Migrate ZCS to a new server

[sadams@bigrocksports.com]

Current Zimbra server is running RHEL 4 64 bit and ZCS 5.0.16.

New server will run RHEL 5. Initially, I plan to install the same
version of ZCS. After the new server has been running for a few days,
I will upgrade to the latest verion.

After installing RHEL 5 with the same partitions as the old server, I want
to migrate all settings, data, DNS entries. Once I confirm the new server
is working, I will power off the old server and change the IP of the new server
to match the old.

Is there a blog or Wiki entry with step-by-step instructions on how to do
this?

[Krishopper]

Check out Moving_ZCS_to_New_Server

There are instructions for the Network Edition (preforming backup/restore) and for the Open Source edition. You can upgrade it to new hardware/operation system, but be sure to do one upgrade at a time (OS first, and then ZCS later).

[sadams@bigrocksports.com]

Do you know if this method will work if I use the same version of ZCS on the new server, but a newer OS. My existing system is using RHEL4 and the new server is installed with RHEL5.

[Krishopper]

Yes, regardless of the OS you will want to make sure you migrate to the exact same version that is on the old server, even if its not the latest version.

Basically you do the following (short version, still follow the instructions in the previous link):

1. Build new server's OS
2. Install Zenoss on new server (same exact version that is on the old server.. 32-bit, same version/patch level)
3. Stop zenoss on the old server
4. rsync/scp the entire /opt/zenoss directory tree from the old server to the new server.
5. "Upgrade" zenoss on the new server to the same version. For example, if you are running 5.0.11 on the old server, you'll install 5.0.11 in step #2, and you'll run the upgrade steps for 5.0.11 in this step. This will make sure that the binaries/libraries are all put back into place properly.

[sadams@bigrocksports.com]

Thanks, Krishopper. A few more questions. First, you reference "Zenoss". Do you mean "Zimbra" or "ZCS"? Secondly, will this method copy over my ssl cert, as well?

[Krishopper]

Sorry, I do mean Zimbra/ZCS.. Too many apps that start with "Z" at work today

That method will copy over your SSL cert's. It will simply just be like upgrading from your current version to the same version. Or I should say, at least an upgrade hasn't hosed up my SSL certificates yet. If it does, just make sure you have the key/crt's handy so you can re-install, but it shouldn't be an issue.