Backup Mail from One server to another

shipon_97 · 06-26-2006, 06:03 AM

Friends ,

I need some help about my mail server . I have a Mail server where "All OutSide" Mail is stored , suppose it's IP is 202.59.136.1. I have another server which is locally used (Ip 192.168.10.1) . Both server i have configured Sendmail .

Now i want to BACKUP my mail from REAL server to LOCAL network server . So that my mail is not destroyed . Is it possible ? If it is possible plz inform me .......

Thx........

IBall · 06-26-2006, 06:16 AM

I think that mail is usually stored in /var/mail/. Therefore, you should be able to use rsync to copy the mail from the actual server to the backup server. On the local server:

Code:

rsync -avz userName@202.59.136.1:/var/mail/ ~/mailBackup

Obviously, "userName" is a user on the remote system, with read access to /var/mail. In this case, the mail is being backed up to /home/localUser/mailBackup.

I hope this helps
--Ian

SlackDaemon · 06-26-2006, 06:40 AM

Hi,

What IBall said is correct but keep in mind that mail is moved from /var/spool/mail/<username> files to the respective users home directory ($HOME/mbox or $HOME/Mail) once an email has been read. be sure to back these up as well if you wish to preserve existing mail.

best of luck!

shipon_97 · 06-26-2006, 12:03 PM

Dear IBall ,

1) I want , My mail backup system does work automatically i.e., My Mail restore from Main server to others automatically . Is there any solution regarding this purpose ?

2) When i backup my mail , then using which server , i need to take my backup ? From Network server (192.168.10.1 ) ?

Sorry for disturb ..........

w3bd3vil · 06-26-2006, 12:45 PM

you could as well create aliases for the users that you want to backup.

Bonestein · 06-26-2006, 04:17 PM

create a file and put IBalls line in there and chomd u+x or 777 or whatever you want to do to make the file executable.

Code:

rsync -avz userName@202.59.136.1:/var/mail/ ~/mailBackup

for autmation, create a entry in the crontab to have this command run each day or twice a day

Code:

crontab -e

should allow you to make an entry

just read the man file, it's pretty short and to the point.

IBall · 06-26-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

2) When i backup my mail , then using which server , i need to take my backup ? From Network server (192.168.10.1 ) ?

The rsync line I gave you above will copy whatever is in /var/mail on the public server 202.x.x.x to the specified directory on the private server 192.168.x.x.

Rsync will only copy files from the remote server that have been modified since the local copy was modified.

--Ian