How do I migrate all users data into a RAID array?

[Kann]

My set up is a MacPro running 10.6.3 server with only one hard drive. I will be getting the MacPro RAID card tomorrow along with 3 additional 1.5 TB drives. The situation is that I will turn those 3 new drives into RAID5, and will move all users data to this array. The Mac OS X data shall remain in the old drive. My problem is that I have never been migrate all users data before. My idea would be using "rsync" to synchronize all users' home directory to the new RAID array, and will re-point the users' home directory to use the new RAID array using "Workgroup Manager" utility in 10.6 server.

However, I am not sure if 'rsync' would preserves all the permission of home directory. Also, reconfiguring the home dir in "workgroup manager" seems to be tidious work. Do you have any other recommendations for me about this situation?

 

[foidulus]

My set up is a MacPro running 10.6.3 server with only one hard drive. I will be getting the MacPro RAID card tomorrow along with 3 additional 1.5 TB drives. The situation is that I will turn those 3 new drives into RAID5, and will move all users data to this array. The Mac OS X data shall remain in the old drive. My problem is that I have never been migrate all users data before. My idea would be using "rsync" to synchronize all users' home directory to the new RAID array, and will re-point the users' home directory to use the new RAID array using "Workgroup Manager" utility in 10.6 server.

However, I am not sure if 'rsync' would preserves all the permission of home directory. Also, reconfiguring the home dir in "workgroup manager" seems to be tidious work. Do you have any other recommendations for me about this situation?

Rsync will preserve permissions(actually cp -p will do this as well)

As per changing everyones home directory, you don't have to do that. You have two options(note, this assumes all users directories are mounted under /Users/ldapusers, obviously substitute the real location in its place)

1. Just make a soft link, issue this command after moving the data
sudo ln -s /Volumes/mybigraid /Users/ldapusers

This *SHOULD* work, though I recommend against it as linking between volumes, esp. for things accessed over the network can get a bit dicey.

2. The preferred method is to change your mount point

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20080531040605723

I have had a lot of luck sharing stuff out via AFP and NFS over a mounted drive, and I really recommend method #2

Just replace /my/mnt/point with /Users/ldapusers (or wherever you originally had the user files) and you should be golden.