[mythtv-users] Planning an upgrade

[Jason But]

Hello list

I am planning on an upgrade in the near future and though this would be the
best place to get information on the proper approach

I currently run a combined BE/FE where the BE is scheduled to auto-wake and
sleep using mythwelcome, but the FE is XBMC. This is an awkward setup in
that it doesn't work as consistently as my old put myth BE/FE box.

However I am about to upgrade my central server and am planning to move the
BE to this box as it is on 24/7 and I don't have issues of having to power
up the BE/FE if I want to watch something in another room. I am not planning
on asking basic system config questions for my server, mostly about the
migration process.

1) I run gentoo linux, which is currently stable at myth 0.22-fixes, I will
be going unstable and moving to either 0.23 or 0.24 during the upgrade

2) I don't mind if I lose any recordings, I move all permanent recordings to
MKV and separate storage after transcoding anyway, I would however like to
keep both my recording rules *AND* the list of recorded shows (so they don't
get recorded again)

3) I DO want to lose any other and old information in the DB which can get
re-created on my new install

What I really want to know is how to best go about this:

1) Backup DB, install new myth on new box, get working, restore parts of DB

2) Backup DB, install old myth on new box, restore parts of DB, upgrade myth

3) Upgrade myth on old box, backup DB, install on new box, restore parts of DB

4) Something else:

I would appreciate a guide as to WHICH parts of the DB are important for my
main goal (recording rules and previously recorded shows), how to back up
and restore these bits only, and what the best step-by-step approach will be

Many thanks

Jason