Converting from OpenXchange to Scalix

[dpinkston]

This may be a stupid question but here it goes. I have a Open Xchange server currently in place and in use. I have also started setting up a Scalix server to replace the OX server. I am a little confused about how the conversion is going to go.

Lets say that I plan on migrating at 6 PM. And the server is fully functional at 7 PM. What about any e-mails that were sent and stored on the OX server? Or if a user is gone that day and hasn't downloaded their messages in their inbox. Those messages will still be stored on the OX server and will not be transfered or forwarded to the scalix server.

If anyone has any tips or advice I am all ears!

Thanks in Advance,
Derek

[grahamk]

If you have a secondary MX, you can pull your old server offline at 6pm (for example), and use IMAP Migration to migrate mail. When the new server is up at 7pm, all mail delivered in the overlap, will come through. Even without a secondary MX, you should be able to do this without a huge issue.

Something else which you may want to do/consider, is importing users mail to the Scalix server from their PST files (assuming you use Outlook). Unless you are planning on using POP, in which case, all user emails will still be downloaded from the server. Some of the advantage of storing emails on the server are, accessing mail via Webmail and single data store makes for easier backups.

Tell us a little more about what you wish to achieve, and we should be able to help you consider as many aspects as we can.

[dpinkston]

The current config is pop. I plan on leaving it that way for a little while. There about 400 users located in different states etc. Since they are all setup via pop, what would be the smoothest method?

Also have to factor in people not checking their e-mail at all that day etc. So there could be up to a day (or two) when messages are being stored on the old open xchange server. Let me know if you need any more information!

Thanks for the fast reply!!!
Derek

[grahamk]

I migrated from a POP setup to Scalix (using the Outlook Connector). And I did lose 1 persons email in the way you said (people not checking). I've not done it, but I imagine IMAP Migration to be the best way to tranfer peoples mail from the old server to the new one (their unchecked messages). My experience of importing PST files was painful, and I only had 30 users Saying that, it could have just been my setup.

Also, have you considered authentication? How are you going to keep the users passwords? Are you currently Auth'ing from AD or LDAP or something?

[dpinkston]

(Un)fortunetaly the employee I replaced at this company kept records of all user's passwords. So the user names and passwords are already entered. On that subject.... One last question if you don't mind.

My current server is exchange.domain.com
My scalix server is scalix.domain.com

In order to make the transition smooth on the user's end I was thinking about changing scalix.domain.com to exchange.domain.com on the server it's self so nothing would need to change on the users end. However I have read about complications changing that. Would I be better off just forwarding exchange.domain.com to scalix.domain.com? And possibly slowly migrating the user's server settings?

Thanks Again!
Derek

[grahamk]

I havent changed a domain name, but on the wiki there are instructions....

http://www.scalix.com/wiki/index.php?ti ... ChangeFQDN

When I implemented Scalix, I did just that, forwarded mail from the existing mail server to the scalix server, and changed users settings as I went. For you, I would have to say for 400 users, you would be better off (in some ways at least) to change the hostname of the scalix server, and users just keep running without noticing. Even if they temporarily lose some mail, just dont wipe your old mailserver, and grab any mail that you need to as it comes up.

[dpinkston]

Excellent! Your information has been very useful. I do appreciate your help! It's hard to get insight on here from time to time.

Thanks for everything!
-Derek

[grahamk]

When you ask hard questions, and/or lack information, sometimes responses are hard to come by. There iare some pretty smart people around on the forums though, so if no one answers, keep trying and keep posting your story. Someone will generally eventually jump in and help you out. If all else fails, feel free to post in here again, i've flagged it so that I'll be notified on new posts.

[dpinkston]

Reverse DNS.... I am getting a bounce back message from all e-mails sent to a comcast e-mail address. Here is the bounce back message:

Code: Select all

The original message was received at Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:23:11 -0600
from localhost.localdomain [127.0.0.1]

   ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<XXXXXXX@comcast.net>
    (reason: 554 IMTA16.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net comcast
216.174.22.243 Comcast requires that all mail serv...r more information,
refer to:
http://www.comcast.net/help/faq/index.jsp?faq=SecurityMail_Policy18784)
<XXXXXXX@comcast.net>
    (reason: 554 IMTA16.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net comcast
216.174.22.243 Comcast requires that all mail serv...r more information,
refer to:
http://www.comcast.net/help/faq/index.jsp?faq=SecurityMail_Policy18784)

   ----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to mx1.comcast.net.:
<<< 554 IMTA14.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net comcast 216.174.22.243
Comcast requires that all mail servers must have a PTR record with a valid
Reverse DNS entry. Currently your mail server does not fill that
requirement. For more information, refer to:
http://www.comcast.net/help/faq/index.jsp?faq=SecurityMail_Policy18784
... while talking to mx2.comcast.net.:
<<< 554 IMTA16.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net comcast 216.174.22.243 Comcast
requires that all mail servers must have a PTR record with a valid Reverse
DNS entry. Currently your mail server does not fill that requirement. For
more information, refer to:
http://www.comcast.net/help/faq/index.jsp?faq=SecurityMail_Policy18784
554 5.0.0 Service unavailable


Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Derek

[mikevl]

Hi

This is a common error

You need to ring / email etc your ISP host (who delivers your email) and ask them to arrange for a reverse DNS record to point to the fixed IP address that you use to get your mail delived.

Mike

[dpinkston]

I will contact my ISP on that.

How long is the average load time for the swa? Currently it's taking about 30 seconds for me externally. On the internal network it is a matter of 1-2 seconds for a complete load. Let me know what you think.

The address is exchange.airxcel.com

Thanks,
Derek

[dpinkston]

I believe there is some kind of law that states all company e-mails need to be archived if they are ever needed. Anyone else heard of this.

And does anyone know of an easy way to do this in scalix?

Thanks,
Derek

[Valerion]

You want the Archiver. Look in the Admin Guide under the configuration file options (second last chapter, IIRC).