Topic: Backup/restore to different hardware

[ltwally]

I've searched around a little, and found various solutions to specific problems... however, I haven't seen a sticky/guide to backing up and restoring to a new machine.

What we're planning on doing is:
1) Install SME on the new machine, with its network cables unplugged.
2) Use the admin console to configure it exactly as the old SME box is.
3) "Backup to desktop" the old SME box's config from Horde.
4) Power down the old SME box.
5) Plug the new SME box into the ethernet switch.
6) "Restore from desktop" in Horde.
7) Reboot the new SME server.
Pray that everything is restored.

Does this sound right?  I realise that this will not backup things like the SSH daemon configs, and such... but all the users and pop3/imap/smtp settings will at least be there...?

If you have any helpful links, I'd appreciate those.

Thanks

[dmay]

I've searched around a little, and found various solutions to specific problems... however, I haven't seen a sticky/guide to backing up and restoring to a new machine.

What we're planning on doing is:
1) Install SME on the new machine, with its network cables unplugged.
2) Use the admin console to configure it exactly as the old SME box is.
3) "Backup to desktop" the old SME box's config from Horde.
4) Power down the old SME box.
5) Plug the new SME box into the ethernet switch.
6) "Restore from desktop" in Horde.
7) Reboot the new SME server.
Pray that everything is restored.

Does this sound right?  I realise that this will not backup things like the SSH daemon configs, and such... but all the users and pop3/imap/smtp settings will at least be there...?

If you have any helpful links, I'd appreciate those.

Thanks

Backup to desktop rarely works due to file size limitations. Since you have two servers you may wish to use the copyfromdisk method. Search on copyfromdisk for details.

For a seamless change, make sure both old and new server SME releases/contribs match.

Darrell

[ltwally]

Backup to desktop rarely works due to file size limitations.

Since there are only about 40 users, and they're all using POP3, the size of the backups are only ~70megs... which is no-where near the 2g/4g limitations that I've read about.

So, other than worrying about backup size, the above solution should work?  (Operative word:  should)

-ltwally

[socate]

Hi all,

I try to make the same operation to switch from an old server to a new one, and after reboot I can set the new ethernet cards. I remove manually the old NIC, I add the new one, and after reboot, the same situation. How can I save the settings for the new NIC?

Thks!

[bpivk]

Did you try the reconfigure option in your console?

[socate]

yes...but with no results! I see that the plug&play services are not active. I'm wrong?

What I doo:

1) I use "rmmod" to remove the ond NIC
2) after that I use "modprobe e1000" to activate my new eth0 and 1. After this operations, ifconfig report me the new ethernets and with correct IP's.

How I save this new config? After reboot...the settings are return to the previous config.

[socate]

Hi all,

Finally I change my server. Anyway, the transfer using Backup/Restore to/from desktop is good only if someone want to transfer only mailboxes, files, and SME settings - without any other changes.

Regarding to my issue with the new NIC, I solved in the end; what was the procedure:

1) login as root and remove old NIC drivers.
2) activate the new NIC - until the system will report correct the IP's
3) after that login like "admin" and from console lunch Reconfigure Process - type NEXT - NEXT... until the end (unless someone want to change something) and after that reboot.

Only in this way the system recognize and save config with the new values.

I hope the info will be usefull for somebody!

[bpivk]

3) after that login like "admin" and from console lunch Reconfigure Process -

yes...but with no results!

Well that was the reconfigure option.  

[socate]

Well that was the reconfigure option.  

but I don't know why all time the config was not saved. One explanation can be the fact that in config was the old ethernet drivers. So, the correct config was available only after I erase the old eth drivers and add the new drivers and after to run the reconfigure process...

Maybe I do something wrong. Who know!?! Anyway, maybe for future is someone will have the same issue like me, will find maybe a solution.

Thks for advices.