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Taking a Backup of GFI MailEssentials Configuration

Author: Luis Fernandes Updated

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.

Note: Personal whitelist/blacklist and reports settings are imported/exported as of GFI MailEssentials 2012 SR3 (build 20121218).

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
Note: If you have the available disk space, copy the entire installation directory, save it in a temporary folder as a backup, then delete it after confirming that all configuration settings have been migrated.

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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