Topic: Moving SME from VMware server 2 to Xenserver

[jameswilson]

I have a remote centos 5.4 machine that runs a few other things as VMware Server 2.0.2 guests.
I have been having various guest crashes but not hosts. 2 Sme servers and 1 Windows.

I have now fitted an additional server in the data centre rack, and have put xenserver onto this.

I need to move the 2 SME's over.
The SME machines work but during intensive disk times they fail. Unfortunatly they cant complete a backup.

I have tried various methods of converting the vmdk files with no success.

The only way i can think to progress to keep the IO low is to transfer all the files via FTP, the db's via mysqldump etc.
However i dont know how to move the users (only a few so could be manual) but the biggie is the mail. I need to move the mail over, plus anything else that i may need (dont think there is anything but you lot will know far more than i do)
I have installed and setup a SME on the xenserver and tested heavily without failure.

ANy suggestions you can recommend i would be grateful.

James

[cactus]

For the mail you could perhaps use imapsync. Do a search for it in the forums, I think you will find the instructions in the wiki or the forums IIRC.

Perhaps rsync is to be preferred over ftp as this can be throttled and can resume as well as skip already downloaded files.

[jameswilson]

cactus.
Wonderful many thanks. I agree the throttling idea will help keep the io down.
I will look into imapsyc.

thanks again.

[ldkeen]

Hey James,
Have you had a look at AFFA.
http://wiki.contribs.org/Affa#Moving_a_SME_7_server_installation_to_new_hardware_using_the_Affa_rise_feature
I've moved a few vm's to physical machines and visa-verca and it works great. You can set the BandwidthLimit if that is a problem. Basically install a new sme onto the xen box, install affa onto the xen vm, backup the old vm and then rise the xen vm. VERY easy. If there is too much data on the vmware vm you can tar up the required directory's and either ftp/rsync/external drive copy them over. The following command gets all the user directories, email, ibays, server settings:

Code: [Select]

tar czvf old_vm.tgz /root /etc /home /optLloyd

[CharlieBrady]

The only way i can think to progress to keep the IO low is to transfer all the files via FTP, the db's via mysqldump etc.

rsync over ssh allows you to specify a bandwidth limit.

[mmccarn]

I second ldkeen's Affa recommendation - it's easy to install, easy to use, and allows for minimal down time.

[jameswilson]

wonderful.
I moved one of them using ftp (was already done) mysqldump and then imapsync for the mail.
Worked well.

I was looking at affa for backup of these vm's and didnt think of using it as above.

Many thanks everyone.

[mmccarn]

There is a script I use to move SME to new hardware attached to this bug: http://bugs.contribs.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5701

[jameswilson]

everything moved on the first server (without affa) great

Setup affa and used the rise feature again all flawless. (very impressive) sometimes to old machine would die during the sql dump but thats not an affa issue.

However i have one issue i cant seem to resolve
The machine has a commercial ssl cert. I have set the db entries to use the relevant files but it still claims its a self signed cert.
so my questions are
1. Can i just use the old cert on the new server or do i have to apply for a new one?
2. If i can reuse how can i query the current (old) server to see what files its using for the certs (i cant remeber)
3. I presume this isnt automatic using affa, as i was planning on setting up another dedicated sme box with affa ready to use 'rise' as disaster recovery.

Many thanks
James

[mmccarn]

The last cert I installed (from Comodo) turned out to be "chained" - to install it, I had to install the cert, plus some other files having to do with being a chained certificate.

Basically, my cert renewal required me to add my cert plus a couple other certs on *my* server.

(I didn't think it would work when I got the instructions from Comodo.  Also, this wasn't on a SME server, but I'm sure the principle applies).

Here's what I could find on certificate-related db entries on the SME side:
http://wiki.contribs.org/Certificate#Custom_Certificate_for_SME_7.1.3_and_above

There used to be some contribs or howtos related to certificates -- if you used one of those on the old server you may have to locate it and re-run it on the new server.  Maybe /sbin/e-smith/audittools/templates or /sbin/e-smith/audittools/newrpms would give you some useful info on the old server(s).

[jameswilson]

it is a commodo 3 yr cert, but i reakon im using the wrong files. Is there any way to query the existing system to see what files its using as crt and key files?

[jameswilson]

found it
config getprop modSSL key & config getprop modSSL crt

[CharlieBrady]

The last cert I installed (from Comodo) turned out to be "chained" - to install it, I had to install the cert, plus some other files having to do with being a chained certificate.

I think that the cert and chain files can just be combined into a single cert file.

[jameswilson]

im fairly sure there was one 2 files.

[Stefano]

I think that the cert and chain files can just be combined into a single cert file.

any hint/link?

TIA