Wiped Ubuntu OS from Linux Home Lab: Recovering an Accident on HP Proliant DL9
In this article, we will discuss the process of recovering an Ubuntu Linux server that was accidentally wiped from a home lab setup, specifically on an HP Proliant DL9 server. This situation can be frustrating and may seem irreversible, but with the right steps, you can restore your server to its former state.
Table of Contents
- Identify the Issue
- Prepare a Bootable USB Drive
- Access the Server through BIOS
- Restore the Previous Ubuntu Installation
- Summary and References
Identify the Issue
The first step in recovering from a wiped Ubuntu server is to identify the issue. If you can no longer access your server, and the server's IP address is not responding, then it is likely that the server was accidentally wiped. In this scenario, the server will need to be reinstalled, but there is a way to restore the previous settings, data, and applications.
Prepare a Bootable USB Drive
To reinstall Ubuntu on the server, you will need a bootable USB drive with the Ubuntu installation files. You can download the Ubuntu Server ISO file from the official Ubuntu website and use a tool like Rufus or Etcher to create a bootable USB drive.
# Download Ubuntu Server ISO file
wget
# Create a bootable USB drive with Rufus
rufus -p -f -w /dev/sdX ubuntu-18.04.5-server-amd64.iso
Access the Server through BIOS
To install Ubuntu on the server, you will need to access the BIOS settings. This can be done by turning on the server and pressing the appropriate key (usually F10, F11, or F12) to enter the BIOS settings. Once in the BIOS settings, you can configure the boot order to boot from the USB drive.
Restore the Previous Ubuntu Installation
Once the server is booted from the USB drive, you can begin the Ubuntu installation process. When asked where to install Ubuntu, choose the option to "Erase disk and install Ubuntu" as this will format the disk and remove all partitions. However, before proceeding with the installation, you will need to backup and restore your data.
Backup Data
During the installation process, you will be prompted to choose where to install the boot loader. It is recommended to install the boot loader on the same disk as the previous Ubuntu installation. This will allow you to backup and restore your data.
# Mount the previous Ubuntu partition
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
# Backup the data
sudo rsync -aAXv /mnt/* /backup/server/
Restore Data
Once the new Ubuntu installation is complete, you can restore your data by mounting the backup partition.
# Mount the backup partition
sudo mount /dev/sdXn /mnt
# Restore the data
sudo rsync -aAXv /backup/server/* /mnt/
Summary and References
Recovering a wiped Ubuntu OS from a home lab on an HP Proliant DL9 server can be done by preparing a bootable USB drive, accessing the server through BIOS, restoring the previous Ubuntu installation, and backing up and restoring data. References used for this article: