From: Mark T <paradisaeidae@...>
Date: 2011-07-16T15:41:48+09:00
Subject: Re: moving a 1.8.6 install?

I've not tested this with your versions of Ruby + gems, so +luck!
It is a minimal intrusion to versions and config.

Find the directory the gems are in.
tar it up for backup purposes.

Copy your Ruby application to new server.
Install Ruby 1.8.6 on new server.
copy gem tar to (adjacent) (new) machine/directory.
un-tar the gem dir.
set, export  $GEM_HOME in bash before Rails app starts to new gem dir.
         (Check $ vars for any other relevant settings.)
Light the blue-touch paper.

MarkT