topic Re: Linux Mail Server Question in Operating System - Linux

Linux Mail Server Question

Bill Green_3 — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:08:32 GMT

I'm moving from Red Hat Server 7.3 to 9. I want to move my user information and passwords to 9. What files do I have to move.

Any help would be most helpful.

Re: Linux Mail Server Question

Stuart Browne — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 19:03:41 GMT

At a minimum, you need to migrate the files /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /etc/group.

You will probably also want to copy their home directories (/home/), and their currently existing mail (/var/spool/mail/).

Pretty easy.

Re: Linux Mail Server Question

Stuart Browne — Fri, 19 Dec 2003 19:04:47 GMT

Oh, you don't want to just flat-copy the passwd, shadow or group files.

You only want to copy out the records for UID's above 500.

The reason for this is that there are a number of pre-configured user accounts for various services, but RH put's all of these ID's below 500.

Re: Linux Mail Server Question

Huc_1 — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 06:34:49 GMT

What I dont understand in your question is do you move from system 7.3 to other system 9.0.

Or do you have a 7.3 system from wich you want to save/backup user's file's and setup's, then scratch the 7.3 and install 9.0 then restore user's file's and setup's?

If the above is true then Stuard Browne suggestions are the way to go .

But If you want to just go from 7.3 to 9.0 on the same system and do not have a valid reason for scratching 7.3

then

Why not upgrade from 7.3 to 9.0 this is usualy very easy just boot 9.0 (iso 1 cd) and it will ask if you want to install or upgrade. (this will keep your user's and applic in place no problem)

J-P

Re: Linux Mail Server Question

Steven E. Protter — Sat, 20 Dec 2003 21:05:11 GMT

If you have done custom configuration to Sendmail 8.11 on the 7.3 box, you might wish to NOT upgrade the mail server. Thats an option in the 9.0 upgrade process.

This upgrade will not handle custom configuration very well. If you upgrade httpd server from 1.3 to 2.0 apache, the upgrade WILL break your httpd server.

If this is a migration to new hardware, thats safer and the files above can be migrated(see the other posts).

Note that your /etc/mail/access file will need to be migrated or everyone you've put on your spam bounce list will be able to see your server again. Not good at all.

SEP

Re: Linux Mail Server Question

Huc_1 — Sun, 21 Dec 2003 13:40:06 GMT

True everything is not ease, upgrade Has to be carefully planned doc must be read and backup has to be taken.

But during 7.3 to 9.0 upgrade the file that are remplaced are saved as *.rpmsave you also get a log file with what has been done !

for more on that have a look at

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/linux/RHL-9-Manual/install-guide/ch-upgrade.html

So some work/planning needed but so is the alternative way... you also have to backup plan install retore adapt to scratch and start over...

As usual there is probably more then 1 way

J-P

Re: Linux Mail Server Question

Alexander Chuzhoy — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 01:28:48 GMT

Since it's a Mail server -pay attention to this:
in redhat 7.3 the sendmail.cf was in /etc folder

in redhat 9 this file (i.e. sendmail.cf)
was moved to /etc/mail folder.

Best regards.