Moving the Archive

A checked version of this page, approved on 26 August 2016, was based on this revision.

It is possible to move a single archive store or the complete MailStore Server archive to a new hard-disk, machine or network share at any time. What is required to successfully move an archive is described in the following sections.

Moving a Single Archive Store

To move an an archive store to an other hard-disk or network share, follow the instructions below. The MailStore master database all other archive stores remain unchanged.

When moving an archive store to a network share the information from the article Using Network Attached Storage (NAS) are analogical.

Start MailStore Client as a user with administrative privileges.
Navigate to Administrative Tools > Storage > Storage Locations.
Remember the state and the path of the archive store you want to move.
Change the state of the archive store you want to move to Disabled.
Move the containing folder to the new location.
Back in MailStore Client click Edit.. and change the path to the new directory. If a network share is used, enter the UNC path of the share e.g. \\computer\myshare\...
Change the state of the archive store back to it's initial state.

Moving the Archive to an other Hard-Disk

To move a MailStore Server installation, where all archive stores are located underneath the directory of the master database (default: C:\MailArchive) to an other hard-disk follow the steps below. The MailStore program directory remains unchanged.

Stop the MailStore Server service, either through the MailStore Server Service Configuration or the service control panel or by executing the command 'net stop "MailStore Server"' from the command-line.
Move the master database directory (default: C:\MailArchive) and all subdirectories to the new location. Directory structure must be preserved.
Run the MailStore Server Service Configuration utility and change the directory of the "Master Database" to the new location.
Start the MailStore Server service again, either through the MailStore Server Service Configuration or the service control panel or by executing the command 'net start "MailStore Server"' from the command-line.

Notice: Please be aware, that the throughput of the external hard-disk may have a negative impact on the performance of MailStore Server.

Please note: Archive stores that are not stored in a relative path to the master database are to be re-attached or modified after moving the archive. Details about managing archive stores are available in chapter Storage Locations of the MailStore Server manual.

Moving the Archive to a New Machine

To move a MailStore Server archive to a new machine including all users, settings and emails follow these steps:

Stop the MailStore Server service on the current machine, either through the MailStore Server Service Configuration or the service control panel or by executing the command 'net stop "MailStore Server"' from the command-line.
Move the master database directory (default: C:\MailArchive) and all its subdirectories and all archive stores that exist on the current machine to the new machine. Directory structure should be preserved.
Uninstall MailStore Server on the current machine. Use Add/Remove Programs available in the control panel.
Transfer your MailStore Server license to the new machine through our license portal.
Install MailStore Server on the new machine.
If the location of the master database directory to use does not match the default path C:\MailArchive, run the MailStore Server Service Configuration utility, stop the MailStore Server service and change the directory of the "Master Database" to the new location.
If you have any client-sided scheduled tasks, export the SSL certificate and private key (usually packaged in a PKCS#12 file) with the common name "MailStore Server" from the machines certificate store and import it to the same location on the new machine. Refer to the Windows help for further information about managing SSL certificates.
Start Mailstore Server and activate the installation by entering the 25-digit activation key when logging in as admin users with MailStore Client for the first time.
Now set up the scheduled tasks again.

Please note: Archive stores that are not stored in a relative path to the master database are to be re-attached or modified after moving the archive. Details about managing archive stores are available in chapter Storage Locations of the MailStore Server manual.

Moving the Archive to a Network Share

To move a MailStore Server archive to a network share including all users, settings and emails follow the instructions below. The descriptions from the article Using Network Attached Storage (NAS) are analogical. The MailStore Server program directory remains at its original location.

Stop the MailStore Server service on the current machine, either trough the MailStore Server Service Configuration or the service control panel or by executing the command 'net stop "MailStore Server"' from the command-line.
Create a backup of your MailStore Server archive.
Create a new share on the NAS-system.
Either grant the MailStore Server machine account or a user read-/write-permissions on that newly created share.
If you granted the permissions to a user object, make sure you create an appropriate start-up script as described in Using Network Attached Storage (NAS).
Move all files from the original archive folder to the network share.
Open the MailStore Server Service Configuration and set the path to the MailStore Server Master-Database to the UNC path of the share e.g. \\computer\myshare\...
Start the MailStore Server service again, either through the MailStore Server Service Configuration or the service control panel or by executing the command 'net start "MailStore Server"' from the command-line.

Please note: Archive stores that are not stored in a relative path to the master database are to be re-attached or modified after moving the archive. Details about managing archive stores are available in chapter Storage Locations of the MailStore Server manual.