Maintenance tips
Replace the HDD
XFS Archive Node: Migrating Data from a 2TB HDD to a 5TB HDD (USB / Ubuntu 24.04 LTS)
Introduction
This document describes the procedure used to migrate data from a 2TB HDD to a larger 5TB HDD on an archive node.
The migration was required due to increasing disk usage on the running node.
The environment uses:
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- XFS filesystem
- USB‑connected portable HDDs (2TB and 5TB)
This guide is intended to help other operators performing similar maintenance.
System Overview
| Role | Machine | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Production archive node | Machine A | 2TB HDD mounted at /var/lib/astar |
| Migration workstation | Machine B | Used to connect both 2TB and 5TB HDDs |
Data Migration Procedure
1. Work on Machine A (Detach the device)
Stop the running service
# sudo systemctl stop astar.service
Unmount the data directory
# sudo umount /var/lib/astar
2. Work on Machine B (Migration)
2-1. Connect disks and verify devices
Connect both the 2TB and 5TB HDDs (physical work)
Check device information
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,MODEL
Example:
sdc 1.8T disk ST2000LM007-1R8174
└─sdc1 1.8T part
sdd 4.5T disk WDC WD50NDZW-11BCSS0
└─sdd1 4.5T part
- sdc → 2TB HDD
- sdd → 5TB HDD
2-2. Create a partition on the 5TB HDD
Create a GPT label
# sudo parted /dev/sdd mklabel gpt
⚠ Note on alignment warnings Running:
# sudo parted -a optimal /dev/sdd mkpart primary xfs 0% 100%
may produce:
The closest location we can manage is 17.4kB to 1048kB (sectors 34..2047).
This indicates the partition does not start on a 2048‑sector (1MiB) boundary.
Proper alignment is important for performance and should not be ignored.
✔ Correct partition creation (aligned at 1MiB)
# sudo parted -a optimal /dev/sdd mkpart primary xfs 1MiB 100%
2-3. Verify the partition
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT /dev/sdd
Example:
sdd 4.5T
└─sdd1 4.5T ntfs
2-4. Create an XFS filesystem
# sudo mkfs.xfs -f /dev/sdd1
(Output omitted)
2-5. Confirm XFS creation
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT /dev/sdd
sdd 4.5T
└─sdd1 4.5T xfs
2-6. Mount both disks
# sudo mkdir /a /b
# sudo mount /dev/sdc1 /a
# sudo mount /dev/sdd1 /b
Verify:
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT /dev/sdc /dev/sdd
2-7. Perform XFS dump & restore (core migration step)
Dump from 2TB → Restore to 5TB
# sudo xfsdump -J - /a | sudo xfsrestore -J - /b
This process took approximately 15 hours over USB 3.0.
(Output omitted)
2-8. Verify migrated data
# sudo ls -al /b
2-9. Optional: XFS integrity check
Unmount the restored filesystem
# sudo umount /b
Run a read‑only check
# sudo xfs_repair -n /dev/sdd1
(Output omitted)
2-10. Unmount and remove disks
# sudo sync
# sudo umount /a
# sudo umount /b
Then physically disconnect both HDDs.
3. Work on Machine A (Reconnect and resume service)
Connect the 5TB HDD (physical work)
Verify the device
# lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINT /dev/sdb
Example:
sdb 4.5T
└─sdb1 4.5T xfs
Mount the new disk
# sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /var/lib/astar
Start the service
# sudo systemctl start astar.service
Monitor logs
# journalctl -f -u astar.service -n 100