Topic: Move user and their IMAP email to a new server

[charlien]

I'm moving my SME server from a vmware workstation server to one running Hyper-v. I've looked into converting the drive and find it more of a task than I'm up for. This is a server I use for home use and I have everything I want is backed up but my IMAP email accounts. Is there a way I can just copy them from server to server. I'm not a linux expert by any means.

Any comments on SME on Hyper-v would be appreciated too.

[Stefano]

well.. the simplest way is to backup your vmware SME install via "backup to workstation" and then restore it on the new server..

can you please define what you mean with:

I have everything I want is backed up but my IMAP email accounts.

?

how do you backup your server?

[charlien]

I only use it for email and a couple web sites. I backup the websites manually. I'll try the back up and restore. Thanks for the help.

[Stefano]

restore must be done on a new install.. just in case

[stephdl]

Or you can use imapsync if you want to transfert email

[janet]

charlien

Backup & Restore will include all the server configuration including users, users email, ibays, websites, custom templates, mysql databases & so on, so you will effectively create an identical clone of your existing server.
Is that what you want ?

If you really just want to transfer a particular users email, then imapsync may be an easier way to achieve that.

If you want to transfer a limited set of data eg all users email folders and ibay contents, then take a look at the concepts described in
the Backup server config Howto (Howto link at top of Forums).
See particularly the section on Copying data to another server.
http://wiki.contribs.org/Backup_server_config#Copying_data_to_the_restored_server

You will need to modify the commands slightly to suit what data you wish to move.

[charlien]

The biggest hurdle I have is that hyper-v doesn't appear to allow USB thumb drive access from a guest OS. Years ago I was able to do a backup to desktop and a restore from desktop. It appears that the backup to desktop is still an option but the restore from desktop using the web interface is gone. Am I correct?

Thanks for all the help I'm getting. It's been years since I had to post here.

[janet]

charlien

The Howto I referred to, also has information about backing up, restoring & transferring backup files from/to/via SSH between servers on the network, so read it completely as there will be a solution there to suit your situation.

In SME server server manager Backup or Restore panel, there are options to backup to & restore from workstation shares (which can be the workstation hard drive or a USB drive connected to a workstation, or a NAS etc, so you have plenty of options if a locally connected (to server) USB drive is not possible for you.

IIRC you can even connect/mount a SATA drive on the server to use for backup, I have done it.

[MSmith]

If it's SME 7 or 8 (I did it on 9 but think I messed it up), the AFFA contrib works beautifully. No thumbdrive required.

http://wiki.contribs.org/Moving_SME_to_new_Hardware