Overview

This article explains how to migrate your installation to a different MailEssentials server while retaining the same configuration.

Information

In order to move GFI MailEssentials from one machine to another and retain your existing configuration settings, the following points need to be considered:

• It is recommended to have the new installation as similar as possible to the replaced installation.
• The installation path of both installations needs to be the same.
• The Exchange version of both machines needs to be the same.

Before you start

• If you are currently running in Gateway mode, the new installation should also be in Gateway mode. MailEssentials behaves differently depending on the installation mode.
• The same build of GFI MailEssentials which is currently should also be installed on the new server. If an upgrade is required, you can upgrade the installation on the old server before moving the installation to the new server.
• Important
  • If GFI MailEssentials was retrieving users from Active Directory, the new machine needs to be part of the same Active Directory domain as the old one.
  • If GFI MailEssentials is installed in SMTP Gateway mode, GFI MailEssentials can be moved to any other machine, as long as you select to retrieve users in the same way. This is selected during installation.
  • During the installation of GFI MailEssentials on the new machine, you should select to retrieve users using the same method that was used in the old installation.

Move to a new server

Proceed as follows to move your current GFI MailEssentials installation to the new server:

1. Configure IIS SMTP on the new server in exactly the same way as it is on the old server.
   Note: Must be same drive path and same install of either SMTP or same Exchange version
2. Export the configuration of the old server, as detailed in the Taking a Backup of GFI MailEssentials Configuration article.
3. Install on the new server, while making sure the install file is not blocked.
4. Transfer the saved configuration from the old server to the new server.
5. Open services.msc and stop SMTP or Exchange Transport Service.
   Note: this will queue Mail until restarted in step 8.
6. Stop all the GFI MailEssentials services.
7. Import the configuration exported in step 2:
   1. In the GFI MailEssentials installation directory of the new server, right-click on the meconfigmgr.exe and choose Run as Administrator.
   2. Click on Import and choose the folder where the backup was transferred to in step 4.
8. Restart all services that were stopped from steps 5 and 6.

Upgrading to a newer Exchange or installing in a different path

If you are upgrading to a newer Exchange version and/or installing in a different path, you can follow these steps to ensure everything works as expected:

1. Export the configuration of the old server, as detailed in the Taking a Backup of GFI MailEssentials Configuration article.
2. Install on the new server, while making sure the install file is not blocked.
3. Ensure you keep the same User Mode Selection setting during the set-up, as on the old server.
4. Run the post-install wizard.
5. Transfer the saved configuration from the old server to the new server.
6. Open services.msc and stop SMTP or Exchange Transport Service.
   Note: this will queue Mail until restarted in step 9.
7. Stop all the GFI MailEssentials services.
8. Import the configuration exported in step 1:
   1. In the GFI MailEssentials installation directory of the new server, right-click on the meconfigmgr.exe and choose Run as Administrator.
   2. Click on Import and choose the folder where the backup was transferred to in step 5.
9. Restart all services that were stopped from steps 6 and 7.
10. Run the post-install wizard again to make sure the correct pick-up and replay paths are configured.
11. Open the Configuration UI on the new server and make sure that the old settings have been retained.
12. Verify that the new installation is working correctly.
13. Retire the old server.