server information is. It is also a good idea to update the technical contact on your domain name record to your new host, although that is not required.

Step 5: Monitor for the domain name change.

Depending on who you used to register your domain through, you should get one or more emails confirming the domain name change. Once the change has been initiated it will typically take 24 – 48 hours for the entire world to see the change. This period is called propagation and is simply the time it takes for all the DNS servers around the globe to “catch up” and take note of your domains new location. Once propagation has completed its course you are free to safely cancel service with your previous host.

A note about the Propagation period: As mentioned before, it takes about 24 – 48 hours for the domain name change to propagate through everyone’s DNS server. This means that during this time some people will get the new site, and some will still get the old site. As far as web surfing, that’s really no big deal but can be tricky in regards to email. Depending on where an email is from, it may go to your new email server or your old server. To safeguard against losing messages, try creating 2 accounts for your email address, and use each mail server’s IP address instead of the domain name in your POP settings. For example, if you are using mail.yourdomain.com as your pop settings, try replacing that with the IP address of your web site or email server. Creating an account that checks both mail servers insures you don’t miss any messages during this 24 – 48 hour period.

About HostChart.com

HostChart, a Web Hosting Resource, is a leading web hosting directory website that has been in business for over 5 years. They provide numerous web hosting articles and tutorials as well as news, interviews, and reviews. You can use their extensive set of tools to research and evaluate your current or future web hosts.