mail migration

C

camel

Verified User
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
5
Is there any mail migration tool for user to move all their mails from the old mail server to the new mail server using the same domain? example: [email protected]

old mail server supports pop/IMAP

new mail server = DirectAdmin with Exim

Many thanks
 
You can set up an email-only account, but you'd need a custom skin to make the webhosting part of the account invisible.

If the other server will continue to handle the domain website, then you'll have to figure out how to do the DNS and set up the other server so that mail that originates on that server gets forwarded to the DA server.

If you need to move IMAP folders that's a bit harder; you can use any IMAP client to contact the old server and synchronize the account. Then look at the DA server and synchronize the account again.

Jeff
 
Jeff, I think you're looking into it at a too difficult angle ;)

Seems to me that he just wants to move all his e-mail to the new server. You can set up multiple IMAP (you have to use IMAP, not POP) accounts in Outlook and just drag-and-drop the e-mail from the old account into the new one.
 
jlasman said:
You can set up an email-only account, but you'd need a custom skin to make the webhosting part of the account invisible.

If the other server will continue to handle the domain website, then you'll have to figure out how to do the DNS and set up the other server so that mail that originates on that server gets forwarded to the DA server.

If you need to move IMAP folders that's a bit harder; you can use any IMAP client to contact the old server and synchronize the account. Then look at the DA server and synchronize the account again.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Sorry for my poor expression. I am looking for a solution like what Jeff is trying to explain to me.

I can manage to download the mails including subfolders and upload to the new mail server. But the users have to manually go to a custom webpage and enter the user id and password once.

Based on the id and password provided, I can then create new account with the same password on the new mail server and download the mails from the old server accordingly.

However, I am looking for a more transparent solution.

Merak mail server has a very good migration tool that doesn't require users to do anything.

Users just check their emails as usual. When the new server (after changing the MX record), receive a request from a non-exist user, it will capture the id and password through pop3/IMAP and start the migration automatically.

Now, the question is, I need Exim to respond to such request from a non-exist user and trigger the migration. Is it possible? Is any existing add-on like that available?
 
Exim can't, because Exim doesn't see the pop or imap password; it's strictly an MTA.

Jeff
 
3 years now. Time flies. I am here to ask the same question again... :(
 
jlasman said:
And I still don't know what it is you want to do.

Jeff
Click to expand...

hmmm....Jeff,

Say I have a client who has 20 email accounts with another hosting company and want to migrate to mine with zero down time and do not want to lose any email. Pretty straight forward, I can back up those email accounts and move to my linux server. However, since dns update may take up to 48 hours, within these period of time, new mails may still go to the old server. What can I do from my end to prevent client from losing mail and do not have to access both the old mail server and the new mail server during this transition period?
 
Very little. You can turn off email for his site if you can, or eliminate the mailboxes, but those solutions will only cause his mail to be rejected to senders who have no idea why.

The best thing you can do is change his DNS days in advance to have a TTL of only 600 seconds or so.

Jeff
 
jlasman said:
Very little. You can turn off email for his site if you can, or eliminate the mailboxes, but those solutions will only cause his mail to be rejected to senders who have no idea why.....
Click to expand...

Exactly my concern, Jeff. But thanks for your advice. Maybe I have to come back in another 3 years and see if someone have come up an application to constantly check the old mail server for any new mail until DNS is completely updated globally.
 
You can write one :).

We find that this will work if you want to take the time:

Set up the new account, and change the TTL records for the DNS at the old location to 600 (which is ten minutes).

On the new account, set up the account and the mailboxes manually. You can still use DirectAdmin's backup/restore afterwards. Use any passwords you want; they'll be overwritten later by the restore process.

Then once the new account is setup, change the MX record at the old registrar to point to your server.

If you have control, move DNS to your servers.

Then in an hour or two, suspend the account at the old location (if you can), then back it up and restore it to your server.

This often does best.

Jeff
 
And in case you didn't know, you can use IMAP to move email between servers. I'm not an expert, but I've been told you can synchronize the old mailserver to a new IMAP account on your system, then after the mail is all downloaded to you, you can synchronize your IMAP account to the new server. I'm sure there are a lot of details I don't know about, but I know you can synchronize all folders, and move everything that way.

I just don't know the details. :(

Jeff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top