Server Migration

[Isi]

Hello All,

I have been reading the forums looking for a way to accomplish this but have not found any details. What I have found is disturbing. I need some advise.

I host email for 8 different domains. The server hardware that Zimbra is installed on is failing. We decided to build a new server and migrate Zimbra from A to B. This sounded simple enough but we have been plagued by little problems that I am not sure how to work around. Any advise or thoughts is appreciated.

Issues:
-- Server Rename - the best i have been able to find is on the wiki here - ZmSetServerName - ZimbraWiki but it says on the main wiki page next to the link "don't do it". Is this serious? I tried to do a host rename in 4.0 or 4.1 and never got it to work properly (same physical host just a new name).

-- Backup Process - To facilitate the migration I have done a cold backup of /opt/zimbra (just in case). I don't think this is sufficient though to install to a new machine. I would prefer to just build the new machine and import the users and their mail. Which is the right method? Or there pros or cons to either? both?

-- Installation order - Once I build my new machine should I install a fresh copy of Zimbra (same version as on my old machine) so that the rpms are "installed" or should I just copy over /opt/zimbra from my old machine and walla. For some reason I expect it to be more involved than that.

Any advise on this information would be helpful.

Thanks,

-- Isi

[phoenix]

There's plenty of posts about moving to a new server. Basically you need to shutdown Zimbra and make a copy of the /opt/zimbra directory, install the same version of Zimbra on the new machine and make sure it's running OK. When you've done that shut down Zimbra and overwrite your /opt/zimbra directory with the copy (you can also run the zmfixperms script here to make sure permissions are OK) then do an upgrade install on the new server - that should be about it and I assume you'll have the same IP address and host name.

[Isi]

Thanks for replying.

I have not had much luck finding posts about server migrations that were successful. I have found a lot of conversation but not a lot of meat. I will chalk this up to my search strings maybe.

To you points:

I think I understand exactly what you are saying to do. And this was my plan I just wanted some confirmation.

One thing you said though was about the host name. I will be moving to a new host with a new hostname and a new ip address. Is there any additional advice you might suggest knowing this as well?

Thanks again for responding.

-- Isi

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by Isi

One thing you said though was about the host name. I will be moving to a new host with a new hostname and a new ip address.

Yes, the answer is - don't do it as you'll have no end of problems. You should move it in the manner I've described and it will work fine.

[Isi]

Alright. Understand. Duly noted.

Understanding the limitations (sorta) about changing the host name do I have other options? For instance:

1. Could I build my new server following the standard installation procedures.
2. Export my user / mail data from my old install.
3. Import that data into my new install.

Other question:

1. Is the problem of not being able to rename a host solved in the network edition? (i.e. this is a only a problem for the OSS Version).

2. Are there plans to add the ability to migrate to a new host / ip in the future?

Thanks,

-- Isi

[phoenix]

Renaming the host is no different in the Network Edition, it can be done in either version but it may cause a lot of problems.

You can migrate to a new host in either version (there's procedures in the wiki for NE) with the tools already available such as IMAPSYNC, contact export to csv (and in Zimbra 5.0 calendar export as ics).

As your current server is 'failing' I don't see the problem of using the same IP and host name, I assume you'll decommission the old server once your new one is up and running. That'll give you the least headaches and downtime.