[Kolab-devel] Memo: How to migrate mailboxes between Kolab Servers (multi-location setup)

[Martin Konold]

Hi,

By popular request I am describing how to migrate Kolab mailboxes between 
servers.

With Kolab 2 we are supporting multi-location setups. The physical location of 
a mailbox is determined by the kolabHomeServer attribute.

Actually the mailbox of a new user is created on every server but only the 
kolabHomeServer is actually populated.

Sometimes users shall be migrated to another server for many reasons including 
relocation of the user, maintainance or security. This can be achieved by two 
methods.

Method 1: Do it the direct but brutal way (Shell access)

- Block the user from login

- Log in as root on the old server (shell access)

- recursivly the _contents_ of the mailbox from the old server to the new 
server e.g. using scp. (imapd spool directory)

- change the KolabHomeServer attribute so that it points to the target server

- run cyrus reconstruct on the target server

- check that the copy is working and complete

- cyrus reconstruct does not take care about the quota so it is advisable to 
run quota(8) with the -f switch in order to fix the quota root files

- delete original contents of the users mailbox

- run cyrus reconstruct on the old server

- keep the empty mailbox on the old server

- Allow normal usage



Method 2: Do it the imap way (using IMAP)

- Disallow normal usage

- Log in as user (or admin) on the old server using IMAPS (no shell!)

- Log in as user (or admin) on the target server using IMAPS (no shell!)

- recursively copy all folders and the contents of all folders from one IMAP 
connection to the other server as user

- delete all contents from old server as user

- keep the empty mailbox on the old server

- Set new KolabHomeServer attribute

- Allow normal usage


I very much prefer method 2 which would allow to nicley integrate the feature 
in an administration interface for easy, reliable and safe operation. Method 
1 is only useful for experienced and trained administrators.

Yours,
-- martin

Dipl.-Phys. Martin Konold

e r f r a k o n
Erlewein, Frank, Konold & Partner - Beratende Ingenieure und Physiker
Nobelstrasse 15, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
fon: 0711 67400963, fax: 0711 67400959
email: martin.konold at erfrakon.de