Topic: Export SME Configuration

[pssl]

I'm running 6.5 and need to upgrade to 7.  I'm still on 6.5 because the hardware I was using wouldn't load 7.  And now I'm getting squid errors and someone from the SME forums strongly suggested that I should upgrade to 7 for security reasons.  So that's what I'm going to do.

So, upgrading can be done two ways: clean install and build the configuration from scratch, or upgrade from 6.5.  I looks like the upgrade path is littered with extra tasks the must be performed before 7.4 can be installed, which I'd rather not take on right now because I'm an inexperienced user and don't have the time to work through it all--if it can be avoided.  So, the clean install seems to be the way to go (it probably would be better in the long run anyway). 

The thing is I have ibays and user accounts, etc., I set up years ago and I would have to figure out how to do that again--I don't think it was hard but if there is an easy way to get configured without rebuilding from scratch it would be good thing.  So, is there away to export the 6.5 config to the 7.4?  E.g., backup and restore.  I'll be surprised and blessed if there is, but I'm not holding my breath.

I can't afford to have the server down for a long time because both my wife and I work from home and need the server.  So I'm looking for the fastest, cleanest, most painless way to git 'er done. 

[CharlieBrady]

So, is there away to export the 6.5 config to the 7.4?  E.g., backup and restore.  I'll be surprised and blessed if there is, but I'm not holding my breath.

Of course there is backup and restore. Perhaps it would be a good idea if you took some time to read the documentation.

That said, I think you can just upgrade from 6.5 to 7.4 just by booting from CD. Backup beforehand, of course.

[janet]

pssl

Have you even tried diagnosing what's wrong with your sme6.5 server.
That may be the quickest way to resolve your immediate problem.

Did you run top -i or htop to see how much & which system resouces and memory are being used ? Have you looked at the messages & other eg squid log files in the View log files panel in server manager. They should give you very good indications of  what's going on. You need to diagnose the problem rather than make wild guesses like the squid log file is too big. What about disk space check with df -h
If you upgrade now or backup & restore you may carry over the problem (depending on what the problem is of course).

If your server had been hacked (which is only a wild possibility at present with no proof), then you would want to clean up the system first and remove all traces of the hacking before transferring data & config to a new server.

In my opinion the simplest way to restore your sme6.5 to a newly installed sme7.4 is to use the restore from disk method outlined here
http://wiki.contribs.org/UpgradeDisk

You must follow all instructions to the letter as every step is critical. The beauty of the method is that it leaves your old disk intact, and if something goes wrong you can revert to your old sme6.5 system just by reconnecting the disk as it originally was. You also do not need to perform a seperate backup before doing the restore.

Having said that you should make a full backup before doing anything, just to be sure all your data & config is safe in case of accidental erasure from the disk or whatever.

Also see
http://wiki.contribs.org/Updating_from_SME_7.1.x_or_earlier

Now you could just do a new install of sme7.4 and manually add users and ibays etc and then transfer selected data & config over using the tips outlined here
http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_server_config

but that method also requires some skill and understanding. Also the naming convention of user mail folders changed so you will run into problems that will need manual intervention to fix, ie skills you say you don't have. The renaming mentioned happened automatically during an upgrade.