I replaced my crashed mail server(i.e sendmail on Redhat 9.0) machine (lets say machine A) with new machnine(say it machine B) and configured all mail accounts from scratch. Now machine B is working fine. After a month of time I fixed the hardware problem and also upgraded mail server of machine A and now I want to plug it again in my existing network and use it as the default mail server. Now I want to transfer all mail accounts and mails from B to A without discontinueing the mail service. What is the best way to do it?
At a time when the mail server load is minimal, a) Get both machines up and running on the network.
b) Rsync B to A all Relevant folders or simply copy the relevant stuff.
c) Switch the IP address/name of machine B to a placeholder temporary ip/name.
d) Change the IP address and name of machine A to what B was when it was running as the primary mail server.
e) If your two machines are identical in terms of software and content, users should not notice the difference.
A few mails may be lost though, if you do not have soft bounce enabled and they were received when the switch or rsyncing was going on.
hope this helps.
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