I would recommend using dsync migration to get rid of mbox format. We no longer develop that format, and bugs are limited to reading mbox format.
I would also recommend using master password / master user login with doveadm sync, and do the synchronization over imapc: to get the data safely migrated to your new system.
You should use
doveadm sync -u user backup -R imapc:
on the new server to pull the data from old server. See https://wiki.dovecot.org/Migration/Dsync for more details.
Aki
On 17/12/2020 11:08 Marc Roos <m.roos@f1-outsourcing.eu> wrote:
I would not choose centos 8 it has EOL < than centos7. IBM is pulling the plug on the centos distribution, and makes it more or less a beta for the rhel. Thus centos7 and then you have a few years to decide what to choose. Enough to go to full containerized eg. ;)
You do not need to rsync, dovecot can sync messages. I am just in the process of migrating a server from a different network to a different mailbox format.
My approach was to create an 'archive' namespace on shared slower but distributed storage so I do not have to move to much data.
-----Original Message----- From: Barbara M. [mailto:barbara@rfx.it] Sent: 17 December 2020 01:47 To: dovecot@dovecot.org Subject: migration from 2.0.16
I have an old server with CentOS 6.x and dovecot 2.0.16 (postfix-2.6.6 and roundcube), that was an update from a 1.x many years ago ... Users in /etc/passwd Mailbox format mbox some filtering via procmail About 5.000 users, 1 TB data (/var/mail + /home/users)
Obviously I am searching for a smooth upgrade path (with no or minimal downtime and users problems) ;-)
Until few days ago my idea was a CentOS 8.x new box with the standard default packages (dovecot-2.3.8, postfix-3.3, ...). Now this can be reconsidered. I suppose there will be a RockyLinux or something equivalent but if there is a good reason I can consider Debian or other OS if they have a decent EOL or some advantages.
Anyway, the more relevant problem at the moment is collect info for the best approch to have a smooth dovecot upgrade.
My dream is the possibility to configure a new server and rsync the data (/var/mail + /home/users), and, when the tests are satisfiable do the final sync and swap the IP, but I suppose deleting the .imap folders isn't a simple complete solution to compatibility problems.
Any hints, links, experiences are appreciated.
Thanks, B.