How to move a Post Office from one Linux server to another Linux server and upgrade to GroupWise 2014

  • 7008877
  • 21-Jun-2011
  • 09-Oct-2014

Environment

Novell GroupWise 8
Novell GroupWise 2012
Novell GroupWise 2014
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
Novell Open Enterprise Server 11 (OES 11) Linux
Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 (OES 2) Linux

Situation

Moving a Post Office from one Linux server to another Linux server and upgrading to GroupWise 2014
Moving GroupWise 8 and GroupWise

Resolution

  1. Mount the source GroupWise directory on the Linux server (destination):
  2. Create a new local directory for GroupWise data. Then, proceed to copy GroupWise data (Domains and Post Offices) to the Linux server.
    On Linux, dbcopy is located in /opt/novell/groupwise/agents/bin/
    On Windows, dbcopy is located in C:\Program Files\Novell\GroupWise Server\Agents
    Note: For further details, see dbcopy.

    • (Option A: Live Copy Option - two passes, minimal downtime) :
      • Post Office
        • First pass (agents can be online):
          ./dbcopy -k -p -w -t 10 -f <sourcePODirectory> <destinationPODirectory>
        • Second pass (requires agent to be offline):
          ./dbcopy -k -p -w -t 10 -s <sourcePODirectory> <destinationPODirectory>
      • Domain
        • First pass (agents can be online):
          ./dbcopy -k -d -w -t 10 -f <sourceDomainDirectory> <destinationDomainDirectory>
        • Second pass (requires agent to be offline):
          ./dbcopy -k -d -w -t 10 -s <sourceDomainDirectory> <destinationDomainDirectory>

    • (Option B: Down Copy Option - single pass):
      The following is the most basic dbcopy command, which should do all that is required:
      dbcopy <sourceMountDirectory> <destinationLocal>


      Note: The agents must be down for the above command to work properly.

  3. Install GroupWise 2014 on the Linux server.
    GroupWise 2014 Installation Guide - Creating a Simple GroupWise System.
    • Launch the GroupWise 2014 installer (install.sh)
    • Install GroupWise Server Agents: select GroupWise Server | Install

  4. Configure & Upgrade.
    Configure a new agent on the server for the migrated Post Office and/or Domain:
    Note: The steps below will configure a new GW 2014 agent on the server, update the path and ip address and upgrade the data to 2014. If the system is already 2014, these steps will still work.
    • GroupWise 2014 Installer | GroupWise Server | Configure.
    • Visit the url provided To install or configure a new GroupWise server.
    • Select Upgrade an Existing Domain or Post Office to GroupWise 2014.
    • Select Add, provide the path to the local data, Host Address and Admin Port.
      Note: This should add an entry to gwha.conf and create the agent on the server.
    • Click Next, enter the admin credentials. Click Finish.
    • Restart all agents on the server to complete the upgrade process:
      rcgrpwise restart

  5. Verify proper configuration by visiting the GroupWise Administration of the parent, owning domain:
    • Domain/MTA (Administration | Domains, Administration | Message Transfer Agents),
      Post Office/POA (Administration | Post Offices, Administration | Post Office Agents):
      • Is the path to the domain and post office correct? General | Folder
      • Is the Network Address correct? Agent Settings | TCP/IP Address
      • Is there a User Name and Password for HTTP? Agent Settings | HTTP
      • Is the log directory valid? Log Settings | Log File Path
        Note: Leaving this path blank is fine as the default /var/log/novell/groupwise path will be used; however, an invalid path will prevent the agent from starting. The same applies for the SSL settings below.
      • Are the SSL Settings valid? SSL Settings
    • Launch the MTA and POA HTTP WebConsoles to verify the MTP Ports and Links appear as Open.
      Note: If any agents report MTP Ports or Links as Closed, see the involved agent log files for further troubleshooting details.