Taking a Backup of GFI MailEssentials Configuration

Overview

GFI recommends keeping a backup of the product configuration data. In case of data loss, GFI will not be able to recover your configuration if a backup is not available. If you are using backup software to back up data, it is required to stop the services listed below before the backup starts and to start the services again once the backup is complete. Not stopping the services during a backup by third-party backup software may cause GFI MailEssentials to malfunction.

GFI MailEssentials services:

• GFI ListServer
• GFI MailEssentials Enterprise Transfer Service
• GFI MailEssentials Legacy Attendant Service
• GFI MailEssentials AntiSpam Attendant
• GFI MailEssentials EmailSecurity Attendant
• GFI MailEssentials AS Scan Engine
• GFI MailEssentials AV Scan Engine
• GFI POP2Exchange

Process

Backing up the Configuration

Using the Configuration Export/Import Tool

1. From the GFI MailEssentials installation directory, run meconfigmgr.exe.

2. Click the Export button.

3. Select the location where the files will be saved and click OK.

4. Once complete, the following settings will be backed up in the specified locations:

   
   

   File	Description	Location
   Autowhitelist.mdb	Auto whitelist entries (2014 and earlier)	...GFI\MailEssentials\AntiSpam
   Avapicfg.mdb	Main configuration for MailEssentials EmailSecurity	..GFI\MailEssentials\EmailSecurity\Data
   Config.mdb	Main configuration for MailEssentials Antispam	..GFI\MailEssentials\Antispam
   Weights.bsp	Database file used by the Bayesian filter	..GFI\MailEssentials\Antispam\Data
   Userlist.mdb	User list when installed in a non-AD mode	..GFI\MailEssentials\EmailSecurity\Data
   Pop2exchange.xml	If Pop2Exchange is used and configured	..GFI\MailEssentials\Antispam
   PWLBL.sdf	Personal whitelist/blacklist (2014 and earlier)	..GFI\MailEssentials\Antispam\Data\pwlbl.sdf
   MECES_Reporting.xml	Definitions of reports, including custom and scheduled reports	..GFI\MailEssentials\Backend\Data
   List server databases	If used and configured	..GFI\MailEssentials\AntiSpam\subscription.mdb ..GFI\MailEssentials\AntiSpam\Data\Discussion.mdb ..GFI\MailEssentials\AntiSpam\Data\Newsletter.mdb
   Controllists.sdf	Contains auto whitelist, whitelist, email blocklist, and personal whitelist/blocklist in 2015 and newer	..GFI\MailEssentials\Antispam\Data
   Reports.FDB	-	..\GFI\MailEssentials\Data

    

5. Make a backup of these files.

Alternatively, if the tool is not working, the files can be backed up manually. See the location of each file below. 

The default root installation directories are:

• x86 systems: ..\Program Files\GFI\MailEssentials
• x64 systems: ..\Program Files (x86)\GFI\MailEssentials

Refer to the article Restoring a Manual Backup of MailEssentials for information on replacing these files manually. 

Quarantines

Below are the two different quarantine locations:

• ..\GFI\MailEssentials\Antispam\Quarantine
• ..\GFI\MailEssentials\EmailSecurity\QuarStoreFB

Review the article Manually Migrating the MailEssentials Quarantine for restoring the quarantined emails.

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