Topic: Best Method for moving an installation to new hardware (SME Server 8.0)

[ghorst352]

I am currently browsing for the absolute best method for transferring an SME ver 8.0 installation to a brand new system that will have SME Server 8.0 as well.  Now, before I get started there are a couple articles listed here -> http://wiki.contribs.org/Moving_SME_to_new_Hardware and here -> http://wiki.contribs.org/Moving_HardDisk_to_New_Hardware.  However, these 2 articles only reference ver 7.x and not 8.x.  Additionally, the first article shows how to do this using the Affa contrib but upon further research located here -> http://wiki.contribs.org/SME8.0_Contribs_QA#smeserver-affa it clearly states the following: "Functionality hasn't been tested beyond ability to install ".   

At this point, I would like to know if anybody has used the Affa method for transferring an SME Server installation to new hardware in version 8.0? 


Here are my options:

1) Install a fresh copy of ver 8.0 on new system and transfer the /etc, /home, directories from the Prod system to new system.  (I have never tried this so I have no clue how effective this method is)

2) I could use clonezilla and clone the Prod system and then clone the image to the new system.  Linux is pretty forgiving when it comes to new hardware.  I  have done this method in the past but I would rather go with a vanilla install over carrying over old and misc data that does not tie into new hardware.

3) Use the Affa Method-(IF IT WORKS IN 8.0)


Please, if anybody who has any experience with this type of issue share your advice on what you think is best.   Thanks. 

[Stefano]

I successfully transferred many SME between new HW and new SME release using affa..

I'm quite sure affa will work flawlessy on SME8, you should try it.. to do so, you can use 2 small virtual machines

another way is to use standard backup & restore features..

I strongly suggest you not to use methods 1 and 2

[TerryF]

another way is to use standard backup & restore features..

Which is what I have done recently, works fine and its simple and straightforward..

[janet]

bhay3s

Read this
http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_server_config
to give you an overview of the backup & restore process.

If you use method 1 you will have a dud server because you did not include the mysql databases, so DO NOT USE METHOD 1.

Method 2, Cloning, will still have identical configuration & not result in a "clean" server.
Note that many cloning programs do not work that well with RAID arrays, and sme uses a basic RAID1 array, even with 1 disk, it is RAID1 in degraded mode, unless you did not specify RAID at the first install, so potentially Method 2 is also NOT a good idea.
It was OK way back in sme 4.x days but a lot has changed since then.

As others have said Affa will work OK, and the standard Server Manager backup to workstation (ideally to USB disk), or the Console Backup to USB disk will also work OK, but all of these methods and any other backup methods that conform to sme standards, will require the reinstallation of contrib rpms.
The contrib data will be restored from the backup though.

Please read the latter section of the Backup server config article for more details and do the steps in the right order, ie Install SME 8 OS to a clean drive, Restore from backup, then reinstall contribs. Also read the sme 8 wiki notes.

Ideally you would reinstall el5 contrib packages where available, or otherwise el4 contribs that are compatible with sme8.

[ghorst352]

Thanks for the replies,,, Actually in response to Mary, this system is currently in a broken mirror state so their is only 1 harddrive active and there are no contribs installed besides the Email WBL.  The server is a dedicated email server (Qmail).

I will be using the backup method as recommended by most of you and that is to use the backup via the admin console to usb disk.  I will notate all the little things to do prior and afterwards.  After I finish, I will post my itemized method to help anybody else in the future.

Thanks.   

[elmarconi]

I successfully transferred many SME between new HW and new SME release using affa..

I'm quite sure affa will work flawlessy on SME8

I did an AFFA restore of a 7.5.x machine to a 8.0 beta machine.
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,46481.msg228277.html#msg228277
No problems whatsoever.

[Stefano]

I did an AFFA restore of a 7.5.x machine to a 8.0 beta machine.
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,46481.msg228277.html#msg228277
No problems whatsoever.

you are right
I move a 7.5.1 to an 8 on a different hw, and so I can tell that affa works on SME8

thank you, my memory sometimes is faulty

[Stefano]

After I finish, I will post my itemized method to help anybody else in the future.

instead of writing here, you should edit the wiki page

thank you

[ghorst352]

So far I have 2 people who swear by the Affa method.  I am trying to make this is as fast an easy as possible.  Just to make this easy let me explain further and tell me what your opinions are.

1) i do have contribs
2) i do have ibays
3) this is an email server with lots of data

Which method is better and faster? Affa or the backup/restore?

[ghorst352]

After re-reading the Affa contrib article, I will be using this method.  To me it just seems a little bit more streamlined and is geared towards minimal downtime.  I will post my final solution and outcome, pending.

[Stefano]

bhay3s

a customer of mine has (now) a SME8 running on a new hp ML310

this server has a long story
- sme6 on a reused pc
- sme6 (moved with affa) on a new, no-brand pc,
- sme7 (moved with affa) on a new hp ml310 (G3 IIRC)
- sme8 (moved with affa) on the actual hw

all done in the last 7 years with... maybe ONE HOUR of downtime
about 200 GB of file, 50 GB of mail, 10 users

migration with affa is as easy as "dudes, please logoff from you computer" and, ten minutes after "ok guys, logon and start working, coffee break is over"

[ghorst352]

Well I finished the Migration over the Holiday weekend and I must say that I am impressed w/ Affa.  I actually performed the entire migration over SSH but recommend obviously that you only do that if you know that you will be physically near the server when it's time to rise it to production.  I only had 1 glitch with this migration.  The Ethernet adapter was not registering, a simple reconfig-reboot and that corrected the issue and my adapter re-appeared with the correct ip address <- (Here again, this is the reason why you would not do this entire operation remotely without knowing somebody will be there in case there is an issue)  This issue obviously had to do with the new hardware so I don't really highlight this as a big issue, it fixed itself so really no complaints.  I cannot imagine anything simpler than Affa so I highly recommend using Affa for migrating an SME installation to new hardware.       

[paulsnz]

You could also break the raid assuming raid-1 (two mirrored) drives on your SME7, Stop your SME 7,  Install one drive into new hardware and boot from SME 8 CD and upgrade, that way, If you have a problem, just fire up yr sme7 and re-raid. If you have success with the SME upgrade then stop and add the NEW hard drive, Re-raid, Take out old drive, boot of new drive and install a NEW blank drive and Re-raid.  Obviously the SME 7 drive is OFF at this time so Data/emails are in-sync