Re: [IMail Forum] Server Migration / Version Upgrade

[Todd Ryan]

Matt,

We've done several similar upgrades/migrations.  But as others have suggested, you're probably better off not doing both at the same time.  We've moved IMail from an NT Domain controller to an AD Domain controller with few issues.  I just recently moved it from an older DC to a brand new one.  I even reconfigured the drives so that programs were on one drive, spool/logs another, and mailboxes yet another.  With a little planning, it was transparent to the users.

I did not do the MX record ahead of time as was suggested.  But rather I did the switch in the wee hours of the morning at the same time I migrated the mail server.  Anything servers that were attempting to deliver to the old server because they didn't have the new MX record kept retrying until they got the updated record.

One thing that made the migration easier/faster was using robocopy from the resource kit to migrate the mailboxes.  I ran it once well before the final migration to get a baseline copy of the the user data.  I used the /MIR parameter to make an identical copy.  I ran it frequently up to the cutover date and the last time I ran it, it only took a few minutes to get the last few changes.  I wrote a batch file with several robocopy commands to stop the services on the old box, copy folders to one drive, programs to another, spool to the third.  Then I exported the registry key on the old box, did search/replace in the reg file to change the IP address and drive letters.  Imported to the new box, changed MX records, fired up the services and waited. 

You didn't mention the hardware for your new server.  We run Dell Poweredge servers and I ran into similar hardware problems with the last two servers we migrated to.  That is, the built-in NICs do NOT work well with IMail.  The last time we did it, IMail simply was slow.  We disabled the Intel Pro 100 NIC in the bios and installed a new 3com NIC.  Worked great.  This time I figured the problem should be resolved by now.  But after running in test mode with no issues, once we put a load on the brand new 2600 with Intel 1000 NIC onboard, the entire network stack quit.  Couldn't even ping it.  No errors, no nothing.  Just quit.  Again, disabled the NIC in the bios, insert 3com NIC, then it was rock solid.  I can't wait until Ipswitch works reliably with something other than 3com NICs!

Good luck!

--Todd.


Matthew Brandes wrote:

In the next month I am going to be tackling a major upgrade of our existing Imail Server and am looking for any feedback from other users have done similar migrations/upgrades.  (I've done some reading through the KB and mail archives already.)

 

Current environment:

    Windows NT 4.0 Server

    Imail version 7.0 using the Imail User database

    Hosting email for two domains.

    Physically located in my office building

 

New Environment:

   Windows 2000 Server

   Imail version 8.05

   Integration with Active Directory (I hope)

   Moved to server co-location facility

 

I know what I want to do isn't going to be easy but here's the layout.  I'll install the new server into an existing AD environment and configure it to run AD.  I'll install Imail v8.05 on it. 

 

First question, will the existing AD users get email accounts automatically by virtue of doing a clean install or will I have to create them in some fashion?

 

My active directory is configured with a different domain name (irr.net) then what Imail will host (irr.com).  Can I host mail for irr.com even though the AD domain name is irr.net? 

 

I've read that if you choose AD integration, that you can only host one domain.  Can I host another domain using the Imail user database or that domain? (Pretty sure that answer is yes.)

 

What are the chances that I can transfer mail from my old 7.0 server to the new 8.0 server?  I've read the KB article about moving servers but it assumes a like-to-like move.

 

Since my mail servers will be changing IP address' and it will take a couple of days to replicate the DNS changes, is there a good way to leave the old server running in a fashion that would forward mail to the new server if an SMTP connection to it was made?  (I don't see how I could leave POP3 running.)

 

Any input anyone has is much appreciated.  If there are any online articles I can refer to, please point me in the right direction.

Matthew Brandes, MCSE, CCA
IT Manager
Integra Realty Resources, Inc.
1901 W. 47th Place, #300
Westwood, KS 66205
T. 913-748-4720
F. 913-236-4307
http://www.irr.com