[ubuntu-uk] How to back up Dovecot IMAP?
I currently have all my email stored on a Dovecot IMAP server on my Ubuntu Dapper 6.06 server. I intend to upgrade this to Hardy using a total wipe, reformat and clean install (I have lots of crud on Dapper, such as Beryl, Automatix etc). First I would like to back up everything on the IMAP server. How do I do this please? Then, how do I restore this to a clean install of Dovecot? Ideally I'd like to write a nice cron-able script that creates a .tar.gz file, but anything that works will do. For the longer term, how can I perform incremental Dovecot IMAP backups (say, only the last 7 days worth of mail)? If it makes a difference, I am the only IMAP user on the server. Couldn't find anything immediately relevant with Google, but links to RTFM-esque articles would much appreciated. Thanks, -- Andrew Oakley -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] How to back up Dovecot IMAP?
Andrew Oakley wrote: First I would like to back up everything on the IMAP server. How do I do this please? I personally use rsnapshot [1] to backup my /var/mail folder which is 846MB, I have been backing it up for 6 months using rsnapshot and that weighs in at 1.6GB a cost I consider worthwhile. Then, how do I restore this to a clean install of Dovecot? Throw the directory structure back in at /var/mail and set up the configuration again. Ideally I'd like to write a nice cron-able script that creates a .tar.gz file, but anything that works will do. For the longer term, how can I perform incremental Dovecot IMAP backups (say, only the last 7 days worth of mail)? If it makes a difference, I am the only IMAP user on the server. Couldn't find anything immediately relevant with Google, but links to RTFM-esque articles would much appreciated. Thanks, No idea for this bit. [1] http://www.rsnapshot.org/ Chris -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] How to back up Dovecot IMAP?
Chris Smith wrote: Andrew Oakley wrote: First I would like to back up everything on the IMAP server. I personally use rsnapshot [1] to backup my /var/mail folder which is Then, how do I restore this to a clean install of Dovecot? Throw the directory structure back in at /var/mail and set up the configuration again. Thanks - so basically there is no magic to Dovecot other than the configuration file? How does Dovecot know which mail belongs in which folders? Is this metadata stored in the /var/mail/username file? (I'm using Sendmail, if it matters) -- Andrew Oakley -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] How to back up Dovecot IMAP?
Andrew Oakley wrote: Chris Smith wrote: Andrew Oakley wrote: First I would like to back up everything on the IMAP server. I personally use rsnapshot [1] to backup my /var/mail folder which is Then, how do I restore this to a clean install of Dovecot? Throw the directory structure back in at /var/mail and set up the configuration again. Thanks - so basically there is no magic to Dovecot other than the configuration file? How does Dovecot know which mail belongs in which folders? Is this metadata stored in the /var/mail/username file? (I'm using Sendmail, if it matters) I'm afraid I do not know, I personally use Postfix and Maildir as the format for my mailboxes. Chris -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.org/UKTeam/
