how do I remove an extra node

Question

I have a group of erlang nodes that are replicating their data through Mnesia\'s \"extra_db_nodes\"... I need to upgrade hardware and software so I have to detach some nodes as

Answer 1

I'm extremely late to the party, but came across this info in the doc when looking for a solution to the same problem:

"The function call mnesia:del_table_copy(schema, mynode@host) deletes the node 'mynode@host' from the Mnesia system. The call fails if mnesia is running on 'mynode@host'. The other mnesia nodes will never try to connect to that node again. Note, if there is a disc resident schema on the node 'mynode@host', the entire mnesia directory should be deleted. This can be done with mnesia:delete_schema/1. If mnesia is started again on the the node 'mynode@host' and the directory has not been cleared, mnesia's behaviour is undefined." (http://www.erlang.org/doc/apps/mnesia/Mnesia_chap5.html#id74278)

I think the following might do what you desire:

AllTables = mnesia:system_info(tables),
DataTables = lists:filter(fun(Table) -> Table =/= schema end,
                          AllTables),

RemoveTableCopy = fun(Table,Node) ->
  Nodes = mnesia:table_info(Table,ram_copies) ++
          mnesia:table_info(Table,disc_copies) ++
          mnesia:table_info(Table,disc_only_copies),
  case lists:member(Node,Nodes) of
    true -> mnesia:del_table_copy(Table,Node);
    false -> ok
  end
end,

[RemoveTableCopy(Tbl,'gone@gone_host') || Tbl <- DataTables].

rpc:call('gone@gone_host',mnesia,stop,[]),
rpc:call('gone@gone_host',mnesia,delete_schema,[SchemaDir]),
RemoveTablecopy(schema,'gone@gone_host').

Though, I haven't tested it since my scenario is slightly different.